There are three banks, a few grocery stores, and some of the island's wealthiest residents, who prefer the quiet of Eleuthera to the fashionable party scene of Harbour Island. Photo: Justin Kiner/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, Woodpeckers; flycatchers; warblers, tanagers, orioles, and grassland birds. Events | Governors Island (en-US) 'The Journey to Mle Island' is the first Tall Tale to arrive, but before we dive into more . Along with having two Citi Bike stations, theres also Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals & Tours, which offers bike rentals for $28 for the day if you book online (though you can also book in person on Governors Island). Ive never been without a plan. The name of the southern portion of the island hints at one of the main activities on the island. All you have to do is hop on a picturesque, five-minute ferry ride from one of a few different ports in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Ultimate Guide to Governors Island 2023 The 12 Best Things to Do Its safe and impossible to get lost as the island is small. Governors Island is only to the public only at the north and south ends of the island. Picnic Point, with its view of the Statue of Liberty, comprises eight acres of parkland, with picnic tables, oversize swings, Adirondack chairs and hammocks. 134 ratings Add this and other places to your personal travel plan. On the weekends, you can choose to take one of two walking tours of the island or a third cycling tour. July 28. And if you really want to get fancy, reserve one of the grills at Picnic Point or Nolan Park for a proper summer barbecue. But its not the only option. You can always bring a picnic, but you wont go hungry without. Throughout the summer, special events will be scheduled at the orchard you might even get to pick an apple. You can book overnights at collectivretreats.com; the restaurant is on OpenTable. One of the good things about us, says Newman, is that a vast majority of our guests dont spend any money when they come here . Real talk: Its okay if you still dont know exactly what Governors Island is. Biking Around the island is a great way to see a bit more of the island. Michigan Events - Event Calendar | Pure Michigan Eleuthera and Harbour Island Things To Do, Eleuthera and Harbour Island Performing Arts, See All Places In Eleuthera and Harbour Island, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Governors Island - New York City Ferry Service Another popular spot is Gitano Island, which is back for its second season, bringing chill Mexican beach vibes with it. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. After returning our bikes and saying goodbye to one of the best bike routes weve ever explored, we strolled over to Island Oyster, an al fresco restaurant affiliated with Manhattans popularGrand Banks, serving snacks and oysters with prime views of Lower Manhattan. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. They plant, harvest and prepare food for our neighbors in need through GrowNYCs Food Recovery Program. Map. There will be no Trust-operated Brooklyn service on Tuesday, July 4. Photo: NYC Audubon, Nolan Park and the NYC Audubon Nature Center, A short walk southwest from the Manhattan ferry terminal (and northeast from the Brooklyn terminal) brings you to Nolan Park House 17, home to NYC Audubons seasonal nature center (normally open from May through September). Credit: Collective Governors Island. You dont have to spend a dime. Of course, you can drop a pretty penny at one of the many restaurants, the new spa orthe high-end glamping resort. Use the NYC Ferry Service App to get directions and buy tickets. Click here to check out their glamping village. (Credits: Reggie Lewis), People inside the Our Lady Star of the Sea chapel on Saturday, June 18, 2022, on Governors Island. Map. Bobolinks sometimes stop by the open areas of Governors Island during migration. New this year is the Carreau Club, where you can play a round of petanque (French bocce) and sample craft beer and cocktails and Gitano Island, a branch of the Tulum-based beach club with an upscale Mexican menu. In 1912, the islands southern end was expanded significantly by the addition of rocks and soil excavated during the creation of the Lexington Avenue Subway line; this addition expanded the island to its current 172 acres. The landscape is lush with green space, with visitors cycling and strolling, making stops to take in creative public art, swing in garden hammocks, or climb adult jungle gyms. The monument is known as the Early Birds Monument and pays homage to Governors Islands aviation history. We're in the dog days of summer, Rhody, but fear not: I've found events so cool . Fun game: rent a bike and