Hayden Planetarium

Union Square (also known as Union Square Park) is an important and historic intersection in New York City, located where Broadway and the Bowery came together in the early 19th century. Today it is bounded by 14th Street, Union Square East, 17th Street, and Union Square West. It is run and operated jointly by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.<br> In 1976, the Council on the Environment of New York City established the Greenmarket program, which provided regional small family farmers with opportunities to sell their fruits, vegetables and other farm products at open-air markets in the city. The most famous is the Union Square Greenmarket, held Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 8 AM and 6 PM year round. 250,000 customers a week purchase 1,000 varieties of fruits and vegetables at the market. The variety of produce available is broader by perhaps a factor of ten than what is found in a conventional supermarket.

When the 1900s arrived, this financial powerhouse had already cemented its place in America's economic backbone, fueled by explosive growth in market activity. Stock trades had surged threefold just between 1896 and 1899, then nearly doubled again as the new century took shape. The momentum demanded expansion. Rather than settle for incremental improvements, Exchange leaders orchestrated a prestigious design competition, challenging eight of Manhattan's most visionary architects to reimagine the space. The mandate was clear: craft a trading floor bathed in natural light, with breathing room for the frenetic pace of modern commerce and thoughtfully planned amenities for dealers and brokers. Today, visitors descending into that historic trading floor during winter's quiet months can feel the weight of that ambition still resonating through the soaring halls, a stark contrast to the frenetic energy of the pit during busier seasons.

Battery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City. The park is named after the artillery batteries that were positioned there in the late 17th and early 18th centuries to defend the city from naval attack. Today, the park is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, offering a variety of recreational and cultural activities. One of the main attractions of Battery Park is the stunning waterfront views of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visitors can take a ferry to these iconic landmarks from the park's ferry terminal. The park also features several monuments and memorials, including the Castle Clinton National Monument, a fort built in the early 1800s, and the American Merchant Mariners' Memorial, which honors the men and women who have served in the United States merchant marine.<br/> Battery Park is also home to several green spaces, including the Battery Oval, a large lawn and garden area, and the Battery Bosque, a serene and peaceful area that is perfect for a stroll or a picnic. In addition, the park has several playgrounds, a carousel, and a large dog run for visitors to enjoy.<br/> The park is also a popular spot for cultural events, such as outdoor concerts, film screenings, and festivals. The park also has a variety of food vendors and restaurants. Overall, Battery Park is a must-see destination for anyone visiting New York City, offering a wide range of activities and sights to see.

Girl of the Year 2013 Celebration. Celebrate the arrival of our newest Girl of the Year! At this special event, girls will learn about this new contemporary character, make fun crafts, and enjoy a delicious meal. Includes an American Girl book to take home. Reservations required. The NYC dates are January 11 and 18.<br/> For girls ages 8 and up.The American Girl Place in New York City is a unique store where girls can find a paradise in a doll experience. Find shops featuring all of their characters – from historical favorites, where their stories come to life before your girl’s eye, to My American Girl® dolls to their current Girl of the Year – plus Bitty Baby and the Bitty Twins. Explore outfits, accessories and furniture that help make every doll’s world complete. Dress Like a Doll® by matching your girl’s outfit with her best friend’s, creates the perfect pair. Visit the bookstore where girls can find the books they love, losing themselves in exciting stories, solving puzzles or doing craft projects. Visit the Avenue AG, on the second floor, where you can explore mini-shops filled with adorable accessories, sweet and savoring treats, design-it-yourself tees, and more surprises just for girls and their dolls. Experience fun and fancy dining at the American Girl Café. Let your girl feel very special when she is served at a table with pretty white linens, bright daisy centerpieces, and sparkling silverware. Your girl will even take home a memento as a reminder of her special day!

This 102-story Art Deco masterpiece takes its name from New York's state nickname, and its limestone and granite facade gleams particularly striking against winter's crisp skies. When it debuted in 1931, it claimed the title of world's tallest building for over four decades until the World Trade Center North Tower surpassed it in 1972. Following the events of September 11, 2001, it regained its status as New York's highest point. The structure earned distinction from the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Both the building itself and its street-level interiors carry landmark designation through the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and received formal confirmation from the New York City Board of Estimate.

