Whether you're a first-time or frequent visitor, spending a weekend in New York City can introduce you to a selection of the countless health-conscious and interesting things to do in this dynamic city. Behind every nook and cranny of Gotham City lie interesting dining options, fresh food markets, urban landscapes, and fascinating people.
Farmers Markets
Greenmarket Farmers Markets are located in all five boroughs, giving residents and guests alike access to fresh locally grown produce directly from regional farmers. The centrally located Union Square Greenmarket is open four days a week, including Fridays and Saturdays, with as many as 80 different vendors. Besides fresh produce, other locally-made products available for purchase include grass-fed beef and other meats, cheeses, jams, honey, and breads. Whether you are a home cook or trained chef, farmers markets connect consumers to fresh foods and their growers and producers.
Gardens
For over 100 years, visitors to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden have escaped from the concrete jungle in its horticulture displays and tranquil setting. From herbs to roses and native to desert plants, individuals can explore and learn something new about the diversity of plant life in our world and enjoy the outdoors. The Garden also offers horticultural classes in which children are instructed on how to plant, grow, and harvest their own food from a garden plot.
Ethnic Neighborhoods
With just your Metrocard, a map, and an adventurous spirit, it is possible to take a trip around the world without leaving the Big Apple. Historically, New York City has been the final destination of immigrants from all over the world. Uncover the sights, sounds, smells, and flavors of West Africa in Harlem, Greece in Astoria, Queens, and Puerto Rico in Spanish Harlem. Koreatown can be found in Midtown Manhattan while Chinatowns are located in Manhattan and Flushing, Queens.
Greenwich Village
Although the beatniks and bohemians are long gone, Greenwich Village still holds onto the creative and progressive spirit that made this neighborhood famous. An afternoon spent people-watching, dropping in to the many businesses and cafes, or admiring the historic brownstones takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the City. Pay a visit to New York University and The New School or watch the antics of street performers at Washington Square Park's fountain.
Bathhouse
Since 1892, Russian and Turkish Baths has been de-stressing New Yorkers through its massages and scrubs. This bathhouse is a blast from the past but offers a variety of saunas and an ice-cold pool to detox and relax in. Treatments are also available, including Swedish and Russian massages, Dead Sea salt scrubs, and mud treatments. For the more courageous, try the Platza oak leaf treatment; you will find yourself being beaten by fronds of oak leaves soaked in olive oil soap, which remove toxins and exfoliate the skin.
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