A walk on the beach got me pondering about the moon jellyfish I saw on the shoreline, and the other jelly creatures of our waters.

Outdoor Highlights Links:

Apothecary Fridays

Raptormania at Jamaica Bay

Historical Baseball Game Re-creation

Brookville Park Fall Festival

Bayswater Park Fall Festival

Harvest Time at Bay 84th Street Community Garden

Insect Ecology and Conservation Awareness

Indigenous Peoples Day events at Queens Botanical Garden

They’re a New Yorker, for sure — a bit brassy, cunning, savvy, adaptable, sometimes solitary, sometimes social, often nocturnal but not always, wears cool sunglasses regularly, likes all sorts of cuisines, and can’t resist dumpster diving if it looks intriguing.

Important links:

Wildlife NYC: Raccoons

NYC Parks: Raccoons

Outdoor Highlights Links:

41st Annual Queens Agricultural Fair

Monarch and Pollinator Walk at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Gather Around the Harvest Campfire

Forest Park is a huge, beautiful park and there’s a special little area that’s perfect for recreation or relaxing. Come explore the Overlook with me!

Important links:

Overlook at Forest Park

Forest Park

Outdoor Highlights Links:

Forest Park Stewardship Event

Community Gardens and Cultural Roots

Urban Wildlife: Raccoons

My local blue jays are providing me with a very natural -- though jarring! -- wake up call for the last several mornings. So I'm doing a species deep dive to learn more about this beautiful, bold bird!

Important links:

All About Birds: Blue Jay

Outdoor Highlights Links:

International Coastal Cleanup Day on 9/21/2024

Basic Canoeing

East Arverne Nature Preserve Planting — contact [email protected]

Birding: Fall Migration

Nature Exploration: Captain Tilly Park

Long for an exotic outdoor vacation but an arctic expedition or a safari aren't in the cards? No worries -- Queens has plenty of options for a nature and outdoorsy vacation!

Important links:

Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk

Riis Park Beach

Sail Rockaway

Yacht Rock Charters

NYC Surfing

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

Fort Totten

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Bike/Boat Rentals

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Pitch and Putt

NYC Parks Hiking Trails

Cunningham Park Mountain Bike Trail Map

American Princess Cruises

Outdoor Highlights Links:

Frank Charles Memorial Park Clean Up

3rd Annual Rockaway Dog Parade

Queens Borough Bocce Tournament

Willow Lake is an unexpected nature sanctuary that's part of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Come and explore!

Important links:

Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park

Willow Lake Trail Map

Willow Lake Park Highlights

Willow Lake History

Want to deal with crowds and traffic this holiday weekend? Be my guest! But better yet — stay close to home and enjoy these terrific Labor Day weekend events!

Important links:

NYC Parks events in Queens this weekend

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge walk Saturday morning

Beginner Kayaking at Riis Landing Saturday afternoon

Jamaica Bay 101 Saturday afternoon

It’s My Park at Bowne Playground on Saturday morning

Roots and Shoots Youth Brigade on Saturday morning

Animal Arts & Crafts on Saturday afternoon

Sunday morning yoga

Bayswater Park Clean Up on Sunday morning

Birding for Beginners at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Sunday afternoon

Historic New York: George Washington and the Culper Spy Ring Sunday afternoon

George Gee Swing Orchestra concert on Thursday evening

Queens Jazz Trail

NYC Parks Department has a fascinating and illuminating interactive map called the Vital Park Explorer. Let’s check out how Queens ranks!

Important links:

Vital Parks general information

Vital Parks Explorer

Outdoor Highlights:

Jamaica Bay Shorebird Festival

Tomato Celebration at Queens Farm Museum

Art Workshop at Little Bay Park

Wow! I knew the Parks Department was mapping trees under their care but had NO idea how comprehensive that list was and that it was available to all of us as a terrific interactive map.

Important links:

New York City Tree Map

Outdoor Highlights:

Beginner Fishing Workshop at Bowne Park

Orchid Watercolor Workshop at Queens Botanical Garden

Insect Ecology and Conservation Awareness at Highland Park

I was stuck near the park on flooded roads and got thinking about the landscape of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park before it was a park. And then I got thinking about the really long name. So once I finally got home, the research began and I’m here to say that I have ALL the answers to my questions!

Important links:

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Outdoor Highlights:

Idewild Community Peace Gardening at Idewild Park

Shakespeare in the Garden Series at Voelker-Orth Museum

World’s Fair Adventure Quest at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park