Two Friends on Two Wheelers

One of my favorite picture books that I adore reading to my students is The Little Red Lighthouse and Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde Swift. After Lauren sent me a photo from her excursion uptown, I was so inspired that I called up Claire and she lovingly obliged to join me on a bike ride to the lighthouse. She even offered to make it my birthday gift! Lucky me! 

We rented bikes from Master Bike Shop (http://www.masterbikeshop.com/) on 72nd and West End. $25 gets you up to 4 hours of biking and a helmet. It was just a two block walk, through Riverside Park, to the Hudson River bike path. We jumped on our bikes and enjoyed the leisurely ride 5.5 miles north. You can easily ride side by side for the majority of the ride but you’ll need to move into single file as others want to get around you. The path is relatively flat so you need not be an expert biker nor devoted spinner to make the trip.

Claire, looking good, on her two wheels!

The lighthouse, although small in stature, was magnificent. It was remarkable to see the George Washington Bridge loom over the little lighthouse. The history of the structure dates back to 1921 when it was placed at Jeffrey’s Hook, its current location. The George Washington bridge was built only 10 years later and its bright lights eliminated the need for the lighthouse to help guide ships on the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey. It was commissioned for demolition, however school children who loved Swift’s book started a nationwide campaign to save the lighthouse and it worked! On weekends you can go inside the lighthouse and climb the iron staircase to the top.

The Little Red Lighthouse is Manhattan’s only lighthouse!

We stopped along the bike ride back to take in some views of the river. It only took us 40 minutes (without stopping) to get from the bike shop to the lighthouse and it was about 12 miles round trip. We had a blast and I would definitely rent bikes again and ride downtown just to enjoy the southern portion of the path and see what downtown along the river has to offer!

Up the River with a Paddle

For a belated Father’s Day gift, I invited my dad to kayak with me on the Hudson River. After some research I decided on Manhattan Kayak Company located at Pier 84 at West 44th Street, next to the Intrepid, because of the variety of tours they offer (http://manhattankayak.com/). The Hudson River is tidal which means that it flows upstream and then switches downstream at different times of the day. The Guided Kayak Tour takes advantage of the slack time when the current is at its weakest making it easy to paddle uptown and back to the pier. The weather was perfect for our night on the water!

You don’t need to wear shoes! Your feet will be completely wet and you run the risk of the shoes falling to the bottom of the Hudson.

Here’s the skinny on what to bring and wear: Bring as minimal as possible. You have to leave your belongings in a locker room that is essentially a closet with no locks. They keep an eye on the room and I didn’t feel that my belongings would be stolen but looking back I would have brought less, just in case. You can take your phone or camera with you on the kayaks and tuck it into a pocket in your life vest. You will get wet, especially from your waist down. I would wear a bathing suit and then shorts that can get wet (no cotton!). I would also bring a towel and change of clothes. You should arrive about 10 minutes early.

The first 15 minutes of the tour is on the pier. You learn how to paddle so that your arms are not stuck doing all the work. We then got into individual sit on top kayaks. My dad and I have some experience kayaking but never in these kayaks that the guides said are practically untippable. They are very easy to navigate and we practiced paddling next to the Intrepid.

Then we were ready to head along the other piers, but the wind had other ideas. The wind picked up so suddenly that as we paddled we only stayed in place and if we stopped paddling we were pushed upriver. It was disappointing because we were hoping to head to the upper west side and then kayak back to the pier in the 60 minutes on the water but the guide did not feel that we would be able to make it back to the pier, with the wind in our faces, in these conditions. Nonetheless, we had fun pushing through the wind with the New York City skyline as our backdrop, even if we pretty much stayed next to Pier 84 the whole time. One of the guides took photos and she sent them to us when we got back on land.

The river is named after Henry Hudson, the English explorer who sailed for the Dutch East India Company in search of a Northwest Passage. He hoped to find a water route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, his unwillingness to give up his fruitless search led to a mutiny that ended with his crew abandoning him and his son on an iceberg in Canada.

Did you know that the Hudson River is actually an estuary? That is, the source is in the Adirondacks at Lake Tear of the Clouds on Mount Marcy as fresh water and the mouth is at the Battery at the tip of Manhattan. Because of the changing tides salt water moves upstream and is eventually diluted by the freshwater from upstate. Check out this great website for more info: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4923.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, it was a fun experience and the best part was spending time with my dad. I highly recommend kayaking with Manhattan Kayak Company and checking out some of their other tours based on your experience and interest such as the Night Tour. They also provide Stand Up Paddle lessons. It’s a great way to see the city from a whole new perspective!

