A nice place to get away from the busy roads of Staten Island. It was slightly confusing finding…read morethe Ohrback Lake since we didnt c the on the right there was another trail. So we made a few circles. Other than that, it was beautiful. We found a swamp that was fillied with frogs and a black and white cat.

Much nicer than I thought it would be. Definitely a hidden gem of the island. There several nature…read moretrails to make your way through. A great place to go for a run or a hike. I ended up getting lost at one point as it was way larger and windier than I expected.

Aside from the colorful bees and butterflies you see as your walking in, you feel welcome. There…read moresomething about butterflies and bees that seem to say to me when we meet "we are friendship and community and love" Then we swat at them - please refrain from swatting, they'll comprehend quickly that your no pretty flower or a newly sprouting seed. As I'm kicking around in the daisy's, big dog has other ideas of a hoot and a holler. He jailbreaks at an unsuspecting hound, a sizable hound at that, tall leggy proportions, trim at the quarters -- thinner necked and bigger headed. Catastrophe averted somehow and the AstroTurf is the closest replica to real grass, stringy as this breed might be - which it is. Like Poa Anna turf that's prominent in Hawaii. And we continued on towards the main soccer field the grass field looked quite the same with exceptional bounce and spring, I felt the decathloner in me and bounced along to the other side. With it's understandably poor upkeep, ya know -- cutbacks, cutbacks, the park has a spirit to it, like a drunkard whose not been home for a day or so and is in bad need of a shower, a shave and a change of clothes.

First time here, not bad! Nice looking over to the sand bar and seeing the hills and other sea…read morebirds. Someone was parasailing, the ocean was pretty choppy on a windy day. There are huge enclosed fields, some with artificial turf for soccer. I saw people running track, exercising and walking their dogs. It is a Loop trail, I started at the parking lot and went around the front through the little walkway that leads to the fields. I let my dog into a giant field where the gat can be closed and let her run. Then we walked towards the water and you see a trail start. A little ominous on a cloudy day and not many people but we kept going. The trail goes along the water line. Carcasses of boats along the coast probably from Sandy but interesting to see. Trail loops back to the parking lot. Not a hike but a nice walk, we did 1.41 miles. The only thing I didn't like was not a bench anywhere along the trail. I have a dachshund that likes to sit on benches when she's getting tired. I have to say it's pretty clean! Olive usually finds every chicken bone or other garbage, she found none here so it was a good walk. I'm using bending down twenty times to pull something out of her mouth Nice place to exercise your dog in the field, clean, garbage cans along the trail. I'll be going back.

I took this tour in summer 2024. It was awesome! I'll go again this summer. The boat is…read morecomfortable, the captain and crew are friendly and knowledgeable. There are snacks available. It was really interesting to see Coney Island from the water.

After missing an exit we found ourselves near the ocean. So…read morewell .... I couldn't resist going for a swim, since I've been known to swim in a dirty mud puddle it just made sense to. Other than an iconic New York bridge off to the left, it really seemed like we were in the middle of nowhere stopping there with few people around to spoil the illusion of being in one of the worlds largest cities. Very cool place to stop, with not much commercialism to be seen and no large buildings nearby gave a breathtaking view of the sky and ocean. Well worth a drive here to breathe a little easier or to get away from the city for a while, with nice slow moving neighbourhoods near by to explore.

While you'd never mistake this South Beach on the eastern end of Staten Island, New York, for the…read moremore renown South Beach in Miami, this northern variant does offer something that its namesake in south Florida cannot. Curious? Well, here on the fifth borough of NYC, you can stroll in solitude on the sandy border between boardwalk and Lower New York Bay on a clear sunny (but 35F) day and have the playa all to yourself and the flock of seagulls searching for dinner in the sand. It is peaceful and picturesque, with dynamic views of the Verrazano Bridge and panorama of bay, islands, and even downtown Brooklyn all within your gaze. It is really quite spectacular in a downbeat kind of way. The sun makes everything shine in the late afternoon western golden glow, leaving these works of man seem like a golden city on the horizon. We were duly impressed, and lingered in the sand near the surf longer than anticipated just taking it all in on a macro level before going micro to search for the flotsam sand diamonds that wash up after years of erosion wear. True, the beach itself is occupied by birds and the cleanliness is in question. Actually sitting on the sand is not recommended. Yet, on a chill day in December when only the rough and ready venture out to explore what most wouldn't, can a certain quietude set in that offers the possibility of inner peace and reflection.

