Hi,
A friend of mine who's an NYCC member suggested that I post a query here.
My wife and I are looking for for short country rides that are accessible by train from Manhattan. We want to take our children (1 and 3) somewhere other than Central Park and the Hudson River Bike Trail.
I would be grateful for any suggestions or even cue sheets.
Thanks,
Henry
Looking for family oriented routes
Mon, 04/28/2003 - 8:04am
Mon, 04/28/2003 - 8:15am
#1
Liberty State Park
It's a short travel across the Hudson river. On weekends there is NY Waterway ferry service directly to the park. Alternatively, you could take the PATH train to Hoboken or Pavonia/Newport stops and then take the Hudson/Bergen Light Rail to the Jersey Avenue stop.
Mon, 04/28/2003 - 4:21pm
#2
Little Red Lighthouse, Sandy Hook, etc
"Hi,
On the upper west side of Manhattan, under Riverbank Park and the George Washington Bridge, you can take your children to the Little Red Lighthouse. It's under the GWB. Bring the famous storybook and read it to them. This is part of the Hudson River Trail.
Links:
http://www.columbia.edu/~nad7/neighborhood/170-180.html#lighthouse
360 degree panoramic video:
http://www.hvnet.com/panoramas/littleredlighthouse.htm
http://beatl.barnard.columbia.edu/students/his3487/lembrich/seminar3.html
If you can wait until June, NY Waterway has cruises to Sandy Hook, New Jersey. You can ride within this historic peninsular Federal Park. About 4-6 mile round trip. Check out the visitor center, Ft. Hancock and History museums. The beaches are beautiful on the Atlantic side, with views of Brooklyn and Nassau on a clear day.
Take a ""virtual"" tour on this link:
http://www.state.nj.us/travel/virtual/sandyhook/
Another trip within the region is the Henry Hudson Trail, a railroad route converted into a 10 mile greenway. See a red caboose train, ride wooden bridges, see a perfume factory, eat lunch at a Jersey diner or take a side trip into Keansburg Amusement Park. The trail is between the Jersey Bayshore towns of Matawan and Leonardo. You may want to bring the car going there or take NJ Transit to Matawan. Points between are hilly and trafficked, but the trail is peaceful and flat.
Info:
http://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/parks/hudson.html
Could talk about Twin Lights Navesink, but I don't think hilly destinations are for growing kids.
Alfredo
PS I will lead ""C"" rides to these locales in conjuction with Bike Summer 2003. Visit www.bikesummer.org or wait for the June & July NYCC Bulletins."
Mon, 04/28/2003 - 5:31pm
#3
The Bronx River Parkway in Westchester is closed to cars from 10am-2pm from Tuckahoe to White Plains most Sundays in May and June. It's about 16miles round trip but you can get on and off wherever you want. The pancakes at the main Street Cafe in Tuckahoe are highly recommended ...at the opposite end of the ride is the kid friendly City Limits Diner in White Plains (lock bikes SECURELY!) The parkway is a very pretty ride similar to riding in Central Park, but RARELY crowded at all. There are a few faster riders that stay to the left but its mostly recreational riders and very family oriented. The parkway runs parallel to the Metro North Harlem Line so you could take the train (train passes needed - available at Grand Central @$5 each and have no expiration date)or drive and park on the street in any of the towns along the route.
Tue, 04/29/2003 - 6:44am
#4
Thank you all, as well as the people who emailed, for the suggestions. This should keep us busy well into the summer, if not into the fall. I obviously came to the right place for advice.
Wed, 04/30/2003 - 6:55am
#5
Family Bike Rides
I suggest you look at www.pedaling.com as they have many easy rides with cue sheets and maps throughout the tristate area and beyond.
Wed, 04/30/2003 - 11:25am
#6
"I have a quiet (though hilly) 15 mile ride that goes from Mt. Kisco to Croton, through the Croton Reservoir. Charles Komanoff wrote it up in 1994 in a magazine called ""In Traffic.""
I have not done this since 9/11/01, so there may be security restrictions.
I have it in hard-copy, but can fax it to you."
Wed, 04/30/2003 - 11:37am
#7
Croton is blocked
The road across Croton Reservoir was barricaded and fenced when I was by there two weeks ago. You have to head down a rutted gravel path into the park, then climb back up again. The gravel path might be too hairy for bikes with kid seats, though the view of the roaring falls is spectacular at the moment.
Fri, 05/02/2003 - 2:19pm
#8
"Bummer Carol, is that ""Croton Dam Rd?"" http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&ed=lJRe4up_0Tp_uIearfuKom3jGSE...
What about ""Gatehouse Bridge?"" http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&ed=tSHALup_0TrNQhcexBotj.FLFLV...
Thanks, Isaac (C U @ the show)
"
Fri, 05/02/2003 - 6:20pm
#9
GateHouse Bridge is Open, but Arcady Road is closed
To all,
While scouting out a resevoir loop route, the Gatehouse bridge is open. Arcady Road is Closed from the bridge to a point about 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile up the hill. The road appears washed out, but it may be passable with a mountain bike. I would NOT recommend it with a group, which is too bad, it would make a nice connection with Croton Dam Road.
By the way, Croton Dam road is NOT paved between the Gatehouse bridge and the Croton Dam bridge, and has the usual assortment of dirt potholes. But the view of the resevoir is tremendous, and worth riding.
