Morning on the Water

When I attended the hippie high school outside of Aspen, Colorado we didn't have traditional sports like football, track, etc. Our sports consisted of white water kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and snowboarding (during the winter we got out of school early to hit the mountains). Living in NYC you don't really think kayaking is an activity easily accessible but boy was I wrong. The nonprofit organization, Downtown Boathouse, makes it so easy to get on the water. Today I met my friend Elle at Pier 40 and we kayaked for over an hour. Being on the water was so refreshing and just pure fun. If you've never kayaked I highly recommend it and this is a great location for learning. From Pier 96 they offer three hour guided trips for more experienced kayakers. The organization is run by volunteers and it doesn't cost anything to kayak. Visit Downtown Boathouse for more details http://www.downtownboathouse.org/volunteer.html

THINGS TO KNOW 
- Locations that offer kayaking: Pier 40, Pier 96, Pier 72
- First come, first serve
- There is no cost (donations are accepted)
- No kayaking experience needed
- They provide a life jacket, kayak, paddle and tips on paddling 
- At Pier 40 you must stay inside a protected area. At Pier 96 they offer a longer, guided tour every Sunday (check the calender first)
- Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt
- They have changing rooms