Free Walk-up Kayaking At Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park (red Hook)
New York Design Agenda would be happy to share the best things that you should do during the summertime! So, today we bring the best selection with. The 24th Annual Red Hook Fest: We Push Forward, the FREE live music and dance festival on the Brooklyn waterfront.
- Free Walk-up Kayaking At Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park (red Hook) New York City
- Free Walk-up Kayaking At Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park (red Hook) Boston
NEW YORK (AP) — The Statue of Liberty is scheduled to reopen to visitors on July Fourth for the first time since Superstorm Sandy. But for those who just want a photo op with the statue, there are many other vantage points, from Red Hook, Brooklyn, and Governors Island, to a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The Staten Island ferry takes you right past the statue for free, while those on bigger budgets can reserve a room with a view at the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel.
Here are 10 ways to get a great look at the Statue of Liberty, starting with the cruises that resume service to Liberty Island on July Fourth.
STATUE CRUISES TO LIBERTY ISLAND
Statue Cruises — http://www.statuecruises.com — is the sole operator for boats that take visitors to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located. Boats are scheduled to resume departing from the Battery in Lower Manhattan on July 4, when Liberty Island reopens to the public for the first time since Superstorm Sandy last October. The statue itself was not damaged by the storm, but landing docks and infrastructure, including electrical, phone and sewage systems, required months of repair work by the National Park Service, which operates the statue.
Ellis Island was also damaged by the storm and no reopening date has been set, so cruises to the Statue of Liberty will not be stopping there yet as they did in the past, NPS spokesman John Warren said. But Warren added that the park service is 'hopeful' that boats to Liberty Island will soon resume departures from Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
You can buy Statue Cruises tickets in person at the Battery, but the cruises do sell out, so advance online purchase is strongly recommended. There are three types of tickets: Access to the statue's crown, $20 ($17 for seniors, $12 for ages 4-12); or access to the pedestal of the monument or the grounds of Liberty Island, $17 ($14 for seniors, $9 ages 4-12).
Visit http://www.nps.gov/stli/planyourvisit/statue2012reopening.htm for more information.
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
Take the subway to Bowling Green or South Ferry and hop on a Staten Island ferry for a free ride across New York Harbor. The boats run 24 hours a day. There's always a crowd of tourists on deck taking photos as the boat passes the Statue of Liberty.
OTHER CRUISES
Many vessels offer sightseeing cruises of New York Harbor and Manhattan that sail right past the Statue of Liberty. They include the Circle Line, Manhattan by Sail's schooners, Hornblower Cruises, Spirit Cruises, New York Water Taxi and Bateaux New York. Some offer live music or fancy lunch or dinner cruises that can top $100.
BATTERY AND LOWER MANHATTAN
Free Walk-up Kayaking At Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park (red Hook) New York City
To see the Statue of Liberty without getting on a boat, just head to the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, an area known as the Battery (subway to South Ferry or Bowling Green).
While you're there, consider exploring other parts of Lower Manhattan, which includes the financial district and the 9/11 Memorial. NYC & Company, the city's official tourism agency, offers a guide at http://www.nycgo.com/lower-manhattan .
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the classic New York experiences. In addition to giving you a close look at the bridge's Gothic arches and delicate filigree of cables, it offers a magical view of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. To get the full impact of the skyscraper canyon coming into view, take the subway to the Brooklyn side (A or C to High Street) and walk back across the bridge.
GOVERNORS ISLAND
Governors Island, a former Coast Guard facility now used for public recreation, offers inviting lawns, old forts, concerts, art exhibits and food vendors, along with great views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Get there by ferry, weekends through Sept. 29 from Manhattan or Brooklyn, then walk or bike around the island, http://www.govisland.com/html/visit/directions.shtml .
RED HOOK, BROOKLYN
One of the best views of the Statue of Liberty is from Red Hook, an up-and-coming waterfront neighborhood in Brooklyn. A cruise terminal where the Queen Mary 2 homeports is located in one corner of the neighborhood, and lots of popular eateries like the Fort Defiance Bar and Red Hook Lobster Pound line the main street, Van Brunt.