see if you can race the Staten Island Ferry to this beautiful spot. Yankee pier, part of which has collapsed into the channel, is used by the Brooklyn Ferry. The view fromOutlook Hill on Governors Island in New York's harbor. Yes! Yum! Along with regular adult and childrens bicycles, tourists can also choose from tandem or quadracycles (bikes designed for four people). In fact, both the once-moat and former gunpowder and artillery storage rooms are performance spaces, while rocking chairs make the former military barracks a chill hangout spot. No, but you can stay overnight by booking a glamping experience. But if an overnight isnt in the cards, the island is also perfect for a spa day trip. You can actually go into the houses, and one even had a pay-what-you-wish production called Genesis 22 by The Woolgatherers. September 14. Things to do on Long Island this weekend include concerts, comedy shows, and more. Or swim at the gorgeous beaches on either side of town, which stretch from the pink sands of the ocean to the white sands of the Bight of Eleuthera. Right in front of Castle William, Andy and I found a free viewfinder pointing toward Manhattan. In my opinion, you wont find an NYC accommodation with better views. On days when the island is crowded, take care while walking on pathways shared with cyclists. The island also plays host to several festivals, including the Rite of Summer Classical Music Festival and the New York Poetry Festival, as well as weekend sporting events, history reenactments and cooking events. Note: you can also rent these super awkward 4-to-6-person bike-slash-carts called surreys that people really seemed to be struggling with. The rolling acres of Governors Island allow for much larger sculptural commissions than virtually anywhere else in New York City, making it a must-see for any art lover. var $zoho=$zoho || {};$zoho.salesiq = $zoho.salesiq || {widgetcode: "b198e8dcf36e59dc6c8a0e1621b35b365d706aed2ec1ddeb4dab966a4b4c64e2b0deecf3cc79730500242fa24b3b76a3", values:{},ready:function(){}};var d=document;s=d.createElement("script");s.type="text/javascript";s.id="zsiqscript";s.defer=true;s.src="https://salesiq.zoho.com/widget";t=d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];t.parentNode.insertBefore(s,t); Check out the tour page and get in contact with us to book! Join the Bee Conservancy, Earth Matter NY, and GrowNYC for a tour of the Urban Farm on Governors Island, and learn about each organizations work. All tours of the island are free (aside from the ferry change to get to the island), with schedules changing on a month-by-month basis. What's Happening The American Manifest: Moving Chains Through Summer 2023 Rite of Summer Music Festival Free Outdoor Concerts Jul 22, 2023 New York City Poetry Festival July 29-30 NYCRUNS Ice Cream Social 5K & 10K August 6 Free Outdoor Films: Rule-Breakers & Troublemakers Governors Island Arts & Film at Lincoln Center July 7, August 11, September 1 Find. Throughout its open season, Governors Island plays host to many different exhibits and events. It features over 30 acres of open space and offers many activities such as concerts, festivals, art installations and more. From May to August, check the London Plane trees east of the entrance to the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School for the birds flattish, circular nest of large sticks, usually at least 15 or 20 feet up. Southeast Coast: The Piers and Buttermilk Channel. From Long Island, you can drive to lower Manhattan but parking is limited. There are also modern swings and jungle gyms that are both works of art and play spaces. Foraging Laughing Gulls, Chimney Swifts.. Raptors; freshwater sandpipers; woodpeckers; flycatchers; grassland birds, warblers, and other songbirds, Owls, accipiters, gulls, diving birds including Bufflehead, mergansers, and loons; mixed songbird feeding flocks, Gulls, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Fish Crow, American Kestrels hunt year-round in the open areas of Governors Island. Recreation | Governors Island (en-US) I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. The tour takes approximately a half-hour to complete, using up nearly half of the time that visitors are allowed to spend on the castle grounds. For food and drink, bring a book and a picnic and head out to Picnic Point where hammocks and a view of Lady Liberty await or chill out at one of the many outdoor eateries. On weekends, youll find more to do and the ferry runs later. For a cheaper option: Plunk yourself down in one of the hammocks in Hammock Grove and watch the islands resident sheep munch away as they try to contain invasive plant growth. Fair warning: This is a popular spot with some summer weekends requiring minimum stays. They might be fun if you want a laugh and a challenge, though! The Trust for Governors Island keeps a detailed list of the organized events on the island. