New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (2024)

New York bucket list: From green landmarks to vegan restaurants, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 sustainable and eco-friendly must-do’s when traveling to NYC.

Did you know that New York City is one of the most walkable cities in the US? On top of that, NY has one of the biggest and more interconnected public transportation systems in North America, which makes it easier – and more sustainable­ – to move around when you visit. The City That Never Sleeps has loads of things to do and places to visit, such as visiting Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, or the Grand Terminal. However, on top of the most famous spots, there are other less-known places that are also worth a visit. In this article we’ve created an eco-friendly New York bucket list for all sustainable travelers out there who want to explore the city while having little to no impact during their visit.

Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Victoria_Watercolor; pedrofiguerasDeveloped Travel Anxiety During Covid? Here’s How to Manage ItA major obstacle for people who want to travel is travel anxiety. This article will explain exactly what this looks…Read more

1. Visit Central Park

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (2)

Central Park is one of the most famous parks in the US and worldwide. Located between the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan, Central Park covers 843 acres, which puts it within the five largest parks in New York. You can get there by subway or bus. On top of just being an iconic, must-visit on your New York bucket list, there are several things you can do when visiting in addition to taking a walk:

  • Row a boat in Central Park: From May to September, you can rent out little rowboats and enjoy the summer scenery of the park. It costs $15 an hour per boat, which usually can hold up to four people. You will find this lake and the Loeb Boathouse between 74th and 75th street, on the East side of Central Park.
  • Find a remote spot for nature appreciation: Even though NYC is a massive, and extremely busy city, there are remote spots within Central Park where you can nearly hear a single thing. If you want to compensate the extra noise and high speed of the city during your trip, enjoy the benefits of walking and take some time to find one of these remote areas of Central Park to enjoy some quiet, calming time surrounded by only nature.
  • Go on a picnic: Spring and summer months are the best time to visit Central Park, and it’s when most people get outside and roll a blanket in the park. You will see families spending time together, kids playing around, people biking and jogging, and couples having picnic dates.Central Park becomes a place of reunion, and alongside the good weather, it makes it the perfect place for a picnic with your travel buddies. You can order cheap take-out food through the Too Good To Go App and enjoy a delicious meal in Central Park.
  • Enjoy a free summer movie: Starting in May, the City of New York offers free summer movies in many of its parks, where people can enjoy the good weather and watch a movie outdoors.

2. Bike around Battery Park

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (3)

On days of good weather, you may want to include biking around Battery Park in your New York bucket list. Located in the Lower Manhattan, you can rent a bike in one of the 20 City Bike stations for $12 a day. During your ride you will be able to enjoy some time outdoors and do some sightseeing. From Battery Park you can see the Staten Island Ferry going from Manhattan to Staten Island, and you can spot the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / HensleyStudiosHow to Bike in Winter—And How to Motivate Yourself!Biking has many benefits for you and the environment. While winter cycling may sound daunting, it doesn’t have to be….Read more

3. Visit Green Rooftops

New York City has several rooftop urban gardens in a few major buildings, where some of them have even been turned into farms to produce fresh ingredients to supply their own restaurants. You will find some of these gorgeous gardens in the following buildings:

  • Jacob K. Javits Convention Center: The largest green roof in NYC, it has almost seven acres of greenery that visitors can tour. Most recently, this garden has now dedicated a portion for only farming in order to supply fresh ingredients to the kitchen in the convention center, and it is expected to provide around 40,000 fruits and vegetables on yearly basis.
  • Eagle Street Rooftop Farm: Located by the East River, this rooftop is located on the top of a three-story warehouse in Brooklyn, and it is an organic farm made up of 6,000 square feet.
  • Brooklyn Grange: This rooftop is home of one of the leading rooftop farming businesses in the US. As a company, they design and build urban greenspaces for all ranges of customers, from private homes to corporate buildings. On site, Brooklyn Grange has 5.6 acres of rooftop farms divided in three different roofs, and on top of growing their own fresh vegetables, they also host educational programs and events.

4. Check Out the Brooklyn Flea Market

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (5)

If you like flea markets and handmade arts and crafts, you will enjoy The Brooklyn Flea market. It’s open on the weekends, and it takes place outdoors during the summer and indoors throughout the rest of the year. You can find furniture, antiques, vintage clothing, jewelry, and art and crafts from local artisans.

