Governors Island

It’s an island getaway within city limits: hop on a ferry from Lower Manhattan, and you’ll soon find yourself in a car-free paradise where you can picnic, play mini golf, relax in a hammock or tour Fort Jay, home to one of the first barracks in the United States. The Hills, a topographic installation on the island, comprises four mounds; each offers incredible views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Additionally, the island hosts a range of special events, making it a marquee destination during the warmer months—it’s a seasonal place in any case, only open to the public from late May through September.