Great tour great equipment . Unbelievable views . Its the only way to see the city from the water !read more

Thank you Anthony for helping set up our appointment and for riding out with our son. Matthew…read moreenjoyed his first ocean jet ski experience and we will definitely be back for another ride!

The Salt Marsh Trails is an easy and enjoyable hike, perfect for beginners or anyone looking for a…read morerelaxing walk in nature. I'd consider it a level-one hike with beautiful views along the way. It's just over a mile, making it very doable for kids and teenagers as well. Before this, we tried some of the harder trails nearby, which I'd recommend doing with a partner for safety. This trail is a great choice if you're new to hiking or just want a peaceful, scenic experience. Also the Salt Marsh Nature Center is nearby for bathroom and educational on plants and the insects that are around.

This should have been written last year but‍ Lovely scenery…read moreand an easy walk. There is a little bench at the end of the first trail which is by the water. You can relax and watch the sea birds. I walked in and out of the trails for an hour. Very high grassy areas so check for ticks. We don't have very many scenic walking areas here so enjoy this. I loved it and will be going back during the week. Great exercise and if it's not enough you can walk around Marine Park afterwards.

There will be a two-mile round-trip kayak tour on August 25 at 12:30 p.m., while the site is closed…read moreto the public. Apparently that program fills really quickly and it's seldom offered. Here's the link to register, and the suggested donation is $20: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshkills-park-kayak-tour-tickets-965043740807?utm_source=Freshkills+Park+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4962e3413d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_02_07_03_20_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-242a9a8171-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=4962e3413d&mc_eid=78209e05be There will also be a sunset photography tour on August 20 at 6:00 p.m., when the site is closed to the public. Here's the link to register, and the suggested donation is $10: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sunset-photography-tour-tickets-957302887707?utm_source=Freshkills+Park+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4962e3413d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_02_07_03_20_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-242a9a8171-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=4962e3413d&mc_eid=78209e05be

5 stars for the potential awesomeness of this park! It's not completely open to the public yet but…read morethey occasionally open parts of it up for events and tours. I've been kayaking there (amazing!!!) and also came for one of their Discovery Days which was well organized and had very friendly staff, free bike rentals, birdwatching tours, information stands, etc. It really doesn't feel like you're still in the city--no city noises like sirens or construction, just grass and scrub around, and tons of interesting birds. The views are great since the landfill site is pretty hilly. It'll be amazing when the entire park is open. I mean, 3x the size of Central Park?! Wow. I love that they're keeping most of it as a nature preserve since NYC and its native wildlife definitely need it. Imagine going to this park and seeing deer! Even just on a birdwatching tour, we saw osprey, turkey vultures, gulls, a kingfisher, herons, and tons of other interesting birds. It isn't easy getting here, but totally worth it. NYC needs more parks and nature preserves like this!

I visited the Narrows Botanical Garden with a friend of mine after grabbing lunch in the…read moreneighborhood. I wasn't sure what to expect but I'm always down for an adventure. The water fountain and small ponds (I think that's what they're called) are beautiful and there are plenty of opportunities for the perfect bird photographs. This is the perfect spot to hang out with some friends, get your steps in, or just processing emotions while listening to music. I couldn't believe that this was my first time even hearing about this place because of the great things that I had heard about it but I'm glad that I came and I would be more than happy to come back and bring some friends with me. I wonder if the experience is different in the Wintertime.

I visited on a recent weekend with some friends who had their rug rats (ages 4 and 6) in tow.  All…read morefive of us found the experience enjoyable. Tip: The park is nicely maintained; everything looks quite clean (for a park) There are several playgrounds; they're spacious, with a good number of swings and slides suitable for children of all different ages. The park is a good place for bike riding, walking and/or running, or just communing with nature.  There are several areas where you can have a cookout, provided you obtain a permit in advance.