2. Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island

The two features that set Clove Lakes Park apart from other outdoor areas are its ash green, serpentine rocks and three-hundred year old tulip tree, which is the largest living thing in Staten Island. The three-mile Clove Lakes Park Trail along Victory Boulevard will provide you with valley lakes, pathways through wooded hills, scenic bridges and the famous tulip tree itself. It is also home to species like snapping turtles, belted kingfishers, and red-backed salamanders. Catch a Staten Island ferry to see all of this interesting wildlife.