Here is a must-go one day trip destination. I was dying to escape from the city this Memorial weekend. It's too much to fly anywhere and staying at hotels. Even the rental car can thinner my wallet. Besides, I rather wanted to take a train trip, without worrying about the traffic. Thanks to my boyfriend's dad, we learned there's a garden park in Bronx, Wave Hill. We checked the website, which was promising. The biggest YES was its location. It is only 25 minutes from Grand Central by Metro North (Round trip $6/person). You cannot believe it's in Bronx. The free shuttle picked us up from the Riverdale station and climb up the steep hill and drove for a minute through lovely houses. 
It's located on the hill, overlooking the hudson river and beautiful summer green. Pretty and exotive flowers are blooming and the sun-house full of cactus was entertaining. They also have a little pond—due to my frog phobia, I was unable to get too close to this; In fact, there are big frogs. There's a designated picnic area but I am sure you can bring some food and eat on the field, if being sneeky. We spent good 1.5 hours looking through the park. If it wasn't 90 degree, we could have spent more time just lying down and enjoying the nature. If you would spend 20 minutes to get to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, you definitely should go to Wave Hill. Wave Hill
www.wavehill.org
