Any trip to New York would be incomplete without a visit to the 843-acre Central Park; however, many of Central Park's activities involve manicured lawns and chattering crowds, leaving much to be desired for the outdoor enthusiast. Off the beaten path however, Central Park is home to winding trails, shady forest groves and occasional moments of solitude. Central Park's North Woods, on the west side of the park between 101st and 110th Streets, is just such an area. Less frequented than the southern portion of the park, this forest is the most accessible and secluded outdoor setting for "bouldering" in the New York City. Here, rock climbers can wander the area and take their pick of rocks, including Worthless Rock which boasts a substantial overhang— popular climbs are marked with chalk. Nearby, in the southwestern area of the park, lies Rat Rock, the bouldering Mecca of Central Park, which offers good climbs but major crowds.

A narrow green rectangle stretches up the Upper West side of Manhattan. Beginning at 72nd Street along the Hudson River, Riverside Park's tree lined bike and walking paths are nothing less than picturesque on a sunny day. Views of the Hudson River and the shores beyond to the left and grassy hillsides spotted with reclining city folk to the right continue all the way to the park's end at 125th Street. Riverside Park is also home to two gardens, numerous playgrounds and a soccer field. Further north at 145th Street, Riverbank State Park is a one of a kind 28-acre recreational facility. This multi-layered park offers expansive views, a 25-yard lap pool and track and athletic fields galore.

Stretching the length of approximately 26 city blocks, Rockaway Park Beach on the outskirts of what is technically Queens provides a seaside escape within the city. The boardwalk offers beachside restaurants with offerings ranging from Italian ice to pizza and beer. The beach itself, predominately frequented by a local crowd, is spacious enough that it rarely feels congested. Families bring picnics and set-up camp for the day, and children and adults frolic in the frothy waves. On the hour ride to the beach from Manhattan, the A train fills up with folding chairs, children and coolers. At one point the ocean fills the view from both sides of the subway car creating an illusion of floating across the water.

Prospect Park is Brooklyn's all-purpose urban oasis. On a sunny weekend day, families flock to Prospect Park's abundant picnic tables and grills for some wholesome, rowdy fun. Dog-lovers, too, appreciate the park for its off-leash hours and areas. At Long Meadow Dog Beach, only dogs are allowed to swim at this beach, but owners and spectators can enjoy watching them splash, cavort and play fetch. The rest of Prospect Park's 585 acres are full of trails, bike/running paths, fields and ponds. The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens are located at the northeast corner of the park and offer plant collections and specialty gardens, while the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the nation's first urban Audubon Center, is located on the east side and offers interpretive nature trails and environmental education programs. Easily accessible from Manhattan by the F train to 7th Avenue station (west side), the 2 or 3 train to Grand Army Plaza station (north side), or the B or Q train to Prospect Park station (east side), the park offers an outdoor respite for those coming from Manhattan and Brooklyn alike.

What this park lacks in size, it more than makes up for in attitude. At McCarren Park (located in Williamsburg, New York's hipster enclave), visitors tend to sport more oversized sunglasses than athletic gear. The 35-acre park does, however, provide green grass for lounging, a quarter mile track, tennis courts and fields for baseball, football, and soccer. These days, the McCarren Park Pool, no longer a spot for swimming laps, has been converted into a super hip concert venue where twenty-somethings rock their fashion statements and dance moves to popular Indie rock bands. A quick ride on the L train to the Bedford stop (one stop from Manhattan), McCarren Park offers a distinctly New York take on the traditional park—one that is definitely worth seeing.

Whether it's the communities or landscape, diversity is the name of the game at Fire Island, located off the coast of Long Island. That said, two aspects of Fire Island are the same throughout: the laid back vibe and the consistently exceptional scenery. Visitors to the Sunken Forest area of the island can traverse boardwalk paths through an ancient forest that seemingly exists below the level of the surrounding sea. The Watch Hill area of the island boasts a small campground and relatively uncrowded ocean beach. Backpackers are allowed to camp among the dunes in the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness Area year round. Fire Island is easily accessible from Manhattan via the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station, and ferries from three Long Island ports (Patchogue, Sayville and Bay Shore) transport travelers out to the island and back. Cars are not allowed on Fire Island, so island traffic is mainly of the foot, bike or water taxi variety.

Harriman State Park, New York's second largest state park, lies only 40 miles northwest of Manhattan. Here, hikers and campers can find 200 public campsites, an extensive trail network (including portions of the Appalachian Trail and Long Path) through the highlands and three swimming beaches. Much of Harriman State Park is most easily accessible by car, but the Metro North train to Tuxedo Park, NY offers at least one entry point accessible by public transportation. An easy day hike from the Tuxedo Park train station leads to Claudius Smith's Den, a rock shelter used by the infamous outlaw. Not only is Tuxedo Park a short hour and a half trip from Penn Station in Manhattan, but it also offers a nice sleepy town to explore after a day of hiking. The single main street is home to a Mom and Pop diner, bar, library and antique store.

There are two main reasons to make the trip to Jones Beach State Park located off the coast of Long Island. During the day, the 6.5 miles of ocean beach and 1.5 miles of bay beach draw visitors with their white sand, blue skies and mental distance from Manhattan life. Jones Beach State Park is a short trip on Long Island Railroad from Penn Station to Freeport, followed by a bus trip from Freeport to Jones Beach. Cares float away as the air becomes dense with the ocean breeze on the short bus ride from Freeport. On summer nights, this same trip ends at the Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, a state of the art amphitheater overlooking the water that attracts some of the summer's biggest tours.

An ideal combination of accessibility and adventure make the Breakneck Ridge hike in Hudson Highlands State Park a must. A steep scramble up a cliff facing Hudson River leads to Breakneck Ridge, beautiful views of the river below and access to an extensive trail network leading back into the highlands. These winding trails (including the Appalachian Trail) crisscross through the highlands and lead to abundant lakes and peaks, such as Sugarloaf Mountain and Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus), which also provide spectacular views of the Hudson Valley. An hour and a half train ride on the Metro North from Grand Central Station to the Breakneck Ridge Station drops hikers a quarter mile from the trailhead. The portable snack stand in the trailhead parking lot sells food and refreshments for the train ride back.

Clarence Fahnestock State Park is ten miles east of the Hudson River and 60 miles north of Manhattan. The Appalachian Trail travels through the park, but the real jewel of the area is Canopus Lake. Visitors can swim in the crisp water of the designated swimming area and relax on the hot, white sand of the lakeside beach. At the other end of the lake, rowboats are available for rent and fishing is allowed by permit. A snack stand by the lake sells all the essentials for a campsite cookout: hot dogs, chocolate and marshmallows to name a few. Across the road, Clarence Fahnestock State Park's scenic campground has eighty sites, including a special section for campers with dogs. In the winter, winter sports enthusiasts travel to Fahnestock Winter Park for the designated sledding area and groomed snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails. Clarence Fahnestock State Park is reached by taking the Metro North train from Grand Central Station to Cold Spring, New York and a van taxi (arrange in advance) from the town of Cold Spring to the park a few miles away.