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full, Eleuthera and Harbour Island Travel Guide. 00:00 01:00 Only In Your State Governors Island Exhibits & Special Events Throughout its open season, Governors Island plays host to many different exhibits and events. In short, there are four hills, each providing a unique perspective of NYC both literally and figuratively. I feel like every visit is a surprise, says Clare Newman, president and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island. For more serious cardio, check out the new climbing boulder on the western promenade, with several different climbing routes. Best things to do in Rhode Island this week: July 21-28 25 Best Day Trips from Long Island - VacationIdea.com Visitors to Governors Island can bring their own food or simply buy food from one of Picnic Points restaurants. Celebrating art is a prime objective of the Governors Island trust. Additionally,biking through the gardens that line the grove was a treat as the flowers grew higher than my body. Interestingly, its affiliated with Manhattans famous Trinity Church, home to a historic cemetery where notable New Yorkers like Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton are buried. Picture sipping rose in an outdoor pool with stunning NYC views. Though it was originally part of the citys defensive plans, Governors Island is now home to a unique mix of recreational activities and historical sites. Click here for schedules and information. The furry buddies have a summer-long residency in Hammock Grove helping to nibble on invasive plant species, and you know, look adorable. And definitely check, because Governors Island has many events. Credit: Timothy Schenck. Castle Williams dates back to the years just before the War of 1812, when it acted as a key part of the fortifications guarding New York City. If you walk around the outside path without heading into the center of the island it will typically take you an hour or less. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Immersive escape The original chapel dates back to 1846, built to keep prayer in the lives of the Army men and their families that inhabited the island. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Should You Swim With the Pigs in the Bahamas? QC NY (qcny.com), the first U.S. branch of Italian spa brand QC Terme, opened in March, with an assortment of saunas (including one with a delightful Central Park theme complete with tweeting birds), steam rooms, Vichy showers and relaxation areas. COMING UP: 7 AM ET - Wake Up America 9 AM ET -. New York City doesnt generally come to mind when you think of camping, but Collective Governors Island is perhaps one of the citys best-kept secrets. Tours take place on the first Saturday of every month from 23:30pm (weather permitting). In May 2012, Castle Williams was opened to the public for the first time in its 200-year history. And, lets be honest, youre not really roughing it: the property offers everything from private chefs tasting menus, to charcuterie board crafting, to tents with en-suite bathrooms. Governors Island 2023 Events | New York City Summer Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Click here. See "Birding Highlights by the Season" above; the eBird links below also may be helpful. Located in New York Harbor between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, this small islandjust under one mile longoffers visitors plenty to do during their day or weekend trip. June 11, 2022 This story is part of an occasional series exploring nightlife in New York. The entire island has a circumference of 2.5 miles easily walkable and bikeable! These exhibits, ranging from artistic installations to composting education and mathematics, are scattered about the island in both the National Monument and Picnic Point areas of the island. Cooking on the island, however, is prohibited to visitors. There are many creative seating options, as well. Let me paint a picture of Governors Island for you: Imagine an uninhabited car-free island that once served as a military base, with a history that can still be touched through a 19th century castle, a whimsical English Gothic chapel, and a row of abandoned barracks now housing art shows and events. To move around even faster, rent bikes. Tuesday July 11 2023 If you crave an escape from the city that won't land you in debt, head to the ever-changing urban oasis of Governors Island, NY which combines park, adult playground and. Plus, with opening hours stretching until 11 pm on weekends, opt to actually spend all day here before hopping the ferry home.