Wild kingdom - city edition
Fishing the Harlem Meer in Central Park. Credit: Central Park Conservancy
While everyone else is clogging the highways headed east this weekend, smart cookies head to town to brush up on their wilderness skills. Here are five ways to appreciate the great outdoors right in the five boroughs.
1. HORSEBACK RIDING
WHAT Wend your way along the Prospect Park Lake, following the park's lovely 3.5-mile bridle path. The ride traces a meandering path through the serene landscape created by Olmstead and Vaux, shortly after they created Central Park.
WHEN | WHERE Rent horses at nearby Kensington Stables, 51 Caton Place.
INFO $37 per hour, lessons $57 per hour, reservations required. 718-972-4588, kensingtonstables.com
2. FISHING
WHAT Sure, you can take a party boat out into the ocean, but we like our sport closer to other urban pleasures. The Harlem Meer, at the northern tip of Central Park, is stocked with golden shiner, largemouth bass and carp, among other species. The only downside: Everything is strictly catch and release, so forget about bringing home a fish dinner.
WHEN | WHERE Fishing poles and bait available at Charles A. Dana Discovery Center on the north shore of the Meer (enter the park at West 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox avenues). Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
INFO Free, 212-860-1370, centralparknyc.org
3. SAILING
WHAT Start at Hudson River Pier 66 and, depending on the winds and tides, head either for the George Washington Bridge or the Battery, during a two-hour sail with Hudson River Community Sailing. This is basically a pleasure cruise, but the folks in the organization hope it will whet your appetite for a few lessons - and it probably will.
WHEN | WHERE Daily at noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m. from Pier 66, West 26th Street and the river.
INFO $80 per person, 212-924-1920, hudsonsailing.org
4. KAYAKING
WHAT The Downtown Boathouse offers kayaking in New York harbor. You don't even need to know much about kayaking; just know how to swim. Along with the free kayak, the boathouse provides the life jacket, the paddle - and a few tips. First come, first served.
WHEN | WHERE Weekends and holidays at Pier 40, west end of Houston Street, and Pier 96, West Side Highway and West 56th Street (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.); 72nd Street Boat Basin, Riverside Park at West 72nd Street (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
INFO Free, downtownboathouse.org
5. BIRDING
WHAT The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge (part of the Gateway National Recreation Area) is 9,155 acres of salt marsh, woods, fields and fresh ponds boasting some 330 species of birds. Nearly half the species in the northeast have been spotted here over the past 25 years. Ranger-led tours available.
WHEN | WHERE Trails open dawn to dusk. Visitor station is on Cross Bay Boulevard in Broad Channel, Queens
INFO Free, 718-354-4606, nps.gov/gate
