Simply because you live in a big city does not mean that you are forced to live in an urban playground all of your life, and let’s be honest human instinct is to get out and about and enjoy the outdoors life.
How do we possibly explore the outdoors when we are living or traveling in a large city? When we think of big urban areas, we picture the crowds, noise, and concrete. But in so many cities around the world, there are hidden gems of green space where we can escape from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the gorgeous trees, flowers, waterways, and other natural treats. These parks connect the urban environment to natural space, providing a “shared backyard” amidst the streets and tall buildings. They are an oasis where we can experience awe, mindfulness, and relaxation without ever leaving the city.
There are parks in cities all over the USA so if you have just moved to an urban metropolis, these are the places that you should head to in order to get some fresh air and take a break from the concrete jungle of a city. Let’s take a look at some of the most amazing city parks in the country.
Balboa Park, San Diego, California, United States
This amazing park in San Diego overlooks the Pacific Ocean and it is packed with art installations, museums, performing arts and cute areas such as the Japanese Friendship Garden. San Diego already has that outdoorsy feel to it being so close to the ocean, and this is the perfect park to really drink that all in.
Central Park, New York City, New York, United States
One of the biggest urban parks in the world, Central Park sits on over 750 acres, an astonishing size when you consider the fact that it is bang smack in the middle of one of the world’s biggest cities. There is so much to do in Central Park from exercise to people watching, outdoor events to visiting the zoo. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, then this is the perfect place to do just that.
Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
This 1,300 acre park was originally built to host the 1904 Summer Olympics and Worlds’ Fair, and resulted in becoming one of the biggest attractions in St. Louis. There is so much packed into this park that you could spend days wandering around and continuously see something new. Ice skating in the winter, hiking trails throughout the summer and there is even a massive 75-foot waterfall here too.
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, United States
This park is packed with sand dunes and lakes and it makes for the perfect place to spend your time when you want to get away from the built up city of San Francisco. The park also houses an aquarium, the California Academy of Sciences and the bison paddock where you can see buffalo roaming around.
City living doesn’t mean you can’t get out and about.
