Francis Lewis Park

Optimum Season: Spring, Summer, Fall

Whitestone, NY

street parking available

Located just under the Whitestone Bridge, in the charming and beautiful neighborhood of Malba, this is a gem of a find. The park has a gated playground, shaded basketball courts, a "beach front”, a walking trail, sprinklers and a magnificent view of the bridge and Long Island Sound. You won’t be disappointed spending a couple hours here, either with family or friends.

Kill two birds with one stone: Walkor drive around the neighborhood. Make sure to go into every street and dead end. These are some of the most unique homes in all of NYC. You will feel as though you are in Italy. (View the gallery above for pictures of the park and the neighborhood)

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Domino Park

Williamsburg, NY

I went here on a sunny 40 degree November day. With the proper attire, it was a totally pleasant experience. This is an adorable and newly built park on Williamsburg’s waterfront (just north of the Williamsburg bridge). The playground is amazing! There’s a short boardwalk with plenty of benches. There is a taco shack with outdoor seating. There are world class porter potties towards the south end of the park. And there is Williamsburg dining all around you. But honestly, I just went here to see it with my own eyes. The view across the East River here isn’t so appealing. No skyscrapers or landmark buildings. And the Williamsburg bridge isn’t too pretty. This place is a better draw during the summer going into evening house when the geyser sprinklers light up as well as the bridge and all of Manhattan across you. There is also a beach volleyball court and a place for kids and adults to bike ride (an adorable hilly bike track seen in the video below). I still much prefer Brooklyn Bridge Park, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights Promenade for the overall vibe and the scenery. But this is definitely the better park on a very hot summer day when you need your kids to run into water.

View the gallery above and videos below for a better idea.  Please add your feedback in the comments section and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for live adventures.  And don't forget to share with your friends if you appreciate this page. 

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Heights, NY

street parking and parking lot ($40 for oversized vehicles...gets full by early afternoon on a nice Sunday...street parking will take at least 20 minutes to find unless you're lucky)

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

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I had been to Pier 6 in the summer of 2011.  I had gone with my then first born toddler, my husband, and my Williamsburg-residing sister who gave us a tour of the area. I don't recall Brooklyn Bridge Park at this pier having playgrounds and activities, but I wasn't really there for long and I was just too focused on the view to notice anything else.  We just drove by the downtown Manhattan skyline, double parked the car, got a shot with my son in his overalls, and that was that.  

Fast-forward to summer of 2017, I decided to go to Pier 6 once again to catch the ferry going to Governor's Island.  It was here that I noticed all the playgrounds arranged like a maze intertwined with trees.  Not only is this a great park for families with children, it is a great place to date.  There are all these hidden paths leading to new playgrounds.  The videos and pictures should describe what I can't in words.  It's just something to see with your eyes in your lifetime (even the footage doesn't do enough justice).  There are sprinklers here, so on a 78 degree plus and sunny day, be sure to bring bathing suits and towels for your children so they can have some fun!  

There was also beach volleyball overlooking the skyline.  And Fornino restaurant (which has brick oven pizza but I didn't really check the menu to see what else they offered) with a rooftop that offers views of the skyline as well.  So if you just want to go Pier 6, there is enough to do for several hours. And I'd suggest catching the sunset on the roof of the restaurant and seeing the skyline at night!  It's truly magical!

Of course, when I went in 2017, I decided to give the extended family a tour of both Governor's Island (my first time), Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights. Talk about killing several birds with one stone.  But you can totally squeeze these all in one day...with or without the kids!

Or, you could skip all the above and just do what www.mommypoppins.com sites as the 30 best things to do in Brooklyn Bridge Park (none that I knew existed before I went there.  Missed opportunity.  Must go back!)  There are many other piers, roller skating, a pop up pool, free kayaking and so much more!  The whole park is a mile stretch from one side to the other.  Just spend an entire day here!

Check out the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), videos below, and please add your feedback! Follow me on facebook and instagram to see my live adventures!  And share this page with your friends if you appreciate.

Nearby:

DUMBO

Park Slope

Governor's Island

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Carroll Gardens

Long Island City (Hunters Point and Gantry State Plaza)

Long Island City, NY

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

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It has been awe inducing watching Long Island City's transformation over the past decade.  What was once a sketchy area filled with old wearhouses on the Queens side of the Queensborough Bridge is now a mini skyline of its own.  "Build and they will come" as the saying goes.  Now all these new restaurants and supermarkets are popping up throughout the area to meet the demand of the growing population.  And everything is brand new and clean.  If you ask me, the views of Manhattan's skyline from Long Island City are far more impressive than that of Williamsburg's and Greenpoint's in Brooklyn.  But definitely not as hip as the aforementioned neighborhoods.  

