Lap Swimming in Manhattan
Nothing beats the Zen-like mesmerism of a swim in the ocean, but here in town we do have reasonable substitutes for the real thing. Our listings include pool lengths so you don't find yourself dodging an aquacize class or flipping more often than you are breathing. The Department of Parks and Recreation runs five Olympic-sized pools (50 meters long): all are free to all comers (with a photo ID) and open from July through Labor Day. The best hotel pools are at the Mandarin Oriental (75 ft.), Trump (55 ft.), The Penisula (42 ft.), The Parker Meridian (40ft.) Millenium UN Plaza (40ft), Millenium Hilton (40 ft) and Hotel Gansevoort (45 ft.) Many New York City gyms have lap pools; though they are not all full-size, those at the New York Sports Club and the Reebok gyms are posh and clean. And you can find comraderie in your watery laps in a class or workout at Chelsea Piers.
Horseback Riding
Sadly, riding in the city is better done in the back of a taxi than atop a horse. You once would have (until the end of April 2007) seen riders in Central Park but time has brought an onslaught of potential hazards, from dogs and joggers in your path, to busy streets en route to the Bridle Path; in the end, city riding was deemed unsafe even for stalwart equestrians. There are a fair number of academies nearby, and we list them here if time allows you to investigate these options. We do wholeheartedly recommend the few remaining wonderful shops for the never-ending demands of tack and garb.
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