Hiking, climbing, biking, surfing, skiing and exploring the outdoors in and around New York City.
The best outdoor activities in and around New York City.
You slept in on Saturday and missed that early morning Breakneck Ridge-bound Metro-North but find that you’re still jonesin’ for a hike. Hope is not lost! Head to the George Washington Bridge, where you’ll find miles of trails, including the aptly-named Long Path. Continue reading Hike the Long Path: a day trip fit for your lazy Saturday
Most major cities have plenty of meetups that host various outdoor activities for all different levels of enthusiasts. A few of our local favorites are New York City Archery Group, NY Ski and Snowboard Club, Hudson Valley Hikers, Ghost Skate New York, Crux Climbing and Outdoorfest.
One of the best parts about getting involved in an outdoor activity is that most of them are designed to be done in groups or with partners. Whether it’s climbing, camping or canoeing, signing up for trips and classes are great ways to find new friends, no matter where you are. Check your local REI for a range of courses like Snowshoeing Basics or Solo Backpacking.
To read more about finding your outdoor community, check out our newsletter from a few weeks ago which includes an essay from Sorta Outdoorsy pal and recent London transplant Allie Lee.
In case you missed it, expert leaf peeper and photographer Danny Wild gave us some really good tips for snapping better photos of fall foliage. We especially liked the tip about wearing brown or yellow-lens sunglasses to help spot which trees are changing the most dramatically. Check out the full interview here.
Sometimes a simple edit afterwards on your computer or even your iPhone can correct the shadows and lighting and add back some contrast and saturation to your images (for smartphone users, check out free apps like Snapseed and VSCO). I often use a circular polarizing filter on my lens to enhance the blues of the sky and reduce glare on water. And when you’re out hiking around looking for photos, you just want to keep your eyes out for the brightly-colored trees that are well lit by the sun. A neat way to do this is wearing yellow or brown-lens sunglasses, which can dramatically enhance autumn colors and help you spot which trees are changing. Finding a nice composition—using the rule of thirds, finding a foreground—can turn your photo from a snapshot into a more thoughtful image.
If you’re looking for a little more instruction, check out the free Fall Foliage Photography class that the NYC Parks & Recreation Department is hosting in Staten Island on November 1st.
Bear Mountain State Park is an amusement park (literally, there’s a merry-go-round) of outdoor activity. You can rent a boat to paddle around Hessian Lake or visit the trailside zoo. There’s swimming and ice skating and even an Oktoberfest that attracts tourists and New Yorkers alike.
What do you do with all those apples you picked over the weekend? Other than dicing them up and eating with peanut butter, we recommend making some apple sauce. It’s basically the best condiment/snack/ingredient out there. And it practically cooks itself. Continue reading When life gives you apples, make…