How To Enjoy Central Park All Year Long

Dress for the weather and make some plans to stay active outdoors for your mental health.

There’s a Scandinavian concept called Friluftsliv (pronounced free-loots-live), that many New Yorkers would be wise to adopt. Friluftsliv describes a passion for nature and literally translates as ‘open-air living’. It was popularized in the 1850s by the Norwegian playwright and poet, Henrik Ibsen, who used the term to describe the value of spending time in remote locations for spiritual and physical wellbeing.

Today, the phrase is used more broadly by all Scandanavians to explain anything from lunchtime runs, to commuting by bike or simply meeting friends outdoors all year round.

The concept is also linked closely to allmansrätten, the right to roam. Scandinavian countries all have similar laws which allow people to walk or camp practically anywhere, as long as they show respect for the surrounding nature, wildlife and locals.

And though we can’t set up camp wherever we fancy, we can however roam, dawdle, run, bike, ski, skate, ride and skip through Central Park.

You can rent bikes or of course, bring your own. You can sign up for a tour by bicycle to be guided to see numerous landmarks. If you don't want to actually do the pedaling, you can still get a tour by bike from a pedicab! If you are familiar with the area, you can scout around for a pickup game of one thing or another, or you can check Meetup to find current plans for games, adventure and fitness groups and even meditation groups. 

When you are in the mood for solitude there's plenty of space to roam paths alone, just you and your one true love - headphones. The North Woods offers 40 acres of woodland serenity with streams and mini waterfalls, it's easy to forget you are in NYC. Bank Rock Bay, just west of the Ramble between 77th & 78th is a northern inlet of Central Park Lake and is considered a good spot for bird watching, and is pretty much guaranteed to be a quiet spot.

So as the colder months of winter approach, make a habit of spending time outdoors in nature. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” is a Swedish saying that is so true!

Tip: Merino wool base layers are perfect for cold (or hot) activities. There’s nothing worse than working up a sweat from a workout in the cold, only to have your base layer remain damp and

you start to chill. Merino wool is one of the most breathable fibers and can absorb large quantities of moisture vapour then move it away from your skin to evaporate. It’s also super soft next to your skin, 100% natural, 100% biodegradable and 100% renewable. Win! With the right clothes, it’s easy to spend time outdoors all year round. It’ll only strengthen your mental and physical wellbeing and we could all use that right now.

New York has 1,700 parks! Our favorite is Central Park.