5 city parks to revel in in New York

A disused rail line from the 1930s has been transformed into a 1,5-mile-long landscaped wonderland, perched 30 ft above the street. An exciting new breed of modern building has taken over the area too – the HL 23, the crooked building on 23rd and the IAC Building, the frosted, amorphic giant between 18th and 19th Streets. Start your walk at the Whitney Museum.

Another fine spot along the East River, this park sits in front of the city’s landmarked Domino Sugar Refinery, once a force in the neighborhood’s economy, now an office building. The 6-acre park has a wonderful promenade, which incorporates salvaged equipment from the refinery as sculptures and delightfully transformed into a colorful children’s playground.

At the northwestern tip of Manhattan is 196 acres overlooking the Bronx, where you can also see two bridges spanning the East River, and a serene section of the Hudson. The natural forest, valleys and ridges hold remnants of the ancient and even prehistoric New York when the Lenape Native American tribes used the caves as dwellings.

Founded in 1838 as one of the first rural cemeteries in America. Their 478 acres are donned with beautiful statuary and mausoleums, and a stunning entry gate. Check the calendar for events, like the annual tour of the catacombs. Famous folks buried here: artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Morgan – the wiz of The Wizard of Oz. 

This charming little island on the edge of the Meatpacking District in the Hudson River is worth a visit for the design by Thomas Heatherwick and for its beautiful trees, flowers and grasses. There’s a 687- seat amphitheater and stunning views of the city as well as the Hudson River and New Jersey.