Oddly enough, one of the best spots for viewing the Statue of Liberty is from the parking lot of the local Fairway supermarket, 480-500 Van Brunt, as well as from Fairway's rear patio, which sells ready-to-eat fare. Another great vantage point is from Red Hook's Louis Valentino Jr. Pier and Park, on Ferris Street between Coffey and Van Dyke, one of the few places where you can get a rare head-on view of the statue, instead of from the side.
A free ferry runs weekends this summer to Red Hook from Pier 11 in Lower Manhattan, http://www.nywatertaxi.com/tours/redhook . Red Hook is also fun to explore by bike, and it's one of those rare neighborhoods where you can often find street parking.
MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE - A LIVING MEMORIAL TO THE HOLOCAUST
The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust at 36 Battery Place has tall picture windows that look directly out onto the Statue of Liberty. While you look, you can listen to the museum's 'Voices of Liberty' sound installation, in which Holocaust survivors, refugees and others discuss why they chose to make the U.S. their home, http://www.mjhnyc.org/ .
RITZ-CARLTON NEW YORK, BATTERY PARK
The majority of guest rooms at the Ritz-Carlton's Battery Park hotel offer views of the Statue of Liberty, and they even come equipped with telescopes for an up-close look. For July Fourth weekend, prices for a room with a king or two double beds start at $420, going up to $7,500 for a 2,100-square-foot (195-square-meter) suite; http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/NewYorkBatteryPark/Default.htm.
LIBERTY STATE PARK, NEW JERSEY
This waterfront park on the New Jersey side of the harbor offers the closest view you can get of the statue without sailing past on a boat or stepping onto Liberty Island. There are three ways to get there: Drive; take the PATH train from Manhattan, followed by a light rail and a half-mile (.8-kilometer) walk into the park; or take a ferry from the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan, http://www.libertylandingferry.com . While you're there, check out the Liberty Science Center, a great museum for kids, http://www.lsc.org .
Today's post comes from Avi Edelson of Traverse. Header photo by Vladimir Brezina. We try to keep this up to date but if you have notes please feel free to reach out at contact@outdoorfest.com!
Throughout the summer boathouses and community groups across the city open their doors to the public for open kayaking and guided trips on new york’s waterways. From staten island to the bronx, options abound for the aspiring kayaker. So take a look at the paddling options below and set aside some time to explore. We promise it’ll make your summer.
THE DOWNTOWN BOATHOUSE
Want to go kayaking with one of New York’s original paddling outfits? Well, you’ll have plenty of opportunities because The Downtown Boathouse offers free kayaking throughout the summer at 5 NYC locations. Boats can be borrowed for 20-minute intervals and can be used again if others aren’t waiting. If you’re an absolute beginner consider taking one of their Wednesday evening safety classes. You can visit The Downtown Boathouse at the following locations. Pier 26: Huberts Street and West Street; Governors Island: Pier 101 at Cardier Road and Andes Road. The Downtown Boathouse season begins Saturday, May 17th at Pier 26. Check out their full schedule at downtownboathouse.org.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK BOATHOUSE
Located between Piers 1 and 2, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse is conveniently situated in the newly redeveloped, and strikingly beautiful, Brooklyn Bridge Park. On Saturdays and alternating Thursdays, the folks at BBPB offer free 30-minute kayaking sessions in the semi-protected waters along the Brooklyn Waterfront. In addition to their walk-up offerings, they also provide a Youth Kayaking Program and Kayak Polo–a Sunday event that brings new and experienced paddlers together to, well, play polo in kayaks. Show up early to enter your name in the lottery. The season at Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse begins Thursday, May 15th with a Kick-Off party. To learn more, visit bbpboathouse.org.
LIC COMMUNITY BOATHOUSE
With the expressed goal of helping to revitalize the Long Island City waterfront, the LIC Community Boathouse is raising awareness about the ecology of the area through paddling and community programing. And while their sunset paddles might not have a particular educational focus, it’s not everyday you can witness the sun setting behind the city while sitting inches above the waterline. If interested in free walk-up kayaking, visit their Hallets Cove location from the beach at 31st Street and Vernon Avenue on select Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season. If looking for a bit more adventure, sign up for one of their Trip Paddles, which run on varied dates throughout the season. Check out their full schedule of events at licboathouse.org.
