We're aware New York City isn't exactly bursting at the seams with plants-- nor is it teeming with exotic wildlife.

But if you've done any exploring throughout your time in this city, you know there are some enchantingly beautiful places here and there that'll make you forget you're in the city.

And it's exactly that juxtaposition between the towering metropolis and the amazingly gorgeous nature below that define this city's parks.

So the next time you start to get sad about the smog in your lungs or the light pollution blocking the stars, head out to one of these 6 NYC outdoor spots and forget about all that... for just a lil' while.

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1. The New York Botanical Garden (2900 Southern Boulevard - the Bronx)

At The New York Botanical Garden, you're free to peruse the 250 acres of landscape, gardens, living collections, and more than 30,000 trees.

NYBG's trees play important roles, like sequestering carbon, cleaning the air, cooling temperatures, and capturing and cleansing storm water.

If you're interested in learning more about the dazzling nature at this oasis, you can volunteer to help fight invasive species, among other volunteer tasks.

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You could also take a class in the NYBG's Adult Education Department on hundreds of topics ranging from organic garden to creating green roofs.

Or, you could just stroll through the NYBG's seemingly unlimited, brilliant supply of plants, flowers, and gardens and lose yourself for a few hours.

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2. Prospect Park (Brooklyn) 

Audubon New York and the Prospect Park Alliance forged an innovative union, and as a result built the Prospect Park Audubon Center, the first of its kind in an urban park.

The Prospect Park Alliance offers free public programming so visitors can explore the nature in Prospect Park, like the ravine in the park's center with waterfalls and hiking paths.

Programs are held in two locations: the Boathouse, which is a historic landmark enclosed by acres of restored natural habitat, and throughout Prospect Park's Pop-Up Audubon Program.

They include nature explorations that allow you to monitor the development of plants in Prospect Park, search for birds, and design a home for one of Prospect Park's species.

You can also join Prospect Park's Thursday Corps volunteers and perform a variety of landscape and horticultural projects.

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3. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (Broad Channel, NY) 

Home to over 330 bird species, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge offers a multitude of trails for hiking, sunset tours, boat tours, and plenty of species that don't typically navigate NYC's streets.

Instead of dodging rats, on these trails you'll run into turtles, over 60 species of butterflies, and lots and lots of birds.

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For your aesthetic enjoyment and the preservation of its ecosystem, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge also contains a salt marsh, and several fresh and brackish water ponds, and a large bay.

It's also home to an array of reptiles, small mammals, and one of the largest populations of horseshoe crabs in the Northeast.

Ranger-led hikes allow animal lovers to get up close to animals and even learn how to protect them.

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4. Owl's Head Park (Colonial Road and 68th Street - Brooklyn)

If you've been yearning for long walks by the water, then Owl's Head Park should be the destination of your next nature excursion.

This large park contains hiking trails, rolling hills, and sprawling pathways available for your roaming pleasure.

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You might break out of a clearing into a breathtaking view of the NYC skyline, which is a plus only if you've already gotten your fill of nature.

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5. The High Line

While maybe not hidden, the High Line sprouts one of the most impressive botanical landscapes in NYC, and thus deserves discussion.

Created in partnership with Netherlands-based planting designer Piet Oudolf, the plant section favors native, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance species that are nonetheless completely gorgeous.

Almost half the High Line's plants are native species and were produced by local growers. The High Line's ecosystem also provides food and shelter for a range of wildlife species, like bees and butterflies.

So, come to the High Line if you want to alternate between watching the sun glinting off the Hudson River and flower stalks swaying in the summer breeze.

You can stroll along all these flowers and forget you're in the city for a minute, until you look down and see rows of cabs rushing through Chelsea.

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6. Battery Park

With an urban farm that educates NYC's residents and visitors about sustainable farming techniques and grows thousands of pounds of vegetables, fruits, herbs, grains and flowers, to its multitude of gardens (134,000 square feet of them), Battery Park is a hidden valhalla of nature indeed.

Stroll through the Gardens of Remembrance, relax at the Waterfront Promenade, or amble along The Bosque (another Piet Oudolf designed 53,000 square foot garden). If you love nature, you'll leave Battery Park delighted.

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Battery Park also features a labyrinth, built to commemorate the World Trade Center, and aims to offer a public way to reflect, honor, and heal.

It's a walking path symbolically bordered by 1148 granite blocks that leads walkers to the center of its seven circular rings and then back out again.

Amazing, right?

Get outdoors and check out 6 Can't-Miss Outdoor Summertime Activities in NYC.

[Feature Image Courtesy: Forgotten-NY.com]