Brooklyn Botanic Garden (Brooklyn, NY)

“BBG blooms in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world. Each year more than 750,000 people visit the well-manicured formal and informal gardens that are a testament to nature’s vitality amidst urban brick and concrete. More than 12,000 kinds of plants from around the globe are displayed on 52 acres and in the acclaimed Steinhardt Conservatory. There’s always something new to see.”

At the Garden

If you’re brave enough to venture off the island of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a wonderful treat; the ponds are full of fish and turtles, the fountain in front of the conservatory has giant goldfish, and rabbits wander through some of the gardens. This large park exhibits numerous plant species from all over the world, almost all of which are neatly labeled with scientific and common names. There are a lot of meandering paths with maps and signposts at various points; pick up your own map at the visitor’s center to make navigating easier.

Themed areas include a Japanese garden, a rock garden (which has flowers as well as rocks, unlike Zen rock gardens), a rose garden and a native flora garden. There is also a cherry tree lined lawn which visitors are officially allowed to sit on, and a conservatory where various ecosystems, tropical, desert, aquatic, are recreated in greenhouses.

You can spend as much time as you want here, from a few hours to a whole day. Be prepared for sun, rain and bugs of all kinds, since you will be outdoors for most of your visit. The park is a popular destination for schools, camps and families so expect to see large numbers of kids whenever you visit.