This is one of my favorite spots in all of New York, either during the day or evening. My first experience was with my husband and friends on a warm summer night.  We decided to go to a restaurant I came upon chance after I googled "restaurants on the East River".  I also wanted Italian.  I wanted good food, good decor, and good views.  Maiella met all these needs.  The food was solid, some dishes even great (the stuffed eggplant and Branzino were among my favorite).  The service was incomparable.  The decor was impressive, the crowd was upscale, and the back garden was lovely with great views of the landmarked Pepsi Cola sign and the Empire State and Chrysler building right across the river. Unfortunately, there was no outdoor seating but dining inside was just as rewarding with floor to ceiling windows all around the restaurant.  

After dinner, we headed out to Gantry Plaza State Park (right next door) and walked along the brand new boardwalk.  There was a playground here for children, beautiful landscaping, breathtaking views of Midtown, lounge chairs, everything one needs for pure happiness.  I highly suggest experiencing Long Island City during sundown and into the night!  If not for dinner, just for drinks will do!

Walking down from Gantry State Park for about half a mile on the boardwalk you will reach Hunters Point South. Both locations have MTA ferry services (a metro card you can purchase on site will give you and children access). On a couple of occasions, I have used the East River Ferry (a 40 minute spectacular ride to either DUMBO or Wall Street/South Street Seaport) with breathtaking views of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Hunters Point South has one of the most spectacular playgrounds in all the five boroughs as well as an amazing sandbox. You will find a splash pad here as well so bring bathing suits for your children along with a scooter and bike to ride along the length of the boardwalk! There are also restrooms and a restaurant called Coffeed which serves pricey American food (menu is included in the gallery). All along the boardwalk you will find Long Island City’s market with food trucks (ice cream trucks, fruit/veggie drinks trucks, crepe trucks, and much more). You will also find restaurants and bars as well as exquisite high rise residential buildings.

Click the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below and feel free to add your comments and feedback!  Follow me on facebook and instagram to see my live adventures!  And share this page with your friends if you appreciate.

Gantry State Park Boardwalk

Long Island City Market

Hunters Point South Playground

Long Island City Boardwalk

Gantry State Park

Hunters Point South - Dining at Coffeed

Hudson River Park Pier 25

Tribeca, NY

street parking and parking lots

Optimum Seasons:  Summer

www.hudsonriverpark.org

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Nothing is more charming than this place!  Located at Pier 25 on the West Side Highway, this park offers breathtaking views of downtown Manhattan and Jersey City across the Hudson.  For children, sprinklers, rock climbing, a playground, mini golf and sand boxes make it heaven on earth.  There is also beach volleyball, and a soccer field here (I don't know if any random person can use or you have to be a member).  They have concession stands as well. Try going later in the afternoon to catch the sunset (but then it might be too cold for sprinklers if you have young children!)

After you're done here, just walk the streets of downtown Manhattan.  There are some historic landmark buildings here adjacent to modern skyscrapers. Walk down Chambers street to the east side (remember, Manhattan is very narrow down here, it'll be a 20 minute walk) and you'll be by the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path and City Hall.  You'll pass Oculus on the way there too.  

Also, there are constant events at the different piers here.  I went when there was free painting for children.  Click on this link to see all the events lined up for the summer.  Free fishing is a must!  And so are Salsa Tuesdays on Pier 45. 

Nearby:

Battery Park

Staten Island Ferry

South Street Seaport

Oculus

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Stepping Stone Park

Kings Point Park, NY

Member Card required, no admission fee, free parking lot

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

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Great Neck's masterpiece!  Situated on the Long Island Sound with out-of-this-world landscaping and English gardens, this park has it all, and for all ages.  And there is no price to enter!  I have seen many gardens in my day, and nothing comes close to the display of flowers and plants here!  Paired with their sunsets, views of Manhattan's skyline and the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridge, the serenity of the Long Island Sound, the rocky shore line, the dock, the playground and sprinklers for the children, their summer festivals, this is just one of my favorite places to be as soon as winter is over! It is worth moving to Great Neck and getting a park card!  Otherwise, just thank me for the pictures!  Tip:  if you love the Beatles, and kind of feel like you owe something to your parents and in laws for bringing you into this world, take a few beach chairs and go here once a year on a Saturday night in the summer and watch a Beatles cover band play all their hits! There is nothing like exposing your children to the music your parents exposed you to when you were a kid, and watching a live concert together during a beautiful sunset!

