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Wave Hill

10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

Looking to enjoy Nature’s splendor with the comfort of modern heating systems? Check out our list.

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ford-foundation_garden-collage_andreana-bitsis-12 Photo: Andreana Bitsis
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

Ford Foundation Atrium

Earlier this year we wrote about the Ford Foundation Atrium, one of New York’s best kept secret green spaces. Since it’s housed indoors, the atrium still looks as beautiful in the middle of December as it did in the splendor of August, and for a moment you may forget where you are. The space is open from 10 AM to 4 PM weekdays, making it an ideal spot to stop during Lil’ Sprouts winter holidays. Pack a lunch or bring a coloring book and soak up the lush green– even when everything outside is blanketed in snow.

brooklyn-botanic-garden_garden-collage_inga-howe-geniesse Inga Howe-Geniesse
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

While the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is known for their springtime cherry tree festival and summer chile event, the garden’s many indoor exhibits offer a beautiful (and warm!) way to comfortably enjoy nature in the winter months. Their Aquatic House and Orchid Collection, Desert Pavilion, Tropical Pavilion, and Warm Temperate Pavilion offer a variety of flora year-round, ensuring cabin fever is kept at bay. For those looking for a more educational experience, the Bonsai Museum is also open year-round and boasts one of the largest collections of bonsai open to the public outside of Japan.

Butterfly Andy Atzert
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

Butterfly Conservatory

Opening December 10th, the Butterfly Conservatory at American Natural History Museum is a fan favorite. In addition to the incredible, beautiful insects alive in the space, the exhibit features information on metamorphosis, defense, ecology, and conservation, making for an experience that’s at once informative and dazzling.

 

wave hill Wave Hill
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

Wave Hill

In spite of winter’s desolation, Wave Hill— with its sweeping views of the Hudson– is a mesmerizing, romantic place to be. However, for Lil’ Sprouts, gazing lovingly out onto nature isn’t always enough to occupy an afternoon. (Trust us– even as nature enthusiasts, we understand!) For those who need something a little more active to bide the wintertime, Wave Hill offers a range of hands-on workshops like woodworking with invasive species, paper making, pumpkin pie, and how to make cornhusk dolls.

dsc00843-1 Twinkle Playspace
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

Stardust Tree Fort

Located on the edge of Williamsburg near Greenpoint, Twinkle Playspace offers creative play structures to ages six and under. Their crown jewel is the Stardust Tree Fort, a life-sized tree with a slide, climbing, and a look-out spot; the space is fitted simply with basic shapes to encourage Lil’ Sprouts to use their imagination. In addition the Stardust Tree Fort, Twinkle Playspace has more standard structures (like a fire engine); for those looking to maintain the nature angle, there is a water play space that lets Lil’ Sprouts explore the dynamics of water.

ob1 The Durst Organization
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

Urban Garden Room

One Bryant Park is itself a testament to nature, being LEED Platinum certified and one of the most environmentally advanced skyscrapers in the world. Among their public spaces is the Urban Garden Room, located on the ground floor at 43rd and Ave of the America, which– according to the designer of building– acts as an extension of Bryant Park across the street. The space is defined by giant topiaries and small, patio-style tables– an ideal spot to rest and enjoy a hot chocolate before setting out into the Midtown holiday fray.

nybg-kiku-butterfly-bonsai-mco New York Botanical Garden
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

New York Botanical Garden

While in the winter the Family Garden at the New York Botanical Garden goes dormant, the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden stays open year round with indoor and outdoor activities and programming— including how to make giant tree shaped cookies, DIY scented sachets, and conifer pressings. When you make the trip, stop by the Conservatory and check out the orchid collection, both of which remain open through the colder months.

screen-shot-2016-10-31-at-2-37-53-pm City Treehouse
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

City Treehouse

Designed to foster children’s creative play, the City Treehouse in Chelsea is a tactile way to stay close to nature this winter. A cave lit with fiber optic lights and a water table complement the two-story treehouse to create a thoroughly hands on experience, one that lets Lil’ Sprouts enjoy all the fun of playing outside– without the devastatingly cold temperatures.

tour_photo_6 The Art Farm
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

The Art Farm

The Art Farm, located on the Upper East Side in NYC (and with an additional location in Bridgehampton), believes that there is special connection between children and animals. In pursuit of this philosophy, Art Farm offers a USDA licensed petting zoo that’s eco-friendly and organic. During the week, semester long courses (aimed at ages 2 through 8) are available for purchase, and on the weekends, there are one time drop-in classes like cooking with seasonal produce.

The Lowline Image via The Lowline
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10 Green Places to Go in NYC When It’s Just Too Cold Out

The Lowline Lab

We’ve espoused our love of the Lowline Lab in the past but in the wintertime– but when all else is covered in a blanket of snow, our enthusiasm bears repeating. With an ever-rotating line up of events and workshops (like learning to design objects with mushroom fibers), the Lowline is a fun and educational stop for kids looking to get out of the house for a nature fix this winter.

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