Nothing better than a father/daughter day on the water!

California Love Part 1

The gap in posting can be explained by my amazing 10 day California adventure with my boyfriend, Brian. The trip can easily be broken down into 3 parts: San Francisco, Central Coast and Los Angeles. So I’ll give a day by day primer of the highlights in 3 installments.

San Francisco was originally established by the Spanish and later the Mexicans. In 1846, the United States conquered the city and not long after, the Gold Rush brought an influx of men to the Bay area, including a large population of Chinese. The 1906 earthquake ravished the city and it was forced to rebuild. By the 1950’s and 1960’s, the city became a breeding ground for the counterculture movements. The tech boom of the 80’s and 90’s led to the bars, restaurants and high price of living. From little frontier town to metropolis, San Francisco offers something for everyone! 

Day 1…

– We flew to San Fran. My brother, Keith, met us at the airport and we drove to my aunt and uncle’s home in Mill Valley (Marin County, about an hour from the airport). We were grateful to have them host us and provide us with a fantastic, paleo/g-free/dairy-free meal.

Day 2…

– Climb Mount Tamalpais: We decided to take the steep Zig Zag trail up the mountain and descended via the Panoramic and Oceanview trails.

– Muir Woods: This national monument is not to be missed. It’s very manageable to navigate so you can explore every humongous tree. You’ll marvel at their age and size and learn a lot along the well maintained paths. You can drive to the park if you do not want to hike to it. http://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm 

 

 

 

 

– Lunch at the Mountain Home Inn: Hit the spot after a long morning of hiking. The views weren’t half bad either. http://www.mtnhomeinn.com/

– Giants game at AT&T Park: We got great tickets in the View Reserve Right Field section with views of the Bay Bridge. We took the Muni out to the game, which was fast and easy. I was able to enjoy a gluten free beer and hot dog. The three of us had to try the infamous Gilroy garlic fries, which were as expected…garlic and fries (nothing special). It does get chilly at the stadium so remember to dress warmly. http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com 

– For our three nights in San Fran we stayed at the Hilton in Union Square. The location is ideal for getting all around the city but it borders the Tenderloin neighborhood which is very seedy, dirty and smelly. The hotel room was nice but we felt that the bathroom was particularly small. http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/california/hilton-san-francisco-union-square-SFOFHHH/index.html

Day 3…

– CityPass: Keith found this amazing deal for the CityPass which we picked up at the Visitor’s Center. You can order the CityPass online ahead of time and it’s available in many other cities. You get half off access to great museums and unlimited use of public transportation. http://www.citypass.com/san-francisco

– de Young Museum: We took the bus to Golden Gate Park and walked right up to the museum. If you do not buy a CityPass, you can tell them that you took public transportation and get $2 off your admission fee. The museum has an impressive collection of art from America, Africa and Oceania. My favorite parts of the museum were the outdoor sculptures and the architecture of the museum itself. We took the elevator up to observatory level and enjoyed an amazing view of the city. https://deyoung.famsf.org/

– California Academy of Sciences: In one word – amazing. We explored the rain forest, aquarium and special exhibit about skulls for nearly 2 and half hours. We decided to catch the planetarium show, which was terrible (so terrible in fact, that Keith slept through it). By the time it was over the museum was closed and we still hadn’t seen everything. Do not miss out and leave yourself lots of time. http://www.calacademy.org/ 

– Haight Ashbury: We walked through Golden Gate Park towards the former center of the hippie movement. Unfortunately walking along Haight street is grimy and feels more like a relic rather than a tribute to the Summer of Love.

– Alamo Square: We continued our walk to the park so that we can snap a photo with the Victorian homes featured in the opening credits of Full House. 

– Dinner at Coi: My birthday is around the corner and my boyfriend spoiled me with a delicious meal at this James Beard award winning restaurant. We both agreed the food was yummy, service was impeccable and they were very accommodating of my gluten free needs. However, the tasting menu is quite pricey for what you get. But it was such a special meal that I really have no complaints and I would recommend it. Also, it’s not pronounced /koi/ like the fish, rather it’s pronounced /qua/. http://coirestaurant.com/

Day 4…

– Mission District: We spent the majority of the day in this very trendy neighborhood. Our goal was to try lots of cheap and delicious food. The only problem was that we showed up before the restaurants opened (11am). We only had time to chow down on an arepa at Pica Pica (http://www.picapica.com/) before we went to West of Pecos (http://westofpecos.com/) to watch the World Cup finals with friends. After lunch Brian enjoyed a burrito and we wandered Valencia street, weaving in and out of a few cute shops. 

