Whenever I’m out and about I always seek out the green, from parks and ponds to rivers and wilderness I am drawn to the refreshing nature of the outdoors. When I’m exploring a new place from a new neighbourhood to a new city, I search out the map and seek out the green patches, hidden behind buildings and busy streets, places that only the locals know about!
I have discovered such amazing places from small rambling gardens too beautiful hidden beaches every town has its own special finds!
A few of my favourite places to find patches of green hidden off the beaten track are;
Paris
Filled with so much beauty these little patches of green are have more then just trees, from statues and fountains behind the busy streets they are the perfect place to rest, to escape the tourists and really see how the locals live! A couple of places I have found refuge and a quiet place to escape too are Arènes de Lutèce, Square Barye and the banks of the Seine on Île Saint-Louis the perfect place to eat a delicious French pastry and watch the boats go by!
New York
New York has a few pockets of green hidden away and as much as I love Central Park, Washington Square garden and Fort Tryon Park these smaller places are definitely worth discovering too; Albert’s Garden in the East Village is a pocket of quite in the city that never sleeps! Elizabeth Street Garden in Soho is such a gem, filled with an eclectic collection of statues and plants it is a great spot to relax and explore and Riverside Park on the west side is a great place for a long walk with great views across the Hudson River.
Sydney
As far as cities go Sydney is at the top of my list of most beautiful cities, not for the bridge or the opera house, but for its natural beauty, from the harbour to the coast Sydney definitely dose not disappoint! But yet again most of the most beautiful places are not on the main path and require a little more exploring to discover! My favourite places in Sydney are the costal walk from the Spit Bridge to Manly, this walk takes you along the harbour coast through a national park right in the middle of the city, from beaches that you can only access from the walk or by boat, to the architecture and city views it is a truly memorable experience. The Blackburn Garden and Redleaf beach are truly a hidden gem, a wonder through an established garden on your way to a beautiful hidden beach with views over the harbour, it is the perfect place to spend a long lazy afternoon. My last patch of green to discover in Sydney is The Lex & Ruby Graham Gardens, hidden away off the main streets and filled with rambling paths that wind down to the waterfront surrounded by tall tree ferns and lush tropical plants, this garden is the perfect place to start the day.
Don’t forget to wonder off the beaten path, you just never know where you might end up, many of my favourite memories have happened because I decided to go cross country!
