Fun fact: The official size of each island shrinks and grows as the tides change.
How to get there: Take the MBTA Blue Line to Aquarium station or Red Line to South Station, walk to Harbor Islands Express Dock at Long Wharf. Summer ferry ($14 adults/$8 children) departs every hour on the hour from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For more options, see www.mbta.com.
For more info: Boston Harbor Islands Recreation Area: 617-223-8666, www.bostonislands.org; AMC Youth Opportunities Program: 617-523-0655, www.outdoors.org/education/yop. See trips.outdoors.org for Boston Chapter outings, or contact Paul (valerie.paul@gmail.com) for details on this summer’s Escape to Grape trips.
Hartford, Conn.: Riverside Park
What you can do there: After decades of neglect, this urban gem–originally designed by the firm of Hartford native Frederick Law Olmsted–was polished up and presented anew to residents a few years back. The revitalization was led by Riverfront Recapture, a nonprofit that has spent the last 27 years working to reconnect metropolitan Hartford to the Connecticut River.
Today, Riverside Park is a 62-acre downtown draw with a variety of family-friendly activities. Its fields, woods, and waters offer 8 miles of single- and double-track mountain bike trails, a community rowing program, fishing access, a paved riverwalk that connects to other local parks, and an adventure challenge course for groups. In partnership with Riverfront Recapture, a local canoe and kayak company offers introductory classes and guided tours throughout the summer. Regular cultural events also lend the park a lively atmosphere.
Fun fact: The Connecticut River is the longest in New England, flowing 407 miles from northernmost New Hampshire to Long Island Sound.
How to get there: Local bus routes including the N and W run nearby; for details, see www.cttransit.com. If you drive, free parking is available.
For more info: Riverfront Recapture, 860-713-3131, www.riverfront.org; Collinsville Canoe & Kayak, 860-693-6977, www.cckstore.com/programs/riverfrontrecapture.htm.
New York City: Manhattan Waterfront Greenway
What you can do there: Central Park may seem like the obvious choice for people looking to escape the summer heat in the Big Apple, and indeed, it offers many enticements. But those in the know say to not overlook the city’s bikeways. AMC Connecticut Chapter leader Eric Stones enjoys cycling the Hudson River Path from the George Washington Bridge down to Battery Park. The route—also popular for walking and rollerblading—is especially pleasant in the middle of summer “when the breeze of biking by the river keeps you so cool,” says Stones. “It’s safe for children since you don’t compete with cars.”
Stones’ route of choice is part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, a city-led effort to transform working waterfront areas into a 32-mile island loop for recreation and commuting. Other bike routes recommended by the city include Brooklyn’s Shore Parkway path, Staten Island’s Silver Lake Park, and, yes, Central Park itself. If you’ve got a little spare cash, you can even take a two-hour, family-friendly Central Park Movie Scenes Bike Tour ($49 adults/$24 children).
Fun fact: In New York City, it’s illegal to lock a bicycle to a tree, because it could damage the tree. If you do it and get caught, you have to pay a $1,000 fine.
How to get there: Take the 1/2/3 or A/C line to Chambers Street; head west along Chambers and cross West Street into Battery Park. Check www.mta.info for other options. (And yes, bikes are allowed on the subway—though you’ll want to avoid rush hour.)
For more info: Bike New York (education and events): 212-932-2453, www.bikenewyork.org; Manhattan Waterfront Greenway: www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/mwg/mwghome.shtml; Central Park Tours: www.centralparkbiketour.com. See trips.outdoors.org for New York-North Jersey Chapter outings.
Discover great adventures close to home. Photo by Sherman Moss, Jr.
