Post By: Andy Hayes, PlanetEye Traveler

One of my favorite things about visiting New York is being outside – strolling down those avenues with skyscrapers on either side, stopping into cafes along the way for a piping hot cuppa to go.

Every guidebook will highlight the “obvious” place to go for an outdoor stroll, Central Park.  And that is a wonderful park – great for people watching, and it’s super easy to get to, partly due to the fact that it is huge.  Enormous is perhaps a better word.

I’m not wanting to steer you clear of Central Park, because it is awesome, but I’d like to suggest a few other city parks that are just as nice and deserving of your attention during your visit.  We recently featured The Highline, but here are five more perfect places to sit after a shopping spree or to bring a coffee or to go cup of tea, a cupcake, and sit to watch the world go by.

Riverside Park

Enjoying The Park

 

Riverside Park is a strip of park that runs along the western edge of Manhattan, due west of Central Park.  It runs from approx 72nd street all the way past 130th, so if you were looking for a place to ride your bike care free and as hassle free as possible, this is the place to do it.  And indeed that’s what many like about this park, the endless curving lanes and tree-lined boulevards that go on for miles.

As you go you’ll notice a few interesting sights.  Near 69th street you’ll find the New York Central Railroad 69th Street Transfer Bridge – it sort of looks like a random piece of wreckage at first glance, but it’s an old “float” – railroad cars would be pushed onto it and then sent across the Hudson.  A popular monument dedicated to Eleanor Roosevelt stands at 72nd.  I’ve also heard there is a free kayak rental at the south end of the park in summer – it was closed during my visit.

Getting There: 125th St, 116th St, 110th St, 103rd, 96th, 86th, 79th and 72th are all subway stops along Broadway.  Each is maximum 3 or 4 blocks, so if the heavens open or you get tired there’s also an option to get back on the subway.

Washington Square Park

Amazing scenery in Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park is a New York icon.  It’s in one of the city’s most charming neighborhoods, Greenwich Village, and it is just south of New York University, so there’s never a quiet moment here during sunny days. As the picture above implies, there is a busy fountain, as well as the Washington Square Arch, a beautiful piece of architecture that really sets the tone for the entire park.

If you don’t to get wet, you’ll find plenty of places to sit and picnic, people watch, or even perhaps you can nab one of the popular chess tables; don’t worry if you’re solo – there’s bound to be a chess partner waiting in the wings.  This particular spot is very historic, having been the scene of many race clashes and riots over the centuries.

Getting There:  8th St (line N, R, W) or West 4th-Washington Square Park (line A, B, C, D, E, F, V)

Fort Tryon Park

Take Time To Unwind

Many visitors (and NY locals even) know Fort Tryon Park because it is home to The Cloisters, a reconstructed medieval monastery that is one of New York’s most photogenic museums.  It’s a trek – you have to go quite a ways north, but I think it is well worth it.  The park is on a high plain, so the views over the Hudson and back down towards Manhattan are superb, especially on a clear day when you can see far.  Spring and early summer is the best time to go so you can see the huge heather garden in bloom.

Dog owners will love the park, as there’s a dog run and even a little “social gazebo” for dogs and owners to meet-n-greet.  Brunch or lunch at the Leaf Restaurant, or stick around for sunset for the perfect romantic rendezvous.

Getting There:  190th Street (line A), 191st (line 1)

Bryant Park

Where Fashion Lives

One of the few privately managed public parks in Manhattan, Bryant Park  is said to be the most densely populated urban park in the world.  Having been to parks in Asia I’m not sure I would agree, but it most certainly is packed on a sunny day.  It also has several coffee carts, hot dog stands, and even a shop or two in the vicinity.  Bryant is often home to special events, such as ice skating in the winter or concerts in the summer, so you never know what to expect.

One reason I recommend Bryant Park is because it sits surrounded by skyscrapers on all sides – if you go into the park and lay down and look up, you get such a unique sense of Manhattan.  It’s the view you’d get if Central Park wasn’t so huge.  Go and try it – it’s very cool.

Getting There: 42nd St Bryant Park (line B,D, F, V), 5th Ave (line 7),

Madison Square Park

 

Last but certainly not least, Madison Square Park is another personal favorite.  It’s a good alternative to the hustle-and-bustle of Union Square, several blocks south.  I bumped into this as a friend works nearby and suggested we meet here; when he arrived I’d witnessed a couple of wedding parties, and found myself sipping the last drips from the tasty Shake Shack snack I’d had – well worth the several minutes wait in line for them to take and prepare my order.

 

The park is similar to Bryant in that it’s quite compact, and busy.  It’s a popular spot for random public art to sprout, and despite having tons of chairs, tables and benches, it is hard to find a spot.  But try – you’ll enjoy it.

 

Getting There: Just to clarify, Madison Square Park is NOT next to Madison Square Garden (which is a concert/sports venue, in case you didn’t know).   23rd St (line N, R, W, or the 6)

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Photo Credits:  Ed Yourdon, Ed Yourdon, D.Fletcher, Ed Yourdon, Alan Miles NYC