Spread across 2,800 acres in the middle of Staten Island, this sprawling conservation area brings together forests, wetlands, and grasslands into one immersive landscape. Winter visits reveal a quieter, more contemplative side of the terrain—fewer crowds mean you can really sink into the stillness of the bare trees and frost-touched trails. The connected parks like LaTourette, Willowbrook, and High Rock each carve out their own character, where you might find yourself golfing, practicing archery, catching a baseball game, or tracking birds through the W. Davis Wildlife Refuge depending on the season. There's also a beloved carousel spinning year-round that draws families in for simple, timeless fun. Beyond the recreational side, the Conservancy runs environmental education programs, seasonal camps, and special events including concerts that shift with the calendar. Guided tours let you dig deeper into what makes each habitat tick and meet the creatures that call it home. Whether you're a local seeking refuge from the city's pace or traveling through, this green space delivers both adventure and peaceful escape.

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge that connects the New York City boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn. It spans the Narrows, a body of water that separates the two boroughs, and is named after the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who was the first European to enter New York Harbor in 1524. The bridge was designed by Othmar Ammann, who was also the chief engineer of the George Washington Bridge, and was completed in 1964. At the time of its completion, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world with a main span of 4,260 feet. The bridge has six lanes of traffic on the upper level and three on the lower level, and is a major transportation link for commuters and commercial vehicles. The bridge also offers a spectacular view of the New York City skyline and the harbor. The bridge's opening ceremony was attended by various dignitaries including Robert Moses, the powerful NYC Parks commissioner and urban planner who had pushed for the construction of the bridge. The bridge is considered as an engineering marvel and a significant transportation link in the New York City.

Operating since 1905, the Staten Island Ferry is one of the oldest continuously operating ferry systems in the United States. The ferries operating on this route are equipped with services such as refreshment points, rest areas and toilets. The journey from one terminal to the other takes about 25 minutes. The ferry is also an alternative to the car as it offers a convenient and reliable way to travel between the two parts of the city without traffic jams. Additionally, the ferry is an important part of New York City's transportation infrastructure and helps reduce congestion on the area's freeways.<br/> The Staten Island Ferry is a unique and distinctive feature of New York City that continues to play an important role in the city's transportation network.

Step back in time at this open-air museum sprawling across Staten Island, where more than 30 authentic structures transport you straight into New York's colonial past. The complex brings together a courthouse, schoolhouse, residences, and commercial buildings—each one meticulously restored to show how people actually lived generations ago. Winter visits carry a particular charm, with frost-lined pathways winding through quiet grounds that feel even more removed from the modern world. The Staten Island Historical Society operates from here, maintaining an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs that piece together the lives of residents throughout the centuries. You're not just walking through buildings; interpreters demonstrate period crafts and daily routines, while guided tours and hands-on activities let you engage with the material directly. Lectures and workshops happen regularly, and the surrounding gardens and grounds offer exploration beyond the structures themselves. The adjacent Decker Farm rounds out the experience, showcasing organic growing methods and seasonal harvests that illustrate how past communities sustained themselves. Year-round programming keeps things fresh whether you're visiting solo or bringing the whole family. The combination of genuine architecture, working demonstrations, and carefully preserved history creates something you won't find replicated elsewhere—a chance to genuinely understand what daily life looked like in early America.

Located on Staten Island 's North Shore Empire Zone. Built almost 75 Years ago, this theatre once housed 3,000 people and was a showcase for celebrities of that time and later, as a motion picture venue. It enjoyed a successful economic life from 1929 until the 1970’s. At that time, vaudeville was entertainment of a bygone era and multi-screen, small capacity motion picture theatres were cropping up throughout the island. Attempts were made to re-vitalize the theatre by using it as a flea market, an antique showroom, a night club, and skating rink. None of these lasted very long and many who remembered or heard fond stories of its past grandeur, wondered what would become of the beautiful St. George Theatre . Hope was raised in January 2001 when, in his State of the City address, then Mayor Rudolph Giuliani promised resources for the renovation of the St.George Theatre into a Performing Arts Center which would ensure revitalization into the entire neighborhood. Unfortunately, the tragic events of 9/11/01 understandably put a halt to these resources.

Escape into 39 acres of blooming gardens where roses, herbs, and seasonal flowers create a peaceful retreat from the city's pace. This verdant sanctuary celebrates the diverse cultures of Queens while offering the perfect summer backdrop for a leisurely stroll, picnic, or quiet moment surrounded by nature.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is located in Flushing, in the New York City borough of Queens and has been the home of the US Open Grand Slam tennis tournament played every year in August and September. According to the United States Tennis Association, the center is the largest public tennis facility in the world with 22 courts inside the facility and 11 more in the adjoining park. All 33 courts have used the DecoTurf cushioned acrylic surface since the facility was built in 1978. Source: en.wikipedia.org