 

 

 

 

– Blue and Gold Fleet Cruise: The CityPass included a 1 hour boat ride on the bay. We wanted a great view so we stood at the bow, with wind in our hair and the dream of an extra sweater on my mind, and enjoyed our trip from Pier 39. The ride went under the Golden Gate Bridge and then around Alcatraz, which was great because we weren’t able to make it to the jail due to the need to order tickets over a month in advance. You get some great San Francisco history if you can hear the recording over the wind. We were bummed that the sea lions weren’t out when we docked though. http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/ 

– Dinner at Slanted Door: This was my second time at the restaurant and it was significantly better than I remembered. Really interesting modern Vietnamese food but be careful not to over order; portions are large. The restaurant is located within the ferry building which has lots of great food options to try out! Think a less hectic Chelsea Market. http://www.slanteddoor.com/

 

Day 5 begins with our trip down the Pacific Coast Highway and I’ll post that soon.  Overall, there is so much to see, eat and do in San Francisco. However, the beauty of much of the city is ruined by a sense of grime that seems to overwhelm. Despite some smelly blocks, the highlight of our time in the city was exploring the Bay Area with my brother and every time I leave San Fran, I have more I want to see like Alcatraz, Lombard Street, Coit Tower and the Castro. What else should we add to the list?

A Day in the Forgotten Borough

Thanks to Russell and Kate, my dream to explore Staten Island was finalized realized. The day began with a beautiful, efficient and free (yes, free!) trip on the Staten Island ferry. After only 20 minutes on the ship with views of the Freedom Tower and Lady Liberty herself, we had docked at St. George’s port.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We drove directly to Snug’s Harbor, a landscaped enclave, that was originally built as a haven for retired sailors in the early 19th century. Although the retreat fell into disrepair and some buildings were demolished, the Landmarks Commission was able to step up and save many of the original buildings which makes you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. Snug’s Harbor has a children’s museum and other cultural institutions but we chose to spend our time in the Chinese Scholars Garden. It is a $5 fee but well worth it. Remember to read the plaques outside the garden which will give you clues and tell you about the secrets hidden inside. We also enjoyed the maze at Connie Gretz’s Secret Garden. http://snug-harbor.org/

While at Snug’s Harbor it’s easy to forget that you are still within New York City. Staten Island was originally established by the Dutch and was called Staaten Eylandt (literally States Island) in honor of the States General which was the Dutch Parliament. Based on its proximity, some wonder why Staten Island is not in New Jersey. A myth, perpetuated by Mayor Bloomberg, says that Captain Christopher Billopp declared that if he could circumnavigate the island in one day then it would belong to New York. However, Staten Island was settled by the Dutch and granted to the English in 1673 as a part of the Treaty of Breda which gave England claim to the land and subsequently renamed the colony New York. So it was and likely will always be part of the Empire State. The island played a significant role in the Revolutionary War as a loyalist stronghold and it was eventually consolidated as a borough of the Greater City of New York in 1898.

Here’s what we did after Snug’s Harbor:

– Pizza at DeNino’s (http://www.deninos.com/) According to the gluten full group it was delcious! What’s a trip to SI without pizza? 

– Creme Ice across the street at Ralph’s (http://www.ralphsices.com/) Cheap and definitely a first for me. I think I prefer regular ice cream but really I can’t complain because it was cold and yummy!

 

 

 

– Beer at Flagship Brewery (http://theflagshipbrewery.com/) Right next to the ferry and they had a spacious tap room. Gotta love their slogan: Unforgettable beer brewed in the forgotten borough!

– September 11th Memorial (http://www.visitstatenisland.com/just-off-the-ferry/esplanade-postcards-september-11th-memorial/) Impactful. While you stand within the memorial you look directly at the World Trade Center sights and you are surrounded by the profiles of Staten Island residents that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. 

 

 

– Staten Island Yankees Game (http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t586) Ok they’re not the best baseball players but it’s fun to watch and the view of downtown Manhattan isn’t half bad. The game will be long so be prepared to either leave early or stick it out to the very end. Fireworks on Friday and Saturday evening games in the summer.

Then we jumped back on the free (did I say free?!) ferry. I definitely would love to go back to Staten Island and check out one of these tours to learn more about the history (http://www.visitstatenisland.com/tours/). We were extremely grateful to our wonderful tour guides and I promise not to forget the borough ever again!