Bikers’ paradise, wide drives, no cars!
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Day trip to Governors Island

Easy Ride | $48 (includes bike) | 1.5-2 Hours

If you’re looking for a day or half-day adventure that will take you off the city’s beaten path, Governors Island is a great choice! Still New Yorkers’ best kept secret, this island has only been open to the public since 2005, and is not yet pinging on most tourist’s radar. Part of US National Parks system, the island is home to two Revolutionary War-era forts, and a beautiful, new public park. It’s rich with American, New York and military, aviation and maritime history, as it served as a military base for 166 years. In the 21st century, the island has been ingeniously reimagined as an innovative public space and is home to many arts, education, cultural and environmental non-profits. It’s bite-sized, too—just 172 acres total, with a 2-mile (3.2 km) perimeter, so it’s the perfect for a day trip. Its many lawns and shade trees beckon you to enjoy a picnic lunch, and the kids will love it. And—as there are no cars allowed—it’s the perfect place to bike. Bike rental is for the entire day, so you can stay and eat ice cream in Hammock Grove, relax in the Adirondack chairs and admire the Statue of LIberty, so close you feel like you can reach out and touch her.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Much more meaningful than doing this on our own

Scott is a terrific guide— not just because he seems to know every possible detail of the Island, but also because he cares so deeply for its future. He has volunteered there for years because of his passion for history and for public parks. He also is flexible about where to go, happy to take photos, and knowledgeable about what’s coming next. Much more meaningful than doing this on our own.

Joshua, May 2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Scott was great! He was very friendly and made me feel very welcome

The weather was nice and I really enjoyed this tour. It was my first bike tour and my first time at Governor’s Island. Scott was great! He was very friendly and made me feel very welcome – I think he enjoyed the tour as much as I did! He really knows and cares about the history of G.I. and it made the tour even more interesting than just a cursory tour. Highly recommend the tour and the guide!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Scott was organized

This is a really great tour of the island. Scott knew a lot about both old and new elements. Scott was organized and we enjoyed the tour a lot! This is a really fabulous part of NYC and as excellent for locals to visit as it is for tourists.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Scott’s tour was entertaining yet informative

Scott was exactly what you’d want in a guide—knowledgeable, affable, able to answer questions on the fly. I’m not a huge history buff myself; I took this tour because I’m scoping out tours for some out-of-town friends who are really into American history. So I was pleasantly surprised to find myself engrossed in the history of Governor’s Island thanks to Scott’s entertaining yet informed approach. I’ve lived in NYC for 20 years and learned more about the city (not just the island) in one morning than I have all year!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Active, Fun, Informative Tour of an Underrated NYC Gem

Due to COVID, I ended up with a personal bike tour from Scott, but the conditions that day (e.g. a morning booking, great weather, less crowd) made the experience even better. Scott was friendly and knowledgeable about not just the island itself, but was also able to share other NYC history. Scott was very familiar with the island and it was fun to tour it by bike. I walked away from his tour more informed and appreciative of this true city gem.

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