It has been a long winter.  Luckily you have had SNOWMAN down jackets by your side, but we are all ready for the temperatures to rise and for blue skies to grace our city once again.  Now that spring fever is upon us, everyone is hunting for the best places to bask in the sun and experience the natural beauty of the season.  SNOWMAN is bringing you our top 8 suggestions for places to enjoy the season.  P.S. There is no need to sweat the eminent April Showers; just bring along your Action Collection Outerwear!   

A classic spot, especially convenient for Manhattanites, is the High Line. The annual Spring Cutback, when the gardens in the park are prepared for the season, is in progress, so fresh blooms will be out in full force soon.  April through October, the park hosts weekly stargazing sessions starting at 9pm on Tuesday nights.  Find the group at the west 14^th entrance, and get your head out of the daily grind.  Other events and tours include poetry walks and educational guided explorations of the park’s fauna.  

If you find yourself in Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn is a brilliant, easily accessible place to take a respite from the island’s congestion.  Prospect Park, the borough’s equivalent to Central Park, encompasses 585 acres.  Within the park there are densely wooded forest, picnic and cookout facilities, lakes, waterfalls, and a host of other wonders.  Central Park is fantastic, but you can almost always still catch a glimpse of the skyline.  Here, in Prospect Park, you feel completely removed from the city environment.  Easily access the park via the subway along the 2, 3, 4, 5, F, B, Q, A, C, G lines and more! 

Located within the park is another must-experience spot this spring, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.  The beautiful system of gardens is spread across 52 acres of Prospect Park.  Admission is $6 for students and $12 for adults, and the park is open all days except Monday.  Make your way out for Sakuri Matsuri, the annual Cherry Blossom Fesival on April 25^th and 26^th.  This is a perfect event to gather with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate the coming season.  Enjoy the fresh, vibrant blooms in addition to 60 events and performers over the course of the two-day festival.    

If you are truly looking to escape city life and have a free afternoon to spend, venture up to Wave Hill.  This magical setting encompasses a 28-acre space along the Hudson River in the Bronx.  Rare species of flora can be found throughout the park including Okame Cherry Trees and South African bulbs.  The setting, revered for its beauty, is frequented as a wedding destination.  The Wave Hill House hosts a café, open Tuesday through Sunday 10am – 4:30pm and two, more upscale, seatings for afternoon tea.  We recommend that you make a reservation to dine on the terrace and enjoy the scenery.

May 23^rd is a big day; Governor’s Island opens to the public for the season.  This is a prime place to bike, walk, run, picnic, and more.  Over 50 acres of the island are open to the public.  This is hands down one of the best places to see a complete view of New York Harbor in addition to the Statue of Liberty and Downtown Manhattan.  Throughout the summer, events are hosted here from concerts to gastronomic affairs!  Is someone you know a big Civil War buff?  This is the place for re-enactors to gather.  Catch ferries at the Lower Manhattan dock, just beside the Staten Island Ferry.  Tickets cost less than subway fare!

Queens is often overlooked when the discussion of borough green space begins, but Flushing Meadows Corona Park is absolutely breathtaking.  This 1,255 acre park is home to the Botanical Gardens, a wildlife center, Queens Museum of Art, the New York Hall of Science, The New York Mets’s Citi Field, and the site of the US Open.  The American Small Craft Association offers reasonably priced sailing lessons in Meadow Lake, or choose to have a great barbeque in the designated lawn.  With 24 accessible, large grills, you never have to worry about waiting your turn for the coals!  The family-friendly place is a wonderful multi-faceted space with something for everyone to enjoy!   

The Oldest public golf links in the Unites States can be found in Van Cortlandt Park.  Not a golfer?  The park is also home to a challenging cross-country course.  Not a runner?  Nature trails wind throughout the park, so again, there is something for everyone here.  This 1,146 acre park is home to many public facilities which include a pool, but also include the Riverdale Stables.  This facility offers riding lessons to all levels throughout the year.  Learn everything from the basics of steering to competitive jumping techniques all within the lovely park setting.   

No matter your borough, interest, or timeframe, there is a place for you to enjoy the outdoors this spring.  We suggest that you get out and enjoy before the summer heat settles!  Get prepared with SNOWMAN’s high fashion rain gear, and take the season on in rain or shine!   

Sources: inhabitat.com, gothamist.com, sailtasca.org, Nycgovparks.org