Jaunted

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Working Off Your NYC Restaurant Week Meals

Just because New York City is home to some of the world's best restaurants--enticing us with Restaurant Week discounts later this month--doesn't mean you have to gain the Tri-State Five when you visit. These wintry athletic pursuits will have you looking as slim as the Flatiron in no time:

Cross-country skiing: We weren't able to find any vendors who will rent skis, so bring your own to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx (1 train to W. 242nd Street, the end of the line) or Prospect Park in Brooklyn (2/3 to Grand Army Plaza or B train to Prospect Park) for some snowy sightseeing.

Ice skating: Can cool UWS newcomer the Polar Rink (79th and Columbus, B/C to 81st Street) at the American Museum of Natural History replace the classic Rock Center rink? Not so much, says one blogger who calls its high-tech surface "a piece of crap" and bemoans the lack of lockers around the rink. But if the Rock's $19 price tag and long lines put you off, try The Pond at Bryant Park (42nd and 6th Avenue) where skate rentals are $8 but admission is free.

Of course, you could also just jettison the double-decker bus--trust us, no real New Yorkers are on that thing--and walk as much as possible. Once you get out of the crowd-choked Times Square area, a stroll can be quite pleasant. Or, in case you're scheduled to arrive just before Saturday's storm hits, snag a day pass to the Equinox (call 212-871-0425 for the Columbus Circle location, where Anderson Cooper works out) to work up a sweat.

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