For a list of other mansions and gardens, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Manhasset Valley Park

Manhasset, NY

No admission fee, free parking lot

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

Gallery

Bring a high quality camera, bring your children, and go the second week of November.  Enough said.  Just view the gallery!

Kill a few birds with one stone:  This whole stretch of Northern Blvd is high end shopping at its finest.  You can start at Macy's across the street, but if you want to do some serious damage, hit up the Americana strip mall a few miles east!  Also, any neighborhood off of Northern Blvd in this area is worth driving around in.  Some of North Shore's finest homes!

For a list of other great parks during fall foliage, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions) and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures.  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page.

Kings Point Park

Kings Point, NY

No admission fee, free parking lot

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

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Located in Great Neck's most affluent town, King's Point Park is mostly a forest with hiking trails.  It also has a baseball field and picnic areas and a playground on its south side.  But the main draw, I think, is the hiking mid November during the peak of foliage.  It took an hour on the trail we took, but it was lovely at every turn.  

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Visit neighboring Stepping Stone if you have a park pass and are a Great Neck resident!

For a list of other parks great for hiking, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Central Park

Midtown, NY

No admission fee, free parking on street

Optimum Seasons:  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

www.centralparknyc.org

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There are not enough days in one's life to visit every corner of this oasis located smack in the middle of the concrete jungle.  I myself with and without the children, have visited the Shakespeare Garden, the Central Park Zoo, the Carousel, the Mall, the Reservoir, the Great Lawn, Loebs Boathouse, Strawberry Fields, Conservatory Water, and my very favorite (with an album all of its own)....The Central Park Conservatory.  Of all the famed gardens in NYC and its outer boroughs, THIS IS THE ONE TO SEE!  It is completely free, and walking the grounds you can't help but feel like royalty.  It is no where as big as NY Botanical Garden or Brooklyn Botanical Garden, but it is far more exquisite. I went here on Mother's Day with the entire family and we enjoyed every minute.  Tip:  Go the week Magnolia or Crabapple trees are in blossom.  Pay attention to those specific trees in your neighborhood so you have an idea of their bloom period before you go.  Also, there is a Maoz felafel stand right outside the garden in actual Central Park, perfect to feast on during a picnic!  And go to the park early (before 11am) if you are driving in or if you want to avoid long lines to rent a row boat by Loeb's Boathouse.  It costs $15 per hour and $5 per each additional hour per boat (not per person). Make sure you know how to row before you go!  

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Or kill a billion birds with one stone.  There is prime real estate all over Central Park.  There is no going wrong with dining, shopping, or just walking around every block and enjoying the architecture! 5th Avenue, Madison Avenue and Park Avenue run parallel along the East Side and Columbus and Amsterdam run parallel along the West Side and showcase some of the most expensive residential building in the world as long as high end shopping.  Also, museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim, and the Jewish Museum line up the Museum Mile on 5th Avenue.  Central Park South has hotels such as The Plaza and Ritz Carlton.  The West Side has the Museum of Natural History, Time Warner Building, Columbus Circle, The Dakota Building, Lincoln Center a block over.  The North has Harlem and Columbia's campus.  There's no losing anywhere you turn!

For a list of other parks and gardens, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park

Brooklyn, NY

Admission fee (some libraries offer free passes), parking lot fee, free parking on street

Free from November though February on weekdays

Free on Tuesdays (double check before you go)

Free on Saturdays from 10am to noon (double check before you go)

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

www.prospectpark.org

www.bbg.org

Cherry Blossom Festival!  This is the time to visit this gem of a garden in Brooklyn's Prospect Park!  It took us nearly one hour to find parking, but once we did, it was all worth it.  Get a map and make sure to take in as much as you can!  Every inch is a work of art! The gallery speaks for itself!  

If you have extra time, venture out and expore all of Prospect Park (designed by the same architectural team of Manhattan’s Central Park) which should take about two hours to walk the perimeter trails. You will find lakes, ponds, a carousel, an ice skating rink, a roller skating rink, open fields, playgrounds and even waterfalls in this magical place in the middle of Brooklyn. You may even be able to spot an animal (we saw a peacock!) through a fence that connects to the Prospect Park Zoo!

For acquiring free passes, contact your local library.  For Great Neck residents, click here www.greatnecklibrary.org.