Photo: Utopia / Binford (LEFT); CC0 Public Domain / Pixabay – Coyot (TOP RIGHT); CC0 Public Domain / Unsplash – Sarah Dorweiler (BOTTOM RIGHT) Decluttering Your Home: 4 Tips for Sorting Out Your BelongingsOur tips for responsibly getting rid of the things you no longer need and maintaining your new minimalist lifestyle for…Read more

5. Explore the High Line, a Green Landmark in NYC

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (7)

Another landmark to add to your New York bucket list is The High Line, an abandoned elevated train rail that has been transformed in a park in the middle of the metropolitan area. This 1.45-mile-long park has more than 500 species of plants and it is home of many species of birds and insects. It is a free, public space that is opened all year round for visits and paid tours. They also have a few time slots when tours are for free, and the times vary depending on the season. You can enter High Line at 30th Street at Hudson and you can also find several elevators to access the park in the following locations:

  • Gansevoort Street and Washington Street (Northwest corner)
  • 14th Street and 10th Avenue (Southwest side)
  • 23rd Street and 10th Avenue (Southeast side)
  • 30th Street and 10th Avenue (Southeast side)

6. Enjoy the Views from the One World Trade Center

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (8)

The One World Trade Center is one of the tallest LEED buildings in the world. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a worldwide green rating system that evaluates and certifies highly efficient, cost-saving green buildings. In New York City, some buildings are part of this sustainable urban architecture, including the Arbor House and The Visionaire, both apartment buildings. The One World Trade Center is open for paid visits and where you will enjoy the gorgeous views of the whole city.

CC0 Public Domain / Unsplash – Thijs StoopCarbon Emissions in the US: What We Have to ChangeCarbon emissions in the US haven’t decreased in 30 years. However, the negative effects of CO2 are now undeniable. What…Read more

7. Eat at a Vegan or Vegetarian Restaurant

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (10)

One of the highlights of traveling if you are a food lover is getting to eat out and trying new places. In NYC, finding plant-based dishes is easier than in other – and perhaps smaller – cities in the United States. If you are looking forward to enjoying some delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes that go beyond veggie burgers and vegan wraps, you should include plant-based restaurants in your New York bucket list. We compiled a few options that may be of your liking:

  • Orchard Grocer: Located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, this grocery store also prepares delicious vegan food available for pick up or delivery. The Orchard Grocer can be a great option if you want some healthy snacks and take-out food to enjoy a picnic in Central Park.
  • John’s of 12th Street: Even though it is not entirely vegan, this restaurant has a wide variety of vegan Italian dishes on their menu, such as pasta, pizza, meatballs, seitan parmigiana, and more.
  • Seasoned Vegan: This 100% vegan restaurant offers veganized versions of traditional dishes, such as lemon crusted “fish steak”, “chicken” parmesan sandwich, or BBQ “crawfish”. You can eat at the Seasoned Vegan restaurant in Harlem or you can order take out via Doordash or Postmates.
  • Modern Love Brooklyn: This plant-based restaurant serves vegan alternatives to classic American dishes or appetizers. Their menu includes items such as vegan cheeseburgers, seitan buffalo wings, vegan poutine, jerk tofu, Mac and Cheese and vegan lemongrass chicken sandwich.
  • Peacefood Café: This vegan café and bakery offers a variety of plant-based dishes from appetizers and mains, to even bakery items. You can check out their menu for both of their locations in NYC or you can order through their website.
  • Jajaja Mexicana: If you are fan of Mexican food, Jajaja Mexicana may be your place to go. They have several locations across NYC, and they offer an entirely vegan menu with plenty of Mexican dishes: street tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, nachos, and more.

8. Visit the Wild Center and Wild Walk

If you are a nature lover, adding this stop to your New York bucket list may be a great option to get a break from the business of the city. The Wild Center and Wild Walk is one of the first LEED-certified museums in the state of New York. You can take a walk across the treetops, get in and out of tree houses and observe the gorgeous nature views from a different perspective at a higher altitude. You can also visit the museum building and spend a great deal of time learning about the environment.

9. Check Out Some Sustainable Stores

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (12)

If shopping is part of your travel plans during your trip to New York, you may want to check out some of the sustainable and eco-friendly stores in the city. We recommend you to be mindful about what you shop and to rethink the way how you consume. Try to stay away from fast fashion as it is very harmful for the environment, and perhaps consider taking a path towards sustainability on a shoestring budget. By shopping in sustainability stores, you can reduce your carbon footprint and have a plastic-free shopping experience. Here’s a list of options you may want to include on your New York bucket list:

  • Earth & Me: They sell things from eco-friendly beauty products to cleaning supplies and other household items.
  • Package Free: It is one of the biggest sustainable stores in NYC and has two locations. Everything is eco-friendly and made with zero waste packaging.
  • Baggu: Some of their items include reusable bags, backpacks, masks, towels, and other home goods.
  • Cap Beauty: They sell beauty and self-care products made from natural ingredients and with sustainable packaging.
Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Pexels12 Vegan Clothing Brands You Should KnowNot all vegan clothing brands are cruelty-free. We’ve compiled a list of the most eco-friendly, ethical, and stylish brands available…Read more

10. Learn About Sustainable Energy

If you want to learn more about sustainable energy, the state of New York has a few opportunities for that. You can visit the Jones Beach Energy and Nature Center, a zero-energy building, where they offer several programs to learn about how energy consumption affects the environment. Some of these programs include “The Power of Nature”, “Magic Circuit”, and “Seal Walk”.

Read On:

  • 10 Best Hikes Near NYC You Can Reach by Train
  • 5 Scenic Amtrack Routes You Need to Check Out
  • Urban Hiking: 5 Tips for Getting Started

Important Information regarding Health-related Topics.

