Best Parks to Visit While Sightseeing in New York

After months of planning, you’ve finally arrived in New York City. You know exactly where you want to go and what you want to experience in this amazing place. With so many attractions, it’s not hard to fill up your plate with busy activities. If you’re looking for a change of pace while sightseeing in New York, head to a nearby park. Whether you’re with children, with a significant other, or with a group of teens or adults, you’ll love the beautiful, well-maintained parks in the city.

Central Park

How could this not be on the list? Central Park in New York just might be the most famous public park in the United States. Spanning 843 acres, it’s the most visited park in the U.S. The park is open all year and includes plenty of green space to play and picnic. Central Park is home to a zoo, carousel, a mall, and 29 sculptures. There are also structures and monuments, such as Strawberry Fields. The park even has seven bodies of water, including the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, which covers 106 acres and holds 1 billion gallons of water. At the park, you can enjoy beautiful flowers and plants, and you can catch a glimpse of red-tailed hawks.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Though not as spacious or as famous, the Brooklyn Bridge Park should be on your list of places to get some R&R. The park covers 85 acres and offers stunning views of the city. Enjoy a carousel ride or play some hoops on the basketball courts. During the winter, head to the skating rink. In the summer, you can pause your sightseeing in New York and watch outdoor movies at sundown.

Flushing Meadows–Corona Park

Perhaps the most famous spot in this park is the Unisphere, which designers made for the 1964 World’s Fair. This park also has a zoo that will delight people of all ages. Gather your family together for a barbecue or picnic or take a boat on the park’s lake. On the park’s grounds, you’ll also find Citi Field, home to the New York Mets.

The High Line

This is one of the city’s newer parks, and residents and tourists sightseeing in New York alike love it. This elevated park features gorgeous gardens and sculptures. The park is ideal for a relaxing stroll or a quiet time to sit and visit with family and friends.   There’s more to New York than the hustle and bustle of typical sightseeing. These parks are a perfect way to enjoy the city.