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Visit the Brooklyn Museum when you are here!  You may as well!  We visited with a baby and a toddler strapped in a double stroller, and walked into the museum for free one hour before it closed for the day.  There was a special exhibit that month of structures made out of soda cans as you can see in the photos. You can also dine in Park Slope a couple blocks West of the Botanical Gardens. This is a truly magical part of Brooklyn and a very upscale and wealthy neighborhood.  The townhouses are gorgeous!   There are other beautiful affluent neighborhoods to the South and West, and lots of celebrities live around here.  But Park Slope should be the hippest.  I would love to go back once a year!

For a list of other parks and gardens, click here.

Click on the gallery above, the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

The Boathouse

Grand Army Plaza

Allenwood Park

Great Neck, NY

No admission fee, free parking lot and free street parking

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

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One of the many parks in this lovely neighborhood, Allenwood is at its peak of beauty in the fall!  It has two wonderful playgrounds, one for older and one for younger children.  It has a pond where we were once able to feed the ducks.  It has sprinklers for children during the summer.  And just beautiful landscaping!

For a list of other parks and gardens, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Riverside Park

Upper West Side, NY

No admission fee, free parking on street

Optimum Seasons:  Spring, Summer, Fall

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/riverside-park

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Stretching four miles from 72nd to 158th streets along the Hudson River, Riverside Park is one of Manhattan's most spectacular waterfront parks.  We decided to go on a Mother's Day with my own mother as well and started our journey south from the 91st Street Garden.  There is a playground at the very bottom of the hill here (from what I recall from my memory) and then you can begin walking down a pedestrian walkway along the Hudson River.  There are a lot of bikers here as well.  It was just such an extraordinary experience and it happened to be a beautiful 80 degree day!  

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Columbus Avenue and Amsterdam Avenue are just a few blocks over and full of boutique shops.  Just walking around the neighborhood is enough of an activity with your children.  Trust me, for those who say their children don't enjoy these activities, it's only because they haven't been exposed to them!  

For a list of other parks and gardens, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions) and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on instagram and facebook for live adventures.  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page.

Battery Park

Downtown, NY

Parking on street

Optimum Seasons:  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

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One boring Sunday in the winter, I round up the troops and decided to go to downtown Manhattan and explore Battery Park.  From the southern tip, we walked up about a half mile on the boardwalk until we hit a charming city playground and just sat on a bench and enjoyed the views of New Jersey's new and improved skyline! On our walk back to the car, every turn in every narrow street, we saw a beautiful angle of the newly built and architecturally beautiful Freedom Tower!  But beware, street parking here can be difficult and if you are with a stroller and you have to cross the bridge on West Street, it will be pretty annoying.  Try to find parking west of West Street so you don't run into this bump along the way.

Kill a few birds with one stone:  The Oculus hadn't been built when we went a couple years ago, but I understand it is definitely something to see if you are in the area.  Google it!  Also, Seaglass Carousel at the Battery Conservancy was completed in August 2015.  It is $5 per 3 minute ride.  Definitely something to do with the young children while you are there!  Particularly at night when it's illuminated.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!

Nearby:

Staten Island Ferry

Oculus and Freedom Tower

Brooklyn Bridge

South Street Seaport and The Circle Line

Alley Park

Bayside, NY

No admission fee, free parking on street

Optimum Seasons:  Fall

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The most scenic part of this park is Oakland Lake (the Northwest point).  If you get here an hour before sunset on a clear sunny day, you will be due for the most exquisite sunset!  The foliage is brighter, the colors reflecting off the pond are more vibrant, and the shots are perfect.  You can use your children as props in photos, go on a romantic date, or just go here alone, sit on a bench and read a book for some tranquility.  I go here without fail every year in early November for photo ops. My favorite of all things fall foliage!  Important Fact:  This is located on Cloverdale Blvd one block south of Northern Blvd.  

Kill a few birds with one stone:  Drive around the neighborhood of Bayside north of Northern Blvd.  Specifically Bayside Terrace...some streets are private, but that never really has stopped me!!  Also, stop by Martha's Bakery on Bell Blvd on your way there and the Bayside Shopping Center.  Also, depending on whether you go on a Sunday or not, you can find a rope course activity at neighboring Alley Pond Park. 

For a list of other great places to take fall foliage pics, click here.

Click on the gallery above (best viewed on a desktop for captions), the videos below to get a better sense of the area, and add your feedback by clicking on the comments section below!  Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see my next adventure!  And share with your friends if you appreciate this page!