Aqueduct Race Track, also known as Aqueduct Racetrack or simply Aqueduct, is a horse racing track located in Queens, New York. The track is part of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and is open for live racing throughout the year. The track has three separate tracks: a main dirt track, an inner turf course and an outer turf course. Aqueduct is home to several major horse racing events throughout the year, including the Wood Memorial Stakes, the Gotham Stakes, and the Cigar Mile Handicap. These events attract some of the top horses and jockeys in the sport and offer significant purse money to the winners. The track also hosts the New York Racing Festival, which features several graded stakes races.<br/> The track was originally opened in 1894, and has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years. In 2011, Aqueduct opened the Resorts World Casino New York City, which is now the largest casino in New York City and the only one in the five boroughs of New York City. The casino offers electronic slot machines and table games, and has a wide variety of dining and entertainment options.<br/> Aqueduct Race Track is easily accessible by public transportation, with the A train subway line stopping at the Aqueduct-North Conduit Avenue station, which is a short walk from the track. The track also has a large parking lot for those who choose to drive.

Flushing Meadow Corona Park is one of the greatest places in New York City. It has become the keystone park of Queens and a recreation and cultural hub for the region; yet, it was once just a dusty wasteland, "a valley of ashes" as F. Scott Fitzgerald dubbed it in the Great Gatsby. Its poetic, phoenix-like transformation from ash dump to oasis was driven by Queens' residents, the City and 1939 and 1965 World's Fair held in this park. These fairs put this park on the world's stage, and it has stayed there, hosting the United Nations General Assembly for five years, three baseball World Seres at Shea Stadium, and the U.S. Open.

Stepping onto these grounds means walking through decades of filmmaking history, where massive soundstages anchor the entire operation. Seven column-free stages span across the property, with the centerpiece hitting 26,000 square feet—the biggest facility of its kind anywhere east of the Hollywood sign. The recently added Stage K pushes past 18,000 square feet, while a pair of additional stages each exceed 12,000. For smaller productions, there's flexibility with spaces running 8,000, 4,000, and 3,000 square feet. Everything's positioned so that crews and equipment move seamlessly between stages, with support facilities tucked in close by. Winter visits carry a particular charm here, as the quiet between productions settles over the sprawling complex and the industrial architecture feels especially atmospheric against gray New York skies.

Explore layers of American history through the lens of a borough that's always been at the center of it all. The Bronx stretches across mainland New York City, home to 1.2 million residents whose cultures and traditions have shaped the nation's story from colonial times forward. Founded in 1955, this organization safeguards those interwoven narratives through multiple windows into the past. The Valentine-Varian House opens up colonial-era life as the Museum of Bronx History, while Edgar Allan Poe's cottage preserves the intimate spaces where the legendary writer spent his final years. Both buildings carry National Register recognition. Winter visits carry a particular quietness here, with frost settling over these 18th and 19th century structures in ways that somehow make their histories feel more tangible. Behind the scenes, the Archives and Research Library hold thousands of documents waiting to connect visitors with their own family threads or deeper understanding of the borough's evolution. Whether you're chasing genealogy, studying local heritage, or simply curious about how one borough reflected American transformation across centuries, you'll find substantial material to explore.

Lace up and glide across fresh ice right here in the Bronx—this recently opened rink welcomes skaters every single day of the week, from wobbly first-timers to seasoned blades. Whether you're looking to join group lessons tailored to your skill or just want to cruise around on your own, there's something for everyone from kids through adults. Winter's the perfect time to experience that crisp rink atmosphere, and you can catch open skating sessions throughout the colder months whenever the mood strikes.

In 1960, the Perkins-Freeman family deeded Wave Hill to the City of New York; Wave Hill, Inc., was formed in 1965 as a non-profit corporation. Today, as one of 33 City-owned cultural institutions, Wave Hill provides an oasis of serenity and offers programs in Horticulture, Environmental Education, Woodland Management and the Visual and Performing Arts. Through the arts and sciences, Wave Hill seeks to foster connections between people and nature.

Home to the New York Yankees since 2009, this state-of-the-art ballpark in the Bronx delivers an unforgettable game day experience with world-class amenities and stunning views. Catch a summer game in one of baseball's most iconic venues, or dive deeper with the Yankee Inside Experience, which includes a meet-and-greet with a current player, guided stadium tour, and buffet lunch. Built across from the original stadium at a cost of $1.5 billion, it stands as one of the most impressive sports facilities ever constructed.

