On Friday, a pack of nine dads and their kids escaped the island of Manhattan for a brief voyage to Governors Island. This oasis just south of battery park was a perfect spot for our group to have our weekly meet up event. Here is how one dad described the trip over there – “The moment you ship out, you’re docking. You could hit the island with a rock but you won’t find a place more different from Manhattan.” Too bad Governors Island is only open Friday – Sunday! The day was a scorcher, but “the place renders serene by the bountiful large trees shading nearly every foot of the island.” On the tranquil island, it was easy for our group to explore & find our own secluded section so we can just hang out as a group. Another dad said that “finding peace and quiet in a new location must have taken off nearly 10 degrees.”
Despite the heat, the location lent itself well for us dads to sit back & relax in Adirondack chairs or on our blankets. We had a chance to catch up about our week, discuss some of the recent vacations that we took, and planned future ideas for our group. The kids had a blast as well. They were running ( some crawling) around, playing hide and seek, having a catch, and meeting new friends.
Close to the ferry dock on Governors Island is a Water Taxi Beach – a man made beach, outfitted with sand, a volleyball court, and a concession stand that serves drinks. It made for a great spot to grab an ice cold refreshment before our return voyage & had a great view of the financial district to boot. Overall, the kids were happy & the dads were loving it! Most of us agreed that we would be happy to spend every Friday like this. Governors Island is perfect for a picnic with the family, exploring a new place in NYC, or riding your bicycle on the 5 miles of car-free paths. For more information on this amazing destination, check out their informative website or this recent article published in the NY Times, New York’s Island Haven, Secret No More.
No doubt our dads group will be heading back to Governors Island before it shuts down for the season in October.
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