I don’t technically have a bucket list, but if I did, boy would hiking the Kalalau Trail in Hawaii have been high up on it. In fact, I planned my recent 12-day stopover in Hawaii around this trek and spent most of that time exploring the garden isle of Kauai.
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New York may be famed for its Broadway shows, world class shopping, and Michelin-starred restaurants, but it also offers a myriad of opportunities for affordable outdoor activities.
Here are 50 great outdoor activities in NYC, all located within the 5 boroughs and accessible by subway:
Free Outdoor Activities in NYC
Cycling the Hudson River Greenway.
I’ve sung the praises of North Brooklyn before. Surely you remember me raving about the arepas at Caracas Arepa Bar, and all the phenomenal coffee shops in Brooklyn, and the bangin’ street art in Williamsburg, and the Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea outdoor markets.
Let’s suppose you’re visiting NYC from some faraway land, possibly for the first time. You’ve strategically based yourself in East Midtown at a hotel just a few blocks from Grand Central Terminal and all the Bucket List-worthy tourist attractions nearby.
In April 2010, aka Month #9 of Funemployment after quitting my first-ever corporate job, I took a spontaneous trip out west, flew into Vegas, rented a car, and roadtripped for a week with my old Brooklyn roommate Lauren.
As much as I live for the beach, I have much love for the desert, too. It’s why I adore both the coast and the Outback of Australia. There’s just something very exotic about deserts – they’re harsh, hot, wide open spaces.
This post was last updated in June 2020.
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Planning a trip to explore the Grand Canyon and Arizona? Consider booking one of these boutique hotels in Sedona.
Enchantment Resort
Photo via Enchantment Resort
This 5-star resort boasts a 5-star backdrop with the iconic Red Rocks that Sedona is famed for.
I’ve long been a raving fan of California. Even before my first visit at age 23, I knew it was ‘my place’: somewhere I’d continue to visit and eventually live in.
Though New York is a notoriously expensive city, there’s actually a plethora of free or cheap things to do here. Below are 5 of the best affordable outdoor activities in NYC.