The best way to connect to nature in New York City is by visiting the Bronx Zoo, the world’s largest urban zoo. With world-class exhibits such as the Wild Asian Monorail, the Tiger Mountain, the Congo Gorilla Forest and the newest exhibit, Madagascar, the Bronx Zoo features more than 600 different species, including mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians and insects. Check the daily schedule of feedings and enrichment demonstrations and then customize your trip with their interactive trip planner. Find your inner animal on the Animal Activity Trail; watch amazing aerial tricks at the World of Birds; experience a very unique form of New York City transit when you ride a camel around Wild Asia Plaza; feed and watch Magellanic penguins come out of their dens and bob for fish; watch one of the most popular attractions, the Sea Lion feeding and training demonstration; visit the Butterfly Garden, a wild meadow and spacious greenhouse where you can identify different butterflies, smell the flowers and learn how to plant a nectar-rich garden. No matter how you plan your trip to the Bronx Zoo.

Red Hook Boaters is a community of boating enthusiasts located in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The organization provides affordable access to the waterfront for local residents and visitors, offering a variety of boating programs, classes, and events. Members have access to the organization's fleet of sailboats, kayaks, and rowboats, as well as the use of the boathouse facilities, which include a classroom and meeting space. The organization's mission is to promote boating as a means of connecting with the waterfront and fostering a sense of community among its members. They also focus on educating and training members on safety and boating skills, as well as promoting environmental stewardship on the water.<br/> Red Hook Boaters offers a variety of programs including youth sailing, adult sailing classes, and community sailing events. They also participate in local regattas and races, and host events such as on-water BBQs and full-moon paddles.<br/> In addition to boating activities, Red Hook Boaters also advocates for public access to the waterfront and works with local organizations and government agencies to improve boating infrastructure and facilities in the area. Overall, it is a great place for boating enthusiasts to come together and enjoy their passion for boating in the heart of Brooklyn.

Wander through habitats housing creatures you'd never encounter otherwise and let curiosity guide your steps through this sprawling Brooklyn animal sanctuary. The pathways wind close enough to observe behaviors you'd miss from a distance, whether watching a lion's commanding presence or a smaller creature's surprising quirks. Families find themselves naturally drawn into the rhythm of the day here, surrounded by the raw energy of the animal kingdom. Kids gravitate toward the discovery center to practice hands-on animal care under supervision, applying real techniques on live residents. The young naturalist area invites visitors to role-play a camping experience—complete with mock campfire cooking and wildlife identification using field guides. Come spring and summer when the sea lions are particularly receptive, feeding time becomes an interactive highlight that animals and visitors alike seem to anticipate. Weekend visits unlock conversations with zookeepers who share insider stories about animal personalities and daily routines. Winter visits carry their own quiet appeal, with crisp air and fewer crowds creating an intimate atmosphere for observation. There's genuine variety woven throughout—different experiences at every turn, different lessons waiting around each corner, different reasons to return.

Just a short ferry ride from Red Hook, this 172-acre island transforms into a vibrant summer destination with rolling hills offering stunning harbor views, historic military landmarks like Castle Williams and Fort Jay, and creative outdoor art installations. Hammock Grove invites you to kick back in one of 50+ suspended hangouts, while playgrounds, sports courts, and lush green spaces provide endless ways to spend the day. The island hosts year-round events including concerts, festivals, and outdoor movie nights, all accessible via free ferry service from Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The purpose of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse, a 501c3 non-profit, is to promote human-powered boating and safe public access to the Brooklyn waterfront, to provide opportunities for people to learn about and participate in human-powered boating, and to promote environmentally sound policies that provide for and sustain human-powered boating in New York harbor.

Prospect Park is a public park located in Brooklyn, New York. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who also designed Central Park in Manhattan. Prospect Park covers 526 acres and offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for visitors. The park features several notable attractions, including the Long Meadow, a 90-acre meadow that is popular for picnics and sunbathing; the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a 52-acre garden that features a variety of plants, flowers, and trees; and the Prospect Park Zoo, which is home to over 300 species of animals. The park also has several lakes and ponds, including the Lullwater, which is popular for boating and fishing. Prospect Park also offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors, including bike and boat rentals, horse-drawn carriage rides, and ice skating in the winter. The park is also home to several playgrounds, sports fields, and courts for basketball, soccer, and handball. The park is also home to several cultural institutions such as the Lefferts Historic House, the Prospect Park Carousel and the Brooklyn Museum, which is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. The park also hosts various events throughout the year, including concerts, festivals, and outdoor movie screenings.<br/> Prospect Park is easily accessible by public transportation, with several subway and bus lines stopping at the Prospect Park station, which is located at the park's main entrance. The park also has several parking lots for those who choose to drive.<br/> Prospect Park is a great place to spend a day with family and friends, with something for everyone to enjoy, and is considered as one of Brooklyn's most popular and important public spaces.