You’ve probably been sitting in your dorm room or library cubicle since finals season started. But come on, the sun is out, the trees are blooming, and no matter what global warming tells you (yes, I know, 45 degrees is not exactly picnic weather) it’s time to go out for a study break and head to the best picnic spots in New York City.
With Manhattan and the rest of the city just a LIRR ride away from campus, grab a picnic basket and a checkered blanket. As a native New Yorker, here are some of the best picnic spots around the five boroughs to complement any day trip.
1. For the Secluded Hideaway: Fort Tryon Park
Although a rather lengthy 40 minute subway ride away from Penn Station, Fort Tryon Park offers both sweeping panoramic views of the George Washington Bridge, as well as picturesque stone ruins. Though the grassy areas around the park aren’t exactly the best for sitting, the various photo opportunities will certainty make up for it.
If you forgot to pack a bite to eat, head to The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art dedicated to medieval art and architecture. The museum will not only fulfill the needs of your history nerd friends, but also provide a quiet spot for snacks in the patio of the museum’s monastery style garden-view café.
#SpoonTip: The hilly slopes near The Cloister are probably your best bet for a shady and scenic picnic spot.
2. For the Foodie: East River State Park
If you have been dreaming of getting the raindrop cake or ramen burger, East River State Park is the place to go. With Smorgasburg on Saturdays, this Williamsburg riverfront park is the perfect picnic spot for the Instagram-obsessed foodie. While I do find the food at Smorgasburg overpriced, it is hard to find a similar experience with so many different food stalls anywhere else in the city.
However, make sure you get there early; popular stalls can sell out early in the day. In addition, it can be hard to find a private place to rest and chill out with your food. If you do run into this problem, head to nearby McCarren Park for a quieter place to eat.
#SpoonTip: If you want the experience of Smorgasburg, but your inner introvert wants to avoid people as much as possible, head to Flushing Meadow Park. On Saturday nights, the Queens Night Market is a cheaper and less crowded alternative.
3. For the Perfect Date: Brooklyn Bridge Park
I’ll admit: Brooklyn Bridge Park is both crowded and filled with camera-holding tourists on the weekends. However, a trip to this DUMBO area waterfront park will not only reward you with some of the best views of Lower Manhattan, but it is also a great place to go with that special someone.
At the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, Jane’s Carousel, an indoor merry-go-round, will give you and your date all types of nostalgic carnival feels. Since the carousel is open after midnight, you can also head there once the sun goes down and enjoy the nighttime views of the city.
Afterwards, for a quick bite, head to the Shake Shack outside of the park or share an ice cream cone from Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
#SpoonTip: If you’re willing to walk, a trip to Carroll Garden’s Brooklyn Farmacy might be a better option than Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. While the prices are about the same, Farmacy’s retro decor will make you feel like you’re on the set of Grease.
4. For Chilling with Friends: Rockefeller and Battery Park
Sandwiched between the skyscrapers of Battery Park City and the Hudson River, Rockefeller Park can be the perfect place for a group outing. Though smaller than Central Park’s Great Lawn, Rockefeller Park is normally only frequented by locals. You won’t have any trouble finding either the perfect spot to sunbathe or a patch of grass big enough for a game of Frisbee.
To get that nostalgic feeling of sitting along the Seine on a warm summer day, head to Le District, an upscale French marketplace inside Brookfield Place Mall. At Le District, you can pick up all your picnic necessities including baguettes and an assortment of French pastries. As an alternative, you can also head to the nearby Whole Foods to pick up food for your picnic.
#SpoonTip: If you get bored, Rockefeller Park also features a number of public art works and has tons of activities including mini-golf and a skate park.
5. For the People Watcher: Anywhere in Central Park
There’s no other park in the city that’s more quintessentially New York than Central Park. In terms of a place to picnic, two of my favorite spots are the Sheep’s and East Meadow. With views of Midtown to the South, Sheep’s Meadow is the perfect place to just sit back and watch the world pass by.
However, if you’re bringing a dog along with you, head to the East Meadow. This is one of the few green spaces open to dogs inside Central Park. To prepare for your picnic head to either the Trader Joe’s or Fairway Market near West 72nd Street.
#SpoonTip: Be on the lookout for events going on around the park. For example, every June the New York Philharmonic plays a public concert on the Great Lawn.
With so many exciting places around New York City, you really don’t have an excuse not to picnic in these five great parks. Gather your favorite foods and head outside, its time to picnic.