Inwood Hill Park — Attraction in New York

There are few places locals here love more than this Manhattan park. Yes, it has the bike trails, kayak launches, baseball and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts and three playgrounds, even proximity to Columbia University's Boathouse and Athletic facilities. But what truly sets it apart from other Manhattan parks is its unmanicured, forest-like swathes. These are arranged over an actual Inwood Hill and rock formations that once served as shelters for the Lenape, whose shell middens are still visible as patches of shellfish fragments near the 218th entrance. Here is a spiritually cleansing, secluded woodland where you can truly catch your breath. So much so that it invites the practice of traditional Japanese forest 'bathing' or 'basking' (called Shinrin-yuko).

Purists will tell you that the woodland in the Park isn't really all that native. This is because the estates that once dotted the tops of the Hill influenced the plantscape, especially when the manses were demolished and their gardens were left to fend for themselves. Daylilies, lilac, crab apple, forsythia, crocus and berry bushes tumbled out among the trees. In the end this in no way detracts from a hike here. Why? Because long before the Park was named, before the local estuary became the summer home of its one harp seal, it nurtured the enormous old growth tulip, beech and oak trees that seem to touch the clouds with their branch tips. A safe haven for migratory species from finches to scarlet tanagers and for rare woodpeckers, warblers, kinglets and predators like hawks, eagles, screech owls and falcons, there will likely be a wildlife narrative unfolding for you when you visit. If you spend the day here, you might want to eat in Inwood or Washington Heights before heading home. We love Guadalupe on 207th and Broadway, Inwood Local (great craft beer and wine options) and Beans and Vines among a few. Tubby Hook's burgers are good and Garden Cafe offers a shady outdoor dining space. The Capitol Restaurant does classic diner foos really well (with vegetarian and healthy choices too). Indian Road Cafe is super popular, at 218th and Indian Road, close to the 218th Street park entrance.

A lively time to visit Inwood Park is the spring, when a multicultural festival and pow wow called 'Drums Along the Hudson' celebrates Shadfest, a commemoration of the return of shad to the nearby Hudson River. Some years after the introduction of the now dEven colonies of fiddler crabs were found again along fringes of the salt water marsh.

Please leave the park with everything you came with and especially with the peace you caught under those 200 year old tulip trees, while...

A wondrous place that offers a picturesque landscapes and adventurous hiking trails down past old Native American rock caves and up to breathtaking views of Spuyten Duyvil creek and the Hudson River.

For you sporty types, this park has everything you want. There's plenty of baseball diamonds scattered throughout the fields that run directly in front of Seaman Ave starting east of 207th st.

Traveling south on this very avenue you'll find the tennis and basketball courts just inside, and a children's playground with a water sprinkler.

Looking to get your swole on? Outdoor exercise structures are littered around the baseball fields and on the lower elevation areas of the park adjacent to the Gulf Marsh.

If soccer is more your game, you can find that field just down the hill. Walk straight into the park while headed north on 207th st to the very back where you will find a flagpole circle. Follow the left trail that will take you down a tree-filled path to your awaiting field de futbol.

For you outdoorsy types, if you keep following the path around the left side of the field, you'll pass a meeting of three paved trails in a triangle with the Shorakapok rock sitting at its center. Continuing left down the trail you will soon find yourself surrounded in foliage and hiking along the southeast base of Cock Hill. Stay right on the trail and to your right and embedded in the side of the hill you might discover some ancient stone dwellings used by the native Americans that occupied this land before the white man came and killed them all.

Bring your meats for the outdoor grilling spots are down on the peninsula jutting out into the creek on the northeast corner of the park, west of baseball diamond six. You gotta bring your own grill too though, no park grills can be found here.

Runners will love the trails that wrap around the park and promise sights of lush greenery, the big C rock across the creek on the Bronx side, and even some local wildlife around the Gulf Marsh.

This park has something for everybody, even if you just come to sit and stare at the...

Hey everyone Happy 4th of July!!! Yay, alright... we've made it,for those that aren't aware,first half of the year is done. We're now starting the second half now,it started July 1st...so what does that mean if you hadn't finished, accomplished any goals...no matter what they are, here's your chance within the second half of the year.

Seriously,yes you don't have to wait for Jan 1st to come around again...no you don't have to,this can be a clean slate to get started and do something amazing!!! Doesn't matter if it's a small gesture, project, again whatever it is...GO FOR IT!!!!

Ok, that's a good amount of motivation,rest is up to you...now today I'm relaxing at Inwood Hill Park located here in the Bronx. This park is pretty cool,I'm sure the people that made Central and Prospect Parks had a hand in this park too,and a number of other parks throughout NYC. This park has benches as soon as you enter the park, need to use the restroom...well straight ahead on your left as you walk a little further, there's both men and women bathrooms available to visitors. To the right is yes,a baseball field before you,there is beautiful scenery to take in plus, this park is situated on a hill... making it that much cooler.

It's a decent sized park,for those explorers and walkers,there is usually an ice cream truck located right in front of the park,in case you want to get refreshments. Oh,there are benches outside of the park as well,if you want to rest after a walk around or so. Ok,so everyone have a great 4thof July,be safe enjoy yourselves...talk...