DoCentral Park
A rustic-themed playground, with a stone bridge, a granite slide, a gazebo, a water feature, and playground equipment constructed of white cedar.
This temple traces its lineage to the founding of the Reform Jewish community in New York in 1845, although this building itself dates from 1929. The building is an important and impressive landmark, and the congregation numbers among its members many of the pillars of the Jewish community in New York, including major philanthropists, businesspeople, and politicians. If you don't arrange to visit the interior, it's worth just walking past the building and looking at the decorations on its exterior.
Visitors are welcome Sun-Thu 10AM-4:30PM — except in the occurrence of a holiday or funeral service (call ahead to make sure the temple is open when you plan on going). You can also visit the temple to pray, such as on the Sabbath, if you so choose·No charge for self-guided or guided visits (for groups of 10 or more) is mentioned on the website
Small and gem-like, New York's "oldest, newest zoo" opened in its current guise in 1988, although animals in various zoo incarnations have resided here since the 1860s. This zoo is fairly small and doesn't have as many large animals as you might expect, but this zoo does include sea lions, snow leopards, penguins, polar bears, monkeys, red pandas and exotic birds in pleasant exhibits. Next door is a children's zoo, covered in the cost of admission, which has a barnyard animals you can pet, a duck pond, and lots of play areas for kids.
Nov-Mar: Daily 10AM-4:30PM, Apr-Oct: Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat-Sun: 10AM-5:30PM·$15.95/adult, $12.95/senior, $9.95/child, children under 3 free
Built in the 1870s as a dairy farm, with a structure designed to resemble a country church. Today it is a visitor center and gift shop for the park, housed in a beautiful structure. Next door is the Chess & Checkers House, another visitor center and the volunteer headquarters, with a number of chess and checkers tables under a shady pergola.
Daily 10AM-5PM