10 places in NYC that don’t feel like the city

NEW YORK (PIX11) — The dog days of summer are almost over, but in case you can’t plan one final getaway, there are places throughout New York City that can feel like a mini-escape.

Here are some hidden gems in the city to soak in during the last summer. They will make you feel like you’ve been transported to a new place.

6BC Botanical Garden

This mini garden tucked away in the East Village was founded in 1981 when local community members started maintaining their own plots in the area. Among its many plants and flowers, 6BC Botanical Garden also boasts a koi pond and horticultural library.

The garden is open Wednesday, Friday, and weekends from April through the end of Oct. More information about operational times and events can be found on the garden’s website .

New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden

Based on China’s Ming Dynasty gardens, the architecture for this Staten Island-based garden was developed in Suzhou, China. The area is made up of eight pavilions, including a bamboo forest path, waterfalls, a Koi-filled pond, and a variety of Ghongshi scholar’s rocks.

The Chinese Scholar’s Garden is open Wednesday through Friday and on weekends. For more information, click here .

Fort Tryon Park

Fort Tryon Park sits at the top of Manhattan and offers some of the best elevated views of the Hudson River and Palisades. It’s also home to the city’s largest public garden and dog run. The park’s crown jewel is The Met Cloisters, a designated New York City landmark that was built using parts from Romanesque and Gothic monasteries.

Fort Tryon Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., while The Met Cloisters is open Thursday through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, click here .

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is made up of multiple mini gardens, including the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the Cranford Rose Garden, Magnolia Plaza, the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum, and the orchid collection at the Aquatic House.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is typically open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with early morning openings and late closings as detailed on their website .

New York Botanical Garden

This National Historic Landmark offers 250 acres of greenery, including the Thain Family Forest and Mitsubishi Wild Wetland Trail. The garden also boasts large collections of magnolias, daffodils, azaleas, lilacs, and peonies.

The New York Botanical Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as well as some federal holidays. For more information, click here .

Green-Wood Cemetery

Despite its name, Green-Wood Cemetery is another New York City Landmark and National Historic Landmark whose beauty and popularity in the 1860s inspired the creation of Prospect and Central Parks. Its 478 acres include hills, valleys, glacial ponds, and paths lined by the graves of history’s most famous figures.

The Green-Wood Cemetery is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, click here .

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

This wildlife refuge is one of the largest bird habitats in the northeastern United States and includes more than 12,600 acres of water, saltmarshes, ponds and upland fields and woods as well as open bay and islands. More than 330 species of birds migrate to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see rare ones.

The refuge trails and parking lot are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, click here .

Little Paris

Located on Centre Street between Broome and Grand streets, this Lower Manhattan spot offers a taste of Parisian life. Building replicas of Paris’ City Hall, as well as French bakeries, wine bars, and galleries, will make visitors feel like they’ve traveled without the jet lag.

The French businesses that line the street are open daily at different times.

Marine Park Salt Marsh Nature Trail

At 800 acres, Marine Park is the largest park in Brooklyn that offers nature trails along the borough’s waterfront. It offers scenic views from multiple lookout points, including the Tidal Marsh Bridge, Mudflat Lookout, and White Island Lookout. Free nature programs are held at the Salt Marsh Nature Center along with family activities such as kayaking and canoeing.

Marine Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, click here .

Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here .

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