Swimming
Don your bathing suit and leap into the icy waters of the lower New York Bay. For those who think city dwellers don't thrive in the natural environment, think again. Since 1903, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club has been organizing weekly, frigid water swims for the bravest of souls. Though officially a club, this Queens-based group welcomes visitors and takes special care of all participants. Neoprene surf boots are recommended, as toes and feet can suffer not only from the cold, but from the occasional piece of glass in the sand. Additionally, this is an interesting way to meet local residents, both men and women, in all shapes and sizes.
Coney Island Polar Bear Club
(917) 533-3568
http://www.polarbearclub.org/polarbears/index.htm
Prospect Park
Take the subway out to Prospect Park and explore the only forest in Brooklyn. Prospect Park is an ideal place to experience the natural world in the midst of an urban jungle. Even though it's located in the most populous borough in New York City, visitors can expect to have much of the park to themselves during the colder months. A battle site during the American Revolution, Prospect Park offers 526.25 acres to walk and hike through, an ice skating rink and, after the occasional winter storm, an excellent place for a pitched snowball fight. Afterward, exit the southwest side of the park and warm up with coffee and fresh bagels at The Bagel Hole.
Prospect Park
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
830 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10065
(212) New York
http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/prospectpark/
The Bagel Hole Inc.
400 7th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 788-4014
http://www.bagelhole.net/Home_Page.php
Circle Line
Though many tourists take the Circle Line during the warmer months, this sightseeing cruise can be particularly rewarding during the winter. Circumnavigating Manhattan over a three-hour trip, visitors can expect to pass the boroughs of the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, as well as pass underneath the city's famous bridges and sights. Few tourists make the time to visit upper Manhattan, but those who book a seat will reap the rewards of natural scenery that often seems out of place so close to the big city. In particular, the Englewood Cliffs that line New Jersey north of the towering George Washington Bridge are worth the trip alone. Winter sees fewer tourists on board, steam off the Hudson and sometimes snow along its banks.
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise
Pier 83
West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 563-3200
http://www.circleline42.com/site/browse.aspx?group=1
