Daytripping Activities on Governor’s Island

Enroute Governor’s Island

Governor’s Island is located in New York harbour just beyond the shores of downtown Manhattan. It is 172 acres, managed by the National Park Service and has a very storied history. Originally Native American, its native name was Pagganuck or Nut Island because of the abundance of oak and chestnut trees.

The island has changed hands from the Dutch to the British and been used for coastal defense, POW facilities and a barracks over the centuries.

Governor’s Island is a car-free escape where locals go to spend the day and partake in various activities. It is open from May through October and is only accessible via ferry from either Pier 11/Wall St. or DUMBO in Brooklyn. Either the NYC ferry service or the Water Taxi go there and the fares are very affordable. Ferry rides are usually free before 10.30 am on weekends but confirm from ferry staff before boarding.

There is so much to do on Governor’s island and activities are family friendly and this is why I consider Governor’s Island to be one of the unmissable spots to visit in New York City, far away from the maddening crowd. Below are several activities that are present here. These change annually and were present in 2017; 2018 might see new additions or changes to current activities. It’s always exciting to discover them.

1. Walking. There are miles of open space to perambulate, take pictures, explore or just plop on a patch of grass to stare at the sky. Get your Fitbit/Watch on because you will incinerate calories with walking. Wear broken-in,  comfy shoes because I have seen folks with footwear off, massaging their sore feet while boarding the ferry back to Manhattan. Stay hydrated always.

      2. Biking. A car-free island still requires transportation other than feet. If the only walking you manage is your daily MTA walk/shuffle to work, then biking is your only other option. You can bring your bike on the ferry, rent a Citi Bike near the landing dock or at Blazing Saddles near Liggett Terrace.

Sometimes, there are free bike rentals from 10am to noon. Inquire on the island. There are also tandem bicycles and quadra-cycles available for rent. I saw a quadra-cycle for the first time on the island and vowed to try it one day. It carries four people and it looked like a fun workout. Lol.

      3. Mini Golf. For the golfing amateurs and semi-pros, you can practice putting and tee-off here. The mini course is designed by artists to a theme and the art is eye-catching. It is located across from Castle Williams and will be returning in summer 2018.

      4. Castle Williams. For the history buffs, you can take free tours on weekdays and weekends round the castle, listen and learn its history. Tours are 30 minutes and are completely FREE with no reservations required. Tour times are 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm and start at the top of the hill from Soisson’s Landing. Times and location may change so inquire ahead of time.

 

5. Fort Jay. This is one of the best examples of a classic fort design in the country and is the oldest building on the island. Tours are given on the Dutch history of the fort and its role in subsequent wars of yesteryear. This ranger tour is about 15 minutes and begins in the Fort Jay courtyard. It is free and has start times of 11.30 am, 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm.

6. Whole Island Tour. You can go on a 90 minute island tour with a Park Ranger, look at and learn the history of all the old structures as well as the lives of people who once lived there. No tickets or reservations are required (still confirm ahead of time) and be prepared to stand and walk for over an hour. It is available on weekends and departs at the top of the hill from Soisson’s Landing.

7. Zip lining. If you still have strength left after the biking and walking, God bless you! This might be up your alley then. Ziplining is available on the western part of Governor’s Island near Liggett’s Terrace and is an adrenaline rush. I did it for the first time and shrieked in excitement all the way. The line is 300 ft long and allows two people zip side by side.

My friend and I did this together and we both filmed ourselves suspended in the air. Like any ride, you have to meet the minimum height and weight requirement before getting on and safety harnesses are mandatory. If you’re terrified of heights (like me), you’ll get over it immediately once you start zipping down. We had so much fun that we did it again. Lol.

 

8. Rock Climbing. This is a climbing challenge with three skill levels. The climbing walls are 25ft with each level having moderate to fully spaced rocks for gripping. Best believe that I chose the basic challenge which wasn’t that basic if you have zero experience in this sport. The climbing works muscles you never knew existed.

Your core is worked hard because you gauge which grip is reachable to lift yourself to the next rock. Your toes have to balance on these small rocks thus working your thighs and calves. For a novice, I was proud of myself for reaching the top, ringing the bell and zipping back down.

9. Amazen Maze. This is more a child-friendly activity but hey, you can unleash your inner child and participate too. I know I did. The objective is to locate four checkpoints of letters that spell “MAZE” and exit the maze as quickly as possible. You clock your time of entry on a given card and clock out once you discover the right exit. It tests your navigation skills too.

All three activities – ziplining, climbing and the Maze – are managed by Adventures at GI and can either be bought individually or as a package for a discount.

10. Outlook Hill. This is the best point on Governor’s Island on which to experience views of downtown Manhattan and the harbour. You can also see the silhouette of the Statue of Liberty if you have no strength to elbow your way onto those Liberty Tour cruises but still want a picture of her.

The Hill has blocks of granite called The Scramble where you literally scramble up to the top. You can camp out on these slabs, have a snack and a drink because it is a bit of work. The blocks are not to scare you but enough for you to say at the end of the day, “I did work today!”

11. Hammock Grove. After all the walking tours, biking, ziplining and scrambling, you’ll appreciate this serene spot. There are 50 red hammocks present and if you’re lucky to snag one, do so quick! You can chill, take a 2 hour nap, read, snack or just have a mild existential crisis while staring at the beautiful view of downtown Manhattan. Bring a summer hat or visor to cover your face with and don’t forget the sunscreen no matter your colour or ethnicity.

There are educational activities for children such as a compost area, a lavender garden and even a slide. It is really for children of all ages and a good cool down activity after biking or zipping.

Lastly, there are food trucks and food stalls around Leggett’s Terrace (location might change whenever) so refill those lost calories and moisture and try new foods. Each year sees a new art installation or attraction so make sure to check out what is available to view.

See https://govisland.com/info for information on new attractions and when the island opens in May.

 

Have fun and enjoy!

Comment and share if you’ve been here and what you enjoyed doing.

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