RED HOOK BOATERS
Taking advantage of the area’s protected harbors and undulating coastline, the Red Hook Boaters offer new paddlers an experience that is as safe as it is rewarding. From their home at Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park in Red Hook, the group offers free walk-up kayaking beginning June 1st. They also offer a number of special events throughout the summer on Thursdays and weekends. While the 20-minute paddle sessions are offered gratis, Red Hook Boaters ask that you help with a bit of beach clean-up afterward. Their full schedule of events is available at redhookboaters.org.
KAYAK STATEN ISLAND
At their prime location on South Beach, just beyond the northernmost end of the expansive Boardwalk, Kayak Staten Island is the perfect place for free kayaking on Staten Island. During the summer this area is a popular destination for beach goers, so if you’re hoping to borrow a boat expect a short wait. Kayak Staten Island operates on alternating Saturdays and Sundays from 12-3pm throughout the summer. For their full schedule visit kayakstatenisland.org.
URBAN PARK RANGERS
Free Walk-up Kayaking At Louis Valentino Jr. Pier Park (red Hook) Boston
Back for another season, the Urban Park Rangers have introduced New Yorkers to the wonders of paddling for years. Deftly balancing fun and educational programing, the Urban Park Rangers’s free canoe and kayaking events have built a significant following from Brooklyn to the Bronx. With their offerings running the gamut of Basic Canoeing to the advanced Hudson River Canoe Adventure, the rangers succeed at making access to NYC’s waterways accessible regardless of age or skill level. For their entire schedule, visit nycgovparks.org.
SEBAGO CANOE CLUB
Since 1933 the Brooklyn-based Sebago Canoe Club has been a haven for urban paddlers. Drawing membership from throughout the NYC area, the club provides a broad offering of events spanning the year–including open paddles. On select Saturdays and Wednesdays during the summer, borrow from their fleet of canoes and kayaks and explore federally-protected Jamaica Bay from the launch behind their facility on Avenue N and Paerdegat Avenue North. $10 covers the insurance associated with your outing. Once paid-up, you’ll be led by an experienced member of their group on an hour+ tour of this unique estuary. The Sebago Canoe Club is always looking to grow their community, so feel free to ask about membership and exclusive perks like access to their camp on Lake Sebago in Harriman State Park. For more information on the Sebago Canoe Club, visit their site at sebagocanoeclub.org.
THE GOWANUS DREDGERS
Equal parts advocacy and outing group, The Gowanus Dredgers have spearheaded many projects aimed at making the NYC waterfront safer and more accessible. From their launch site on 2nd Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn the group has introduced hundreds of paddlers to canoeing and kayaking during their open Estuary Stewardship Days on select Saturdays and Sundays from May 1st through November 1st. And, if you’re looking to learn more about clean up efforts in the Gowanus Canal, their website offers a wealth of information. To learn more, visit gowanuscanal.org.
INWOOD CANOE CLUB
The Inwood Canoe Club has been a resource for the NYC paddling community for over 100 years. And, in that time they’ve solidified their place as the go-to spot for kayaking in northern Manhattan. On Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the group welcomes the public for guided 20-minute tours of the Hudson River from their boathouse just north of Dyckman Street on Manhattan’s west side. To cover the insurance associated with your visit, the club charges $4 for one day, or $15 for a season’s worth of kayaking. And, if you’d like to get involved, the Inwood Canoe Club is a membership organization that is always looking to grow. To learn more about open paddles and membership perks, visit them at inwoodcanoenyc.org.
NORTH BROOKLYN BOAT CLUB
From their convenient location on Newtown Creek between Ash Street and McGuinness Boulevard, the North Brooklyn Boat Club offers a expansive series of events, workshops, open paddles and educational programing throughout the season. And, if you’re interested in learning how to build or rebuild canoes and kayaks, you’ll definitely be interested in checking out their ongoing restoration projects on select days throughout the summer. Open paddles and kayaking take place on varied Saturdays. To learn more, visit northbrooklynboatclub.org.