5. Inwood Hill Park, Manhattan

What immediately sets this park apart is its prehistoric roots, as evident through its caves, valleys and ridges from moving glaciers from over 30,000 years ago. The Lenape tribes used these caves as seasonal camps when they lived here, before Henry Hudson’s 1609 arrival. Inwood Hill Park also has the last salt marsh and forest in Manhattan and is one of New York City’s best places to see a bald eagle.

In addition to a biking trail along the Hudson River, there’s the two-mile Inwood Hill Park Hiking Trail in the northwest section, which is “moderately” difficult to traverse and is filled with tulip trees, maples and oaks. If you keep going, it’ll lead you to the top of a hill, where the park’s oldest trees are. So if you’re in a more adventurous mood and want to explore, be sure to hop on an A or 1 train and check this park out.