Staying active while on vacation is easy, even in New York City. Manhattan has gyms, golf courses and healthy restaurants. But staying on budget is more challenging. While choosing walking over hailing a cab will save money, there are more ways to stay active in NYC without breaking the bank.
Running
Sure, the sights of NYC might go by in a blur, but running in Manhattan allows visitors to see the city in a whole new way. The New York Road Runners club suggests running in Central Park. Different routes through the park range in distance from the easy 1.66-mile Bridle Path loop to the more challenging six-mile full loop around the park. Travel to Throgs Neck Park in Queens for a one-mile run along the shore.
Walking Tours
If running is too fast, slow down and walk the city. Walking offers visitors an opportunity to slow down and explore new areas of a city, even for seasoned NYC visitors. Spend a few hours in the morning walking around Greenwich Village. Highlights of the neighborhood include New York University, Washington Square Park and the home where Thomas Paine spent his last years. Other free walking tours meet throughout the city and allow visitors to learn about NYC’s Times Square past and its beer-brewing present.
Yoga
Grab a mat and head to the hotel rooftop. Saluting the sun while looking out onto the Manhattan skyline or Central Park’s trees will start anyone’s day off on a positive note. NYC has plenty of public parks, such as the High Line Park on the West Side, where yogis can find a stretch of grass high above the ground perfect for going through the poses.
Beach Sports
With 14 miles of beachfront, NYC offers visitors recreational beach activities. Surf Rockaway Beach, or hit the skate path at South Beach. Play beach volleyball at Coney Island, or enjoy the nature preserve at Wolf’s Pond Park. The Staten Island beach park has BBQ grills, dog runs and hiking trails.
Boardwalk Activities
While Coney Island might be the most famous New York City boardwalk, it is by no means the only one. The boardwalk on Manhattan Beach on the southern edge of Brooklyn is a family favorite in large part to the beach’s two playgrounds. Rockaway Beach’s boardwalk is a great place for surfers to refuel at one of the many snack stands, while fishermen will want to head to the pier at Staten Island’s Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk and Beach.
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