If you haven’t spent the day at Governors Island lately (or ever), the time has come—especially if you have kids. This historic island offers a bevy of family-friendly activities just a stone’s throw away from Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn by NYC Ferry. It’s a good thing the island is open all year, because there is much to explore on its compact 172 acres.
Known as Paggank (Nut Island) by the indigenous Lenape, Governors Island was originally used as a fishing camp. It was later the landing place of the Dutch East India Company; a base protecting the harbor during the War of 1812; a Confederate prison during the Civil War; and headquarters for the Army and subsequently the Coast Guard until being decommissioned in 1995. It wasn’t until 2001 that part of the island became a national monument; by 2005 the island was open to the public. Since then, tons of exciting initiatives have taken effect and new spaces opened up.
“Governors Island is really the perfect place for a family excursion,” says Michael, an NYC dad of two. “My kids love everything about it—from getting there only via ferry, to biking in one giant oval around the island, to the incredible Yard playground, to the multiple food trucks and ice cream trucks! It's hard to find something not to like.”
While you’re bound to find your own favorite spots, we’ve rounded up a few of our recommendations, as well as some suggestions from NYC parents, below.
Bike the (Car-Free) Island
Governors Island has 7 miles of car-free roads for safe and fun biking. Don’t worry, you don’t need to bring your own bike (though you certainly can). You can rent bikes, kids’ equipment and even vehicles like pedal cars and surreys from Blazing Saddles. (On weekdays, you can take advantage of Free Bike Mornings, with a free, one-hour bike rental before noon). Astoria mom Carrie’s family recently found the surreys, and they can’t get enough.
“Our kids loved that last year,” she says. The fact that the paths around the island are devoid of cars helps parents enjoy their time too. “We’re more relaxed as parents,” she continues. “It just feels safe and secluded.”
Washington Heights dad Matthew agrees. “For me, biking is a huge part of the Governors Island experience,” he says. “The absence of cars makes it safe and inviting. You can rent nearly any kind of bike you can imagine there.” On a recent trip, he took his 4-year-old out on a surrey, and he plans on coming back as his daughter grows. “I'll want to take my daughter back when she is learning to ride a bike because it’s such a safe and inviting place to do that,” he says.
Run Wild at the Yard Adventure Playground
The Yard Adventure Playground is a kid’s dream come true. With materials available to build, explore and, yes, even destroy, it’s a place where imaginations run wild. And it’s all done under the watchful eye of trained playworkers.
“The Yard Adventure Playground is a real highlight,” says Michael. “It's essentially a huge field of safe junk that my 5-year-old can go nuts with. Best of all, no grown-ups are allowed.”
The main space is recommended for kids ages 6 to 12, though there is also a family play area for kids 5 and under.
Slide Down Slide Hill and Climb Outlook Hill
No, it’s not just a hill you slide down; it’s a hill full of slides. There are plenty from which to choose, including three shortish slides (one of which is a family slide built for two) for smaller kids and a 57-foot, three-story-high slide for speed fiends. That last one is the longest slide in New York City. But Slide Hill isn’t the only hill on Governors Island worth visiting. Outlook Hill features a 70-foot scramble, so kids and parents can use their climbing skills to summit the hill and enjoy unparalleled views.
“The kids had a lot of fun climbing over the rocks,” Matthew says. “[We saw] some of the best views of the Statue of Liberty.”
Relax (and Play) in Hammock Grove
Yes, there’s plenty of native and cultivated plants on Governors Island, but in the Hammock Grove, you’ll find (you guessed it!) hammocks. Stop by to take a rest in one of them or play with the kiddos on one of the climbing structures. Kick back, gaze up at the sky, and you’ll totally forget that the City is just 10 minutes away.
Meet the Island’s Fauna
After some swing time at Hammock Grove, be sure to say hi to the nearby sheep, aka the island’s hardworking landscapers. Evening, Chad, Philip Aries, Bowie and Jupiter nosh on all invasive species like mugwort during the spring and summer. But they’re not the only creatures on the island. Get to know the area’s birds with help from the NYC Bird Alliance, which leads a free guided bird tour every Saturday morning (weather permitting). As well, the Billion Oyster Project, which works to restore oyster populations in New York Harbor, is stationed on the island. This summer, the organization is showcasing an oyster display every weekend, teaching kids and grown-ups the importance of oysters to the local ecosystem.
Get Your Hands Dirty Gardening and Composting
Open on weekends, the GrowNYC Teaching Garden is a one-acre urban farm that hosts events like scavenger hunts and workshops. There’s even a donation-based farmstand, which offers produce, flowers and herbs all grown by NYC public school kids. Your kids can get involved by watering plants or getting their hands dirty in the dig bed. Speaking of which, make sure you drop by the Soil Start Farm, where you can learn all about composting and turning waste into garden-ready soil. All the food scraps and landscape debris on the island end up there—and a lot of the compost created at the facility is used on Governors Island as well. Plus, you might bump into some chickens. Tell them, “cluck” for us. They’ll get it.
Eat!
Governors Island is as much of a culinary destination as it is a place to play and explore nature. This is still New York City, after all. You can bring your own picnic or even grill at designated, reservable stations, but you can also visit one of the island’s many vendors. Try Little Eva’s for brats and vegan spring rolls, enjoy tacos with a view at Taco Vista or grab some Neapolitan- or Roman-style wood-fired pizza from Pizza Yard. And there’s plenty more, including ice cream and handmade paletas (like popsicles, usually made from chunks of fruit) from La Newyorkina.
Any of these make a great break or nice end to a full day before your ferry ride home.
“It’s just a short ferry ride from Manhattan and when you get there, it feels like you traveled hours to escape the busy city,” says Astoria, Queens, mom Magdalena.
“My girls love riding their bikes around the island, sliding down on the slide hill and enjoying their snacks on the red Adirondack chairs on the meadow on the south part of the island.” It’s close. It’s affordable. Some of the workers are literally sheep. And it just keeps getting better.
Governors Island is accessible by NYC Ferry, which departs from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan, Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Red Hook-Atlantic Basin. For more information, visit govisland.com.
