Fort Tryon Park

Fort Tryon Park (Margaret Corbin Drive), New York, NY 10040. Tel: 212-923-3700. Fax: 212-795-3640

Built by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son of the architect of Central Park, in 1935, and gifted to the city of New York by John D. Rockefeller in 1917.

Centuries after its creation, parkgoers can picnic, run, play, and enjoy the historic architecture that has survived and thrived within the park. Beyond its dedication to natural beauty, as evidenced by its gardens and grounds. Perched high above its northern grounds are the Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum that houses nearly 5,000 medieval works in a reconstructed medieval monastery. After soaking up ancient artwork, visitors can venture next door to the New Leaf Restaurant & Bar, an upscale restaurant perfect for romantic dinners and friendly brunches.

The pristine view of the Hudson River makes the park the perfect setting for outdoor lunches, bike rides, and strolls.

155th Street to Dyckman Street, between Amsterdam Avenue and the Harlem River Drive. Tel: 212-927-2600

Named after the High Bridge, the city's oldest standing bridge, Highbridge Park was assembled piecemeal between 1867 and the 1960s, with the bulk being acquired through condemnation from 1895 to 1901.

The Dyckman Farmhouse is Manhattan's last Dutch-colonial farmhouse. During the 19th Century, it was used to produce fruits and vegetables for the NYC market. The house features a collection of Revolutionary War artifacts.

Little Red Lighthouse

Fort Washington Park, West 178th Street at the Hudson River. Tel: 212-304-2365.

The Jeffreys Hook Lighthouse served as a navigational aid before and after the George Washington Bridge was built. But it was deactivated in 1947 and was scheduled to be dismantled. Hildegard Swift's children's book, The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge, popularized the lighthouse, and the millions of children who loved the lighthouse spoke out, saving it from destruction. Today, the Urban Park Rangers conduct tours of the light. In the fall, a Little Red Lighthouse Festival features tours of the light, food, photo displays and a reading of the famous story.


Morris-Jumel Mansion

65 Jumel Terrace (Edgecombe Avenue at 160th Street), New York, NY 10032. Tel: 212-923-8008. Fax: 212-923-8947

Built in 1765, Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest house in Manhattan and is a museum highlighting 232 years of New York history, culture, and arts. Twelve period rooms exhibit the life and times of Colonel Roger Morris, the original builder, George Washington, who occupied the house, and the merchant family of Stephen and Eliza Jumel. The Morris-Jumel has a colorful calendar of events throughout the year including a classical music series, a jazz festival and children's arts workshops.

The Armory - The National Track and Field Hall of Fame

216 Fort Washington Avenue (at 168th Street), New York, NY 10032. Tel: 212-923-1803. Fax: 212-923-1645

The National Track & Field Hall of Fame is the only sports museum in New York City, consisting of 15,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, archival displays and rare artifacts. The Hall of Fame is dedicated to the spirit of achievement exemplified by the great American heroes of track and field.

Inwood Hill Park

There's old New York, and then there's old New York. Inwood Hill Park is a living piece of old New York. Evidence of its prehistoric roots exists as dramatic caves, valleys, and ridges left as the result of shifting glaciers. Evidence of its uninhabited state afterward remains as its forest and salt marsh (the last natural one in Manhattan), and evidence of its use by Native Americans in the 17th century continues to be discovered. Much has occurred on the land that now composes Inwood Hill Park since the arrival of European colonists in the 17th and 18th centuries, but luckily, most of the park was largely untouched by the wars and development that took place. The park continues to honor and cultivate its environment. In 2002, the Urban Park Rangers launched a five-year bald eagle release project in the park, in hopes of re-introducing the bird species to New York City. In the summer of 2007, the park's Dyckman Marina was added to New York State's Hudson River Greenway Water Trail, a project aimed at reacquainting city dwellers with natural bodies of water and encouraging citizen stewardship. Similarly, a hiking trail and the Hudson River Bike Trail offer visitors chances to appreciate large stretches of the park's natural beauty in an environmentally friendly manner.