The most beautiful natural sites to discover New York

A small park, dating back to 1831, that benefits a very well-preserved neighbourhood where Manhattan's gratin lives. Closed to visitors, the Gramercy is the only private park in New York; you need a key to access it. And to have this key, you must be the owner or tenant of one of the beautiful private houses that surround it. You will also have this privilege if you stay at the Gramercy Park Hotel... And don't try to get over the fences, the few New Yorkers or tourists who have already tried it have usually spent the night at the station.

Located at the extreme east of Manhattan, on the East River, in one of the safest neighbourhoods of the city, Sutton Park offers a superb platform on the illuminated Queensboro Bridge. On nearby water, the barges move slowly. There are many benches. The regulars and lovers jealously preserve the tranquillity of these places.

A modern zoo where children can move freely among animals.

Less frequented and cleaner than those on Coney Island in Brooklyn, Rockaway Beach is also the favorite spot for surfers. Surf shops, beach bars, large white wooden houses, you will find a real seaside town atmosphere, less tourists. Good plan! The good news is that you can get there by ferry for a small fee from Manhattan, using one of the boats on the NYC Ferry city network. By the way, Rockaway Beach is known as the "Irish Riviera" because it has a large Irish-American population.

This geological formation, carved for thousands of years by the stream that still snakes through it, is the subject of many legends in the region. It is a cave whose triangular entrance evokes the vaulted window of a Gothic cathedral. Inside is a ten-metre high waterfall, more or less impressive depending on the power of the current. When the sun's rays penetrate, it seems as if the water sparkles. According to local legend, this cave was the refuge of the Amerindian chief Sachem Sassacus and his tribe, who hid there following a conflict with the English in 1636. It takes about a kilometre to walk to Stone Church. The trail starts at Route 22, there is a sign that is easy to miss, so don't hesitate to ask for directions: everyone knows Stone Church. Please note that there is no parking on site but visitors are allowed to park at the Dove Elementary School parking lot when there is no school or, if there is a school, at the Freshco 22 Plaza restaurant parking lot.

Rochester's impressive waterfalls have contributed greatly to the city's industrial development. While the days when the factories and flour mills of Monroe County used their power are over, their hydroelectric energy is still being used today. The best view of the Falls is from the bridge across the Genesee River, which was named Pont de Rennes because, interestingly enough, the Breton capital was twinned with Rochester in 1956! For more information, you will find an interpretation centre with brochures and a small museum on site.

The park is home to three waterfalls that flow into the Genesee River, Upper Falls, Middle Falls and Lower Falls. The river flows along gorges that reach 170 m in places, a feature that has earned the park the nickname of "Grand Canyon of the East". On sunny days, people come to camp, hike on its 66 miles of trails in the middle of the forest, fish, kayak, raft, horse... In winter, when the landscape is covered with snow, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing become the preferred activities.

Devastated after Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, the Long Beach Parkway was completely rebuilt the following year. It is 2.2 miles long. Unlike many American-style boardwalks, it is not bordered by shops or restaurants, which gives it a calm and authentic feel. We come to walk, jog, cycle or enjoy the sunset from the wooden benches facing the ocean.