Some of the rare trees you can find here are the Mesua ferrea, fern tree. Kanak champa and Varun. Pic/Suresh Karkera

When considering places to spend the weekend, a majority of Mumbaikars look up sales and events announced by some mall or business conglomerate. A miniscule percentage of the non-consumeristic population even considers a retreat to some local wilderness area. Hill stations such as Khandala, Matheran, Lonavla or the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, along with the beaches of Juhu and Girgaum, are among the top favourite nature destinations. However, these typical locations are overrun by tourists and tend to become unbearable after a point due to the shoulder-rubbing crowds. But, you would be surprised to find a whole string of public gardens and green spaces tucked away in various parts of Mumbai.