Thinking of a move to the city once I'm out of college, but I'm a little hesitant about the abundancy of outdoor recreation in and around the NYC area.

Are there any nice national parks in the area where a guy like myself could plan a day trip to escape the concrete jungle if need be?

When I lived in Chicago, for instance, I could go up north for a retreat, but as you may know the geography of the Midwest if quite bland to say the least. I'm not sure the vicinity of the Appalachians to NY, but are there any mountain ranges relatively nearby where one might plan a weekend camping trip?

Thanks for the help,
Kev

Everything you need is right here
http://books.google.com/books?id=SPDSelQ1ovcC&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=hiking+within+manhattan&source=bl&ots=wIxi4lkSwT&sig=qK9SeBCUqwhMeTA2izeG2lOLAkk&hl=en&ei=rAjfSvjZCtXT8QaI48Bc&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBMQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=hiking%20within%20manhattan&f=false

are you crazy, of course!
It all depends on what exactly you prefer.
But if you aren't too picky, you can hike right within new york, you won't be able to satisfy your inner redneck by pitching a tent and hunting some game, but it will be a nice walk for a day.


And if you can get access to a car, then upstate is just open to you, under two hours away and you are at Bear Mountain Park, and so much more on the way.

Thinking of a move to the city once I'm out of college, but I'm a little hesitant about the abundancy of outdoor recreation in and around the NYC area.

Are there any nice national parks in the area where a guy like myself could plan a day trip to escape the concrete jungle if need be?

When I lived in Chicago, for instance, I could go up north for a retreat, but as you may know the geography of the Midwest if quite bland to say the least. I'm not sure the vicinity of the Appalachians to NY, but are there any mountain ranges relatively nearby where one might plan a weekend camping trip?

Thanks for the help,
Kev

.....Central Park?

Mountains, beaches, countryside, forests... Just as NYC itself offers anything you could want in a city.urban experience, the outlying area really has it all as well.

.....Central Park?

well aren't you just a peach.