Located at 2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden encompasses more than a million plants over 250 acres. This includes 50 gardens, 50 acres of native forest and a Home Gardening Center so you can learn how to successfully grow your own plants home. No matter what time of year it is, you’ll be able to unique plants blooming according to the season. Make sure to grab a free map at the entrance so you don’t miss anything of interest. Some of the many other highlights of the grounds include a 37-acre conifer collection, a delicate assortment of over 200 pink and white Cherry Blossoms, a Rock Garden featuring unique stones, ponds, waterfalls and a colorful alpine flowers, and a forest split by New York City’s only fresh water river, the Bronx River, with scenic canyons and rapids.

Before leaving, you can browse the Shop in the Garden for gardening-themed gifts and souvenirs. After exploring the vibrant plant life, head next door to the Bronx Zoo to add an animal encounter for your itinerary.

The New York Botanical Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and is closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. To get to the New York Botanical Garden by subway, take the B, D, or 4 train to Bedford Park Boulevard Station. From there, walk eight blocks down the hill on Bedford Park Boulevard to the end and turn left onto Southern Boulevard, walking one block to the Mosholu Gate entrance. To save 25 minutes of walking, get off the subway and take the Bx 26 bus east to the Garden’s Mosholu Gate entrance.