There are 24 free upcoming concerts in NYC’s parks. Here’s the link:
Many more suggestions below!
STAYCATION PICKS
1. Wave Hill – in Riverdale, The Bronx This privately run botanical gardens and arts center has woodland nature trails and vista of the Hudson River. https://www.wavehill.org/visit
2. Snug Harbor Cultural Center: This Smithsonian affiliate has it all: historic buildings, museums, a variety of gardens, including the unique Chinese Scholars Garden, walking paths and a working farm. https://snug-harbor.org/ 3. New York Botanical Garden: For late summer blooms and a variety of landscapes, including an old growth dense forest and a river with waterfalls, this oasis of beauty in The Bronx is a must. You can combine this with a visit to the Bronx’s Little Italy nearby: https://www.nybg.org/ https://www.bronxlittleitaly.com/ 4. Central Park: The Central Park Conservancy offers tours and self-guided experiences of the lesser known areas of the park: https://www.centralparknyc.org/activities/tours#showlist 5. Governor’s Island. Lots to do! Also open to 10:00 pm Friday and Saturday the next two weekends. https://www.govisland.com/plan-your-visit 6. Take a Ferry or a river cruise! Lots of choices: Even Sandy Hook, New Jersey, the Rockaways, Hudson River Valley, Architecture Tours https://www.ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/ https://seastreak.com/ferry-routes-and-schedules/ (for Sandy Hook) https://sail-nyc.com/hudson-river-cruises/ (also professionally guided architecture tours) 7. Industry City: Take the D or N train to 36th Street to Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood. Fun shopping, eating and exploring plus live music and family-friendly events. https://industrycity.com/visit/ 8. Roger Morris Park/Jumel Mansion: Take a step back in time to the 18th and 19th centuries in this tiny historic district a short walk from 160th Street and Broadway. Bring a picnic and tour the historic house that served as General George Washington’s headquarters during the fall of 1776. https://www.morrisjumel.org/
9. Wagner Park and Historic Lower Manhattan: Dine outdoors overlooking New York harbor and the Statue of Liberty at this gem of a park. Stroll uptown along Battery Park City or head into Battery Park which is filled with interesting monuments and historic sites including Castle Clinton (built 1811), which was the first immigrant processing station. Stop for a meal or a drink at Fraunces Tavern.
https://tclf.org/landscapes/robert-f-wagner-jr-park https://www.thebattery.org/ https://gigino-wagnerpark.com/
10. Hunter’s Point South Park: Take the 7 train or a ferry to Long Island City and stroll the waterfront for great views of Manhattan. There’s a short order restaurant with lots of outdoor seating. https://www.hunterspointparks.org/ 11. Brooklyn Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Museum. Right next store to one another, a great way to spend a full day indulging in art and nature.