In the summertimes, we used to strap on roller blades and take a leisurely roll down the bike path on West Side Highway along the Hudson River. It's mostly flat and repaved so it's not demanding which is great for beginners. You can start around midtown near the Intrepid Museum and roll at your own pace taking in the sights i.e., tourists, Hudson River, etc. There's a handful of places you can pause to take a breather like Chelsea Piers, the dog run near Chelsea and the occassional pier - which are mostly rebuilt and appear very new.

What I remember fondly was the summer breaze and stopping by the dog run. Just mindlessly watching dogs run around was a great distraction from the work week. Months later we actually went to a kennel and adopted an extraordinary Shih-Tzu that has only brought joy to my life.

If you want to roll somewhere demanding and a bit hard core, do the loop in Central Park. Fair warning - the inclines at the north end of the park are very steep. Always wear pads and wrist guards.