Untermyer Gardens is one of the most beautiful hidden gems in the New York area. The grounds are…read morealways stunning, but they're especially spectacular in September when everything is in full bloom and the gardens are filled with vibrant colors. Admission is completely free, although donations are accepted to help preserve this incredible place--which is amazing considering how well maintained it is. It's the perfect destination to spend about two hours, whether you want to enjoy a peaceful stroll, take plenty of photos, or do a little of both. The breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Palisades make the visit even more memorable. There's also plenty of free parking, which makes getting there easy. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is that it can get fairly crowded on beautiful weekends, but it's absolutely worth visiting and returning to throughout the year.

Untermyer Gardens Conservancy is widely celebrated as a breathtaking, 43-acre hidden gem in…read moreYonkers, NY. Visitors like me rave about the stunning, Greco-Persian walled gardens, dramatic Temple of Love, and sweeping Hudson River views, it offers a peaceful, cinematic, and highly rated escape for locals and out-of-state visitors. The landscape perfectly blends ancient-style ruins with vibrant horticulture, resulting in a peaceful, immersive retreat. I like the spectacular architecture, fountains, and beautiful floral arrangements. It is a tranquil escape from the city that delivers immense historical charm. Because the property is a former millionaire's estate undergoing a long-term revitalization, some guests note that portions can feel slightly unkempt or dilapidated. Parking can also become limited on busy, peak-season days. It holds an impressive 4.5+ average rating across travel platforms, with many reviewers calling it a "must-see".

This is a great municipal pool! Spacious and doesn't feel too crowded even on busy days & holiday…read moreweekends when you can hardly find parking (though the parking lot is quite large). There are a few picnic tables and grills on the lawn. No pool lounge chairs or towel service so bring your own chairs, picnic blankets, food/snacks and other accoutrements to enjoy a leisurely summer day. Facilities are clean and well-maintained. Very kids/toddler-friendly. The sizeable shallow end has several sprinklers/splash fountains for children to play in, and there are slides on both the kiddie and adult sides. Also a playground in the back (not affiliated with the pool). There are always many life guards on duty every time I've gone. The pool is accessible only to Clarkstown residents and their guests, so if you're not a resident befriend someone who is. You must obtain a Clarkstown resident ID card first at the registration office at 31 Zukor Road in New City. (The pool won't simply accept a driver's license.) Rates can be either daily or seasonal for individuals or family, and are very reasonable compared to similar community pools.

Back in the day we used to refer to this beleaguered mud hole as "Nanuet Snake" for the inundation…read moreof various slithering creatures who would join you on your swim in what was then a dark and unknowable crater that had more in common with Loch Ness than 20th century suburbia. It's no exaggeration that these monsters from the deep probably kept a legion of child psychiatrists in full time employment. On a recent visit it was nice to see that the previous snake-ridden den of iniquity has long been been replaced with a legitimate pool and that the mythological beasts of years past have been slayed by chlorine and actual cement walls. You can even see right to the bottom. What a concept. This is what Nanuet Lake should have been like all along... no thanks whatsoever to my parents who thought this was some tough love version of Shangri La, albeit minus the all consuming bliss one often finds in paradise. I kid about my parents (almost) and am happy to bestow five easy stars for a childhood reclaimed. I still hate snakes.

Tibbetts Brooks Park is a nice park in Yonkers that features a few streams, walking trails and a…read moregreat bathhouse; though, I did not swim on this occasion. My church held its annual family day cookout on a beautiful Saturday morning and afternoon. The park ingress and egress demand good bus drivers at a few tight corners within and just outside the park. Tibbetts has plenty of parking to accommodate a large number of visitors and the bathhouse is as much a draw as the rest of the park. The pool features a few sections with different tiers outside the pool for lounging and families gathering. It's not all concrete, rather many of the lounge areas are covered in AstroTurf, which makes for a more relaxed and comfortable surface upon which to lay towels and blankets. The restrooms are kept clean, but they have a rather heavy duty check-in for access to the bathhouse. They are controlled by park employees and park police. The pool access fee is $12pp for non-Yonkers residents, even if you think you have a different understanding for group access. Many of our church members were turned away, unless they paid the individual fee. The park employees regularly removed the trash in the vicinity of our family day outing and wherever other groups gathered. They are setup well to handle large groups at Tibbetts Brooks Park. 3.8 stars!

Love to walk the trails in this park very picturesque and I feel very safe while doing so. I also…read morebring my pets for walks and they really enjoy the watching the ducks on the pond watching the squirrels and chipmunks play. Great selection of birds for bird watching.

Large and beautiful park. Friends chose it for an easy social hike and chose/followed along the…read morepaths using a trail app. (There is also a map available at the visitor's center but the app makes it easy to detour without getting lost, plus it details length of the hike and other trail details.) This park is SO lovely. While there we saw ducks, frogs, goats... Some took the train from Manhattan and an Uber to the park from there. If you drive it is only $6 to park. There are restrooms and water fountains in the main parking lot. Bring a bag to keep any garbage! In this park there are no trash cans, you take out what you bring in.

Rockefeller State Park has some nice walking trails. They are pretty low impact which is nice if…read moreyou're not looking for something too intense. There are also beautiful views of the Hudson River. There is a small parking lot, but not too many spaces so try to come early to find a spot.