** Links to retailers marked with ** or underlined orange are partially partner links: If you buy here, you actively support Utopia.org, because we will receive a small part of the sales proceeds. More info.

Do you like this post?

6

Thank you very much for voting!

Tags: Guide Healthy Living Practical Tips

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities (2024)

FAQs

New York Bucket List: 10 Eco-Friendly Activities? ›

In a very short span since the end of the last century, we have already shaped New York City to be a model for the 21st century. Our city has its cleanest air in the last 50 years, and greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 19 percent from 2005 levels.

What are eco-friendly activities? ›

Activities in daily life that are eco-friendly are listed below:
  • Walking or cycling for short distances.
  • Turning off fans and lights when not in use.
  • Usage of cloth bags instead of plastic bags.
  • Segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
  • Making a kitchen garden.
  • Using the kitchen waste to make manure.

How eco-friendly is New York? ›

In a very short span since the end of the last century, we have already shaped New York City to be a model for the 21st century. Our city has its cleanest air in the last 50 years, and greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 19 percent from 2005 levels.

How to spend 10 days in New York? ›

Best New York 10-day itinerary
  1. Day 1: Midtown.
  2. Day 2: Lower Manhattan.
  3. Day 3: Central Park, museums and Broadway.
  4. Day 4: Statue of Liberty and a helicopter ride over New York.
  5. Day 5: Contrasts tour.
  6. Day 6: Brooklyn.
  7. Day 7: Harlem – Gospel Mass and jazz concert.
  8. Day 8: Roosevelt Island and Coney Island.

What are 5 things you do at home to be an eco-friendly? ›

Five things you can do for the environment, today!
  • #1: Adopt eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle. Every kilogram of textiles produced, generates about 17 kilograms of CO2. ...
  • #2: Say no to single use plastic. ...
  • #3: Save Water. ...
  • #4: Save Energy. ...
  • #5: Segregate Waste.
Jun 5, 2023

Is New York an eco city? ›

Believe it or not New York is one of the world's most sustainable cities.

How to help the environment in NYC? ›

Steps You Can Take To Fight Climate Change
  1. Take care of the trees on your block. You may not have the resources to care for every tree on the planet, but you can start by caring for the tree on your block. ...
  2. Ride a bike. ...
  3. Become a steward. ...
  4. Grow a pollinator garden. ...
  5. Show your park some love — help keep parks clean.

How green is New York City? ›

New York City is home to over 20,000 acres of natural areas. Each year, the city's trees capture 1.97 billion gallons of stormwater runoff and store 1.2 million tons of carbon per year.

Is $1000 enough for 4 days in New York? ›

If you plan to stay at a 5-star hotel and dine at upscale restaurants in Manhattan, then a budget of $1000 is definitely not going to cut it. However, if you book a mid-tier hotel and take advantage of the many free things to do in New York, then a budget of $1000 is just fine.

Is 7 days too much for New York? ›

We've got your itinerary covered. From dazzling viewpoints to vibrant neighborhood strolls, a week is enough time to get acquainted with the Big Apple. One week in NYC gives you enough time to see all the popular attractions, visit historic sites, and really get to know the city.

How to spend 3 days in York? ›

Set off on a ghost bus tour or take a walking tour with a costumed guide and learn York's darkest secrets. While you're in the mood, visit York Dungeon, for more history and horror. Now you know the dark side of York, walk around the Bar Walls and take in views of the city from up high.

How can I be 100% eco-friendly? ›

100+ ways to make a difference
  1. Turn the lights off when not in use.
  2. Avoid buying drinks in plastic bottles.
  3. Shop less. ...
  4. Don't use disposable coffee cups, get yourself a reusable coffee cup.
  5. Use solar power and save on energy bills.
  6. Buy fruits and veggies that are in season.
  7. Newspapers are great window cleaners.

What are 5 eco-friendly foods? ›

15 Sustainable Foods to Eat to Save the Planet
  • Avocados.
  • Quinoa.
  • Blueberries.
  • Oats.
  • Pulses.
  • Organic Tomatoes.
  • Broccoli.
  • Mushrooms.
Feb 27, 2024

What are five eco-friendly habits? ›

Make it count: easy to adopt eco-friendly habits for the whole family
  • Reduce your electricity use.
  • Conserve water.
  • Recycle as a family.
  • Skip single-use items; reuse instead.
  • Buy used goods.
  • Go meatless one day a week.
  • Small changes; big impact.

Which of the following activity is eco-friendly? ›

Using public transport for commuting, walking or using cycle for short distances. Harvesting rainwater. Switching off light/ fans in unoccupied rooms. Use of compost and vermicompost in place of fertilizers.

What are eco-friendly practices? ›

Environment friendly processes, or environmental-friendly processes (also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green), are sustainability and marketing terms referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that claim reduced, minimal, or no harm upon ecosystems or the environment.

What is an eco-friendly routine? ›

Here are ten easy ways to be more eco-friendly in your everyday life: Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Swap single-use plastic items like water bottles, shopping bags, and straws for reusable alternatives. Carry a refillable water bottle and bring your own cloth bags while shopping to cut down on plastic waste.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 5665

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.