When people think of New York City, one of the most populous cities in the world, they rarely think of the amazing amount of natural and green areas incorporated into its design and planning. In fact, the big apple contains over 28,000 acres of parkland, and a further 14 miles worth of beaches. With the number of visitors increasing each year since 9/11, as well as airlines increasingly offering flights to New York from Europe, the city is set to get ever popular. So for the visitors who are considering a visit but are daunted by the relentless bustle, here is a guide to the natural side of New York City.
Well, this article wouldn't be right without it. Central Park has been an official land mark since 1963, but has since grown to include more than just trees and grass. Today the 843 acres boast lakes, ponds, tracks, ice rinks, and even an outdoor theatre. The park receives over 20 million visitors every year which is the most for any park in the US, despite the fact that there are many more that are bigger in size. The park has a carriage horse service, is host to music festivals, and even has its own all-volunteer ambulance service.
Central is not the only significant park in the city, Brooklyn is also home to its own sprawling green area. Prospect Park is slightly smaller, at 585 acres, buts its Long Meadow is considered by many to be one of the biggest urban meadows in the country. Prospect is also home to its own zoo which houses porcupines, sea lions and red pandas. Yet perhaps one of its most unique attractions is the former home of Edwyn Clark Litchfield's decadent Italiante Mansion - Litchfield Villa.
The New York Botanical Garden is located on the Bronx Park and draws over 800,000 visitors a year. The garden was founded in 1891 by Nathaniel Lord Britton after he saw the Gardens at Kew, London. Some of the trees on the premises are more than two centuries old, and make up a collection of flora that is incredibly divers, including: tulips, wetlands plants, and tall beeches.
Wave Hill is a smaller 28 acre estate located in The Bronx. The site, popular with horticulturalists, overlooks the Hudson River and is made up of colourful and visually stimulating gardens. There are two houses on the site, the most famous being Wave House which has seen many famous tenants including Mark Twain and Darwins Bulldog, Thomas Henry Huxley. The gardens are also used for beekeeping, and include an aquatic garden and a Conservatory.
San Francisco is one of the most populous in California. Since the California Gold Rush and the city's establishment as a centre for finance and commerce, biotechnology firms and micro-businesses have come to be founded in the area - with Silicon Valley just a stones throw away. Despite this, the driving force behind San Francisco's economy is tourism, made up of millions of visitors a year who want to visit the place that is the subject of so many songs, movies, books, and other forms of popular culture. With European airlines offering flights to San Francisco, 2009 makes this city of culture more accessible than it has ever been.The Golden Gate Bridge is often regarded as the definitive structural icon of San Francisco. Construction took four years from 1833 to 1937, and when it was completed it was the longest bridge of its kind in the world. It has since been surpassed in length, but still remains a uniquely breathtaking attraction. Additionally, there are many other architectural and structural sights in the City, such as the quaint "Painted Ladies" Victorian houses, and the city's very own cable car system.
For those eager to delve for a little more deeper history than what is on the surface, there are many museums to be visited. The Museum of the African Diaspora and the Contemporary Jewish Museum offer an interesting insight into the culturally diverse background of the city. There are also many more underground attractions that have developed from the city's inherent liberal politics, such as The Antique Vibrator Museum, and the UFO, Bigfoot and Loch Ness Monster Museum.
Additionally, there are many art galleries displaying local and international art. The Museum of Modern Art is no doubt the most popular. Opened in 1935 and situated on Third Street, the museums is dedicated solely to 20th Century art and includes work by Jackson Pollock and Marcel Duchamp. The M. H. de Young Memorial Museum and the Asian Art Museum both display more historical works from other corners of the globe, with exhibitions including Egyptian and Chinese artefacts respectively.
San Francisco is also know as a centre for music and festivals. Aside from being the subject of many famous popular songs such as I Left My Heart in San Francisco and San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear flowers in Your Hair), music is very much ingrained within the soul of the city and the area has pioneered many sounds and given rise to many pioneering artists, such as Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Dead Kennedys, and Faith No More. The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is a free music festival held in the Golden Gate Park every year since 2001.
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