Quiet in the City

Although the noises of the city have their own charm, sometimes it's nice to find some peace and quiet. That's easier said then done in NYC, but there are a few spots in Central Park in which you might momentarily forget that you're in the most populous city in the U.S. 

The dirt paths in The Ramble offer an opportunity to stroll through the woods with few other people around. In fact, I've never seen more than two other people on these paths. 

Shakespeare Garden is another peaceful place to explore. It's generally a bit more crowded than The Ramble but still provides a fairly quiet retreat. I love the stone paths and wooden fences. 

The End of the High Line

The final section of the High Line is complete! I went by earlier this week just before sunset to check it out...

I have to say that I don't think this is the most scenic part of the High Line, since the area is being developed and there is a lot of construction going on. However, it is cool to see the train yard and it does provide a look at a different side of Manhattan, since the area has less tall buildings and more open space. (Although, it won't be that way for long)

If cranes are your thing, this is the place for you!

I really liked the extra little details they added in this part of the park to pay homage to the High Lines roots as a former railroad track. 

  The plants and flowers were, of course, beautiful.

 I really loved this bench which curves around the path and a nearby building.

If you decide to visit, I would definitely recommend going in the early evening because, it is a nice place to watch the sun set over the Hudson. The light also makes for great photos at that time of day!

A Late Night Stroll

Sometimes I have that antsy feeling at night where I just want to get out. At times like that, I think it's nice to go for a walk. It certainly doesn't hurt to choose a walk with a view, so the other night we decided to take a stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge. 

The Statue of Liberty in the distance.

A bit of Brooklyn Bridge Park.

I'd also recommend stopping at Juliana's (on the Brooklyn side) for delicious pizza

And, of course, a slice of New York cheesecake!

Governor's Island

I had been wanting to take the ferry out to Governor's Island for weeks and finally got around to it this weekend. It was amazing! Such a great (and inexpensive!) escape from the city. The ferry was just $2 and there are also certain times when you can catch it for free. We packed bread, salami, and cheese for lunch and had a picnic as soon as we got there (we had to eat fast though, there were quite a lot of bees). Then we rented a tandem bike and just biked around the island for a few hours, enjoying the fantastic views of the city and the Statue of Liberty. 

We caught the ferry from Manhattan at the Battery Maritime Building. While waiting for the ferry to leave we watched helicopters take off and land at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. 

I loved all the houses with cute porches on the island, it reminded me of a small town in New England with a town square. 

Neither of us had used a tandem bike before, but luckily we caught on fast. 

Riding on the backseat and not being able to steer was an adjustment but pedaling was (obviously) much easier with two. That said, if you're trying to actually exercise, these probably aren't the best option.

 I just couldn't get enough of those views. ^

You're allowed to bring food onto the island, but there are also a lot of food trucks. We took a break from biking and indulged in some dairy-free strawberry ice cream from Alchemy Creamery. We tried the cookie crumbs topping and it was SO good.

I loved this telephone sculpture! ^

Right before returning our bikes, we saw these awesome paddle-boarders. It looked like so much fun!

Next time I want to go with a group and rent one of the surreys! ^

Before we left, we relaxed in the shade for a while and listened to a concert (part of the Rite of Summer music festival).

I'd love to go back to Governor's Island! The bike paths are amazing, and although the island is small, there's really a lot to see and do!