Where the Wild Things Are

We plan on taking a walk on the wide side here at the Stanley house this weekend. The weather is supposed to be divine! And with many of our weekends thru June soaked with plans, I am determined to make use of this spare bit of time.

When many people think of New York City, or most cities for that matter, they think of buildings tall enough to stir the clouds and stretches of unforgiving concrete. Most don't come to the city to experience nature. Alright, in all fairness, a couple of months ago, a wild coyote wandering through the streets of Manhattan was a primary news story. So, yeah, I get it. But there are plenty of outdoorsy things to do, aside from the well-traveled paths of Central Park. You just have to know where the wild things are! {So, yes, mom, Connor will know what a blade of grass looks like! Wink, wink!}

Here is what we are contemplating:

1. Every night as darkness slithers over the city, we watch the green lights of the Verrazano Bridge off in the distance begin to glow like a set of mint-hued pearls stretching across the water. Connor is a boy's boy, in love with planes, trains, cars, trucks, buses and boats, so I'd love to take him over to the paths that wind underneath the shadows of the massive bridge, where the Hudson river meets the Atlantic ocean. We could count the ships hustling about the bay and bid them adieu as they float out to sea. Tiny tenacious tugboats, delicate swirls of sailboats and bumbling barges. Life-sized ships in a bottle. There is something incredibly pure and peaceful bellying up to such a big, body of water.

2. Surprise, surprise, there are beaches all around New York City! Some as close as 20 minutes. Last summer, Connor got his first experience of tucking his tootsies in the sand in the Hamptons! How very New York of him! And last weekend we wandered around Coney Island, skipping shells along the shore and melting cotton candy on our tongues along the boardwalk. Connor loved it and an early-morning stroll on the beach really appeals to me.

3. I'm not really a huge fan of bike riding. I usually prefer an evening stroll, where the slower pace allows me to fully take in my surroundings. But saddling up to a vintage-blue bike, a wire basket hanging over the handlebars, filled with sandwiches wrapped in red-checkered cloth and herb-coated pretzels wrapped in brown paper bags, sounds sweet and special. There are trails that twist and turn, dodging up the west side of Manhattan along the Hudson. We could end our trip with a picnic at another NYC secret - the little red lighthouse - that dangles off the northern edge of the island, making it even more tempting to throw on our helmets and go!

4. But if we do decide on a walk, I love trotting along the Chelsea High Line, a park built on old train tracks, rising above the streets of NYC. The path winds past ruddy-colored brick buildings, housing art galleries and designer studios, and boosts beautiful views of the Empire State Building.  It smells like maple and pine and roses. Scents I rarely encounter in the city. Bonus: Our journey could end at the Chelsea Market, yum, where we could snag the perfect warm-weather treat: a rhubarb and strawberry flavored ice pop from People's Pops!

Decisions, decisions. What do you think lovelies? What should we do this weekend? Hmmm...maybe them all? I hope the weather is equally as wonderful where you are! What plans do you have in your neck of the woods? Merry weekend, darling readers!

{Photos courtesy of Flickr and Stranger With A Camera}