Forest Hills, NY
No admissions fee, free parking lot (says permit only but we were able to park for two hours; the locals say you don't get towed...at your own risk)
Optimum Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
Unless you live close by and don't own a car, Forest Park is not something you really have to go out of your way to see. There are far better hiking options in the upstate New York, the Bronx and on Long Island if you want to stay within a two hour radius. I took a bunch of friends here the second week of November thinking it would be peak foliage but was disappointed as the forest was still pretty green. The signage here is no good and the map I found misleading. We didn't walk the entire park but the areas we did weren't anything too exciting. Just trails. No surprises such as creeks or beaches or mountain tops to be found at the end of a hike. The only surprise here was a trail of horse footprints that had us anticipating a horse siting for two hours until we finally found a woman horse back riding passed us. According to a local, there is an equestrian track nearby and you could rent a horse and ride through the park. I know nothing more about this alleged claim. But it's worth exploring for those who are interested.
However, the park east of Metropolitan Avenue has a lovely playground and is quite serene and beautiful, with gorgeous homes surrounding the perimeter. I grew up in this area and have amazing memories playing here as a child.
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