Walking Off the Big Apple

Last Wednesday, on a pleasantly warm afternoon with increasing clouds, I set out to explore the Hallett Nature Sanctuary , a densely wooded area in the southeast section of Central Park near the Pond. Recently opened to the public after decades of being off limits, the area once known as “the Promontory” features a waterfall, scenic views, and thick woods inhabited by many birds. I also thought I would use the occasion of visiting the wild and unfamiliar landscape as a good place to try out Pokémon Go . The rustic gates at the entrance to Hallett Nature Sanctuary in Central Park Let me explain. Sharing my field notes of a relatively unknown section of Central Park seemed perfectly in tune with the mission of this website - to inspire people to connect with their city through walking and to explore new places. Pokémon Go, a wildly popular app-based game that overlays the natural landscape with a chase involving virtual cartoon monsters, is also said to inspire people to conn

Rockaway, a beach community in the borough of Queens on the south shore of Long Island, may not feature the bells and whistles of Brooklyn's Coney Island, but the spot provides just the necessary elements for a satisfying summer escape from the city. On the 4th of July, while the Coney crowd cheered on Nathan's hot dog eating contestants, the Rockaway beachcombers quietly chilled out on an expansive beach. If anyone makes any noise on Rockaway, the sound is muffled, drowned out by the formidable crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The essential beach vacation - the sand, the sea, and on some days, abundant sunshine. Multiple train lines serve Coney Island, but you'll need the A train and its connecting shuttle to get to Rockaway. Toward the end of the ride, the train crawls along a thin strip of land in Jamaica Bay, affording uncommon views of both abundant waterfowl and low-lying jets on approach to nearby JFK Airport. The A train shuttle stops at several points a