The best things to do on a staycation in NYC

Stepping inside the Victorian glasshouse at the New York Botanical Garden transports you around the world: to the tropical waters of Southeast Asia, the arid deserts of Northern Africa and the lush rainforests of South America. Plan to spend an entire day at the 250-acre garden to explore the vast grounds beautifully landscaped with native and exotic plants.

Get a spectacular view of the downtown skyline from the water on a Hudson River Community Sailing class. You’ll learn how to steer the tiller, tie various nautical knots and control the sails as you cruise the Hudson River for two hours. Plus, it’s about as close as you’re going to come to piloting a yacht on a budget!

Gallow Green might just win the contest for city’s prettiest rooftop bar. Its ivy-covered trellises and twinkling lights give the Chelsea watering hole a storybook feel. Bring someone special for a romantic date night, or let the bartenders and expertly crafted cocktails keep you company.

Talk about an adrenaline rush: This half-hour helicopter tour of Manhattan swoops over the island for jaw-dropping views of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. The price tag might be a bit steep, but the million-dollar photo opportunities are well worth it.

Giddy up, cowboy! Instructors from the New York Equestrian Center will help you saddle your horse before you set off down the bridle path for an hourlong trail ride through Hempstead Lake State Park. The 775-acre oasis contains rolling hills, serene lakes and sandy beaches. It’s hard to believe you’re only an hour outside NYC.

This Bronx neighborhood has been home to Italian immigrants for generations, and the local shops lining the streets sell some of the finest olive oil, prosciutto and cannoli that NYC has to offer. You’ll sample bites from more than a dozen vendors on this 2.5-hour tour of the area, so come hungry!

Photograph: Courtesy CC/Flickr/The Pizza Bike

Known as Staten Island’s Shangri-la, this Tibetan-style monastery was designed to mimic the look of the Dalai Lama’s mountainside retreat, complete with terraced gardens, lotus ponds and secluded nooks for reflection. The peaceful museum also hosts classes in tai chi and guided meditation for visitors looking for even more serenity. Inside, you’ll discover Tibetan sculptures, scroll paintings, instruments and other cultural artifacts that notable female art collector Jacques Marchais acquired over the years.

Reconnect with the natural world on a guided hike through the woodlands, thickets and knobby hills of Forest Park in Kew Gardens. Self-described “Wildman” Steve Brill will take you through some of the lesser-known parts of the park to forage for fruits, vegetables and herbs. During the warm summer months, you can expect to find black raspberries, sorrel and field garlic growing wild in the park.

This Brooklyn whiskey distillery is the first to operate in NYC since Prohibition, and it still uses traditional methods to craft old-fashioned bourbon, moonshine and single-malt whiskey. Join an hourlong tour of the facilities to learn a little bit about whiskey’s history in the area and taste tipples like strawberry-ginger moonshine and chocolate bourbon.

During the opera's golden age in the 19th century, going to the theater was as much about seeing and being seen as it was the music. Even today, spectators still use the luxe surroundings as a good excuse to bust out the formal attire. Don your finest threads for a spectacular show in the ornate Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. The space hosts the Metropolitan Opera from September to May, with major visiting companies appearing in summer.

Give your inner child the beach day he or she has been dreaming of at Rockaway Water Park. This floating jungle gym has it all: slides, swings, trampolines, even a high dive. No wonder it’s known as the Tarzan Boat. And if you get tired of cannonballing into the water, you can kick back and relax in the floats tied to the dock.

Did you know that Staten Island boasts miles of gorgeous sandy beaches or that a full 40 percent of the island is wooded? Chock that up as two more reasons to explore the city’s most easily forgotten borough. It’s larger than the subway map makes it look—58 square miles—so it’s not exactly walkable once you get off the ferry. Instead, book a guided tour to secure both transportation and information from an in-the-know guide in one fell swoop.