Reference: Visit website
Raising kids in NYC comes with crazy rent, stressful school searches, and closets for apartments—but it also brings easy access to enriching cultural activities, and NYC is equally rich in good old-fashioned outdoor activities, too. The city offers a range of bucolic parks and outdoor adventures where kids can get busy playing outside, all without leaving the five boroughs.
From fishing to hiking to exploring to off-the-beaten-path parks , here are 25 outdoor activities in NYC for the whole family. Some are FREE, most are accessible by public transportation, and we guarantee all these things to do outdoors are tons of fun.
There are more than 750 bridges in NYC (at least, ones that are operated by the Department of Transportation ). Of course, we don’t recommend trying to walk across them all (many are for vehicle traffic only!), there are some pedestrian bridges worth adventuring over. Walking over a classic like the Brooklyn Bridge and the George Washington Bridge provides a chance to see the city from a spectacular new perspective. We also love the High Bridge, an uptown gem that connects Upper Manhattan to the Bronx. It was built as part of the aqueduct system in the mid-19th century, but today has been transformed into an elevated walkway with gorgeous views of Manhattan, the Harlem River, and the city skyline to the south.
Prospect Park has historically been a destination for horseback riding in NYC. The nearby Be•Brooklyn Equine Stables (formerly Kensington Stables) offers trail rides on a 3.5-mile bridle path with experienced guides. Horseback riding lessons are offered at other NYC sites , too, or you can drop in for a horse or pony ride at many locations, like City Island Stables .
With dedicated bike paths all over town, Citi Bikes available on practically every corner, and neighborhood rental shops , NYC is more cycling-friendly than ever. Governors Island is a great biking destination for kids as the isle is 100% car-free. You can bring your own bike or rent one on-site. Bonus: FREE Bike Mornings allow visitors to borrow a cycle for an hour each weekday morning for free.
