Escaping the City: A Daytrip to Breakneck Ridge

The variety of things to do, places to explore, and opportunities to take advantage of in New York City is truly astounding. Nevertheless, it is still a city, and cities (as densely populated areas with countless buildings as tall and far as the eye can see) categorically have certain limitations. Namely, nature and green space is conspicuously restricted. Although Fordham's Rose Hill campus achieves an impressive balance between grassy areas and the buildings they surround, I sometimes find myself craving an inversion of the urban landscape: nature as far as the eye can see interrupted only by the odd building or two, rather than the other way around.

Campus is even more beautiful in autumn.

To this end, my friends and I recently took a daytrip to go hiking. Although none of us have a car at school, there is a Metro North Railroad station just outside campus that enables practically door-to-door transportation to Breakneck Ridge, a mountain with a number of trails along the Hudson River in Cold Spring, NY.

Hiking at Breakneck is very popular with New Yorkers in the fall, so our train was standing-room only.

The train stop is about 300 feet from the entrance to the trail, which begins with a steep uphill climb. This ended up being the most challenging and tiring section of our hike, with some nearly-vertical sections that required minor bouldering. The effort was worth it though...

Looking south back towards NYC - over 50 miles away.

The view from the summit was astounding.

The view west across the Hudson. Hardly a cloud in the sky.

Although I'm originally from Massachusetts and very proud of New England's reputation for breathtaking vistas when the leaves begin to change color in the fall, I'll admit that I was impressed with the landscape at Breakneck.

A group of birds of prey circled nearby throughout the day.

The park offers a variety of terrain on several trails marked by colored tree markers along the way.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is just visible across the river from the southern end of the park.

We had packed lunches and ate on the mountain. Including breaks, our hike took about 5 hours from the time we got off the train until we reached the village of Cold Spring.

A great place to stop and take in the view.

After visiting the town of Cold Spring (where we each grabbed a well-deserved ice cream), we hopped back on the train and headed home.

There may not be any mountains, but Edwards Parade is still a great place to spend time outdoors.

Rams in the Botans

When most people think of Fordham, they think of a top university located in a major city. But did you know that just outside Fordham’s Rose Hill campus lies a beautiful oasis of trees and flowers? The New York Botanical Gardens, or "Botans" is a 240-acre observatory filled with flowers, exhibits, and a library. The Garden is open year round, and there is always something new going on. In the spring and summer, visitors can experience the lovely rose garden, and the various types of flowers and plants that grow in the area. In the late fall and in the winter, the Botanical Gardens is the perfect spot for a walk in the fresh, crisp air.

The "Botans" or Botanical Gardens, is right across from the Rose Hill campus

I couldn't believe that these flowers were real!

The Botanical Gardens is a wonderful place for Fordham students to visit. Admission to the Garden is free for all Fordham students, and getting there is easy! The Botanical Gardens is directly across the street from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, which makes it very accessible to all students. My roommate and I love to visit the Botanical Gardens in order to relax, and to experience the nature that exists right in New York City.

The Rose Garden looked like a picture from a classy gardening catalog 

Fordham has an amazing location because New York City is filled with opportunities for jobs, fun, and adventure. With the city surrounding Fordham’s campuses, and an oasis of nature directly across the street, Fordham truly has the best of both worlds.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Did you know that Rose Hill, the original Fordham University campus, is adjacent to the New York Botanical Garden? I recently found out that Fordham and the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) have been neighbors for over 100 years. It's one of the top-ranking botanical gardens in the United States and through Fordham you can get four free grounds admission passes. Why is it one of the top-ranking botanical gardens in the United States? Because not only is it a museum of plants, an educational institution, and a scientific research organization, it is also a National Historic Landmark. It is one of the largest in any city in the United States, well known by the beauty of its diverse landscape and wide-ranging collections and gardens.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the New York Botanical Garden with some friends, and it turns out the day we went they were holding a green market. On the pavement in front of the NYBG Mertz Library there were about half a dozens tents full of fresh fruits and veggies and various baked goods and quiches. We of course took advantage of the ability to grab some treats for walking the trails. We picked up raspberry almond bars, a tiny banana nut loaf, some golden delicious apples and then began our exploring!

  

We started down Daffodil Valley then turned onto Magnolia Way, were we saw the Oak Collection by the East Gate and the Howell Family Garden. Then we looped down towards Waterfall Trail to check out the Goldman Stone Mill, a beautiful three-story venue that NYBG uses for various activities. After we went up Bridge Trail across the Hester Bridge and went to see the Rockefeller Rose Garden, a member we ran into told us that a few roses were still in bloom and it was definitely worth seeing! Finally we made our way back towards the Mertz Library and went into to see the four sculptures of the seasons. Four amazing sculptures made up of various items from each season like wheat, vines, vegetables, acorns, leaves, flowers, fruits, and twigs! My favorite was the winter sculpture.

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Winter

Visiting the NYBG was an unforgettable experience! I suggest you check it out whenever you're in the area. To get your free ground passes through Fordham all you have to do is got to the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development to obtain your pass. Then you’re only a two-minute walk away from The New York Botanical Garden that offers major exhibitions and flower shows throughout the year, bringing in countless visitors.

For more information, visit:
http://www.fordham.edu/student_affairs/student_leadership__/rose_hill/information_desk/services_28608.asp