Long for an exotic outdoor vacation but an arctic expedition or a safari aren't in the cards? No worries -- Queens has plenty of options for a nature and outdoorsy vacation!

Willow Lake is an unexpected nature sanctuary that's part of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Come and explore!

Fun and local Labor Day weekend suggestions.

NYC Parks Department Vital Park Explorer

NYC Tree Map

Pondering Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Easy BBQ or picnic with Kevin and the Cunningham Park farmer’s market. (Photo: Kevin Sims)

Ode to the wonderful Eastern Gray Squirrel

Some fun events this weekend

Lighting up the night with lightning bugs

In praise of tiny parks

Pools and such

Queens Botanical Garden

International Picnic Day

I love the beach and love talking about the beach — I could go on indefinitely about all the nature! But I’ll limit myself to a few species this time…

Had a great chat with Mr. Jamaica Bay, Don Riepe, who is equal parts brilliant and charming!

It’s Memorial Day weekend — the unofficial start of summer! And if you want some beach scoop, listen up!

Thar she blows! Always fun looking for whales, dolphins and other marine life aboard my favorite ship, the American Princess.

Check out the fantastic market by Down to Earth Markets and challenge yourself at the City Nature Challenge weekend events.

I was blown away — quite literally! — at the Queens Farm tulip event, but settled down to spend National Gardening Day at Commonpoint Queens.