About us
This Meetup group is not affiliated with any organization. It is designed for people who are fit and in reasonably good shape and who want to get some exercise and learn more about New York City. New York City Hiking Tours is “more walk and less talk. The hikes and walks vary in length from 4-10 miles and can last anywhere from 3-6 hours or so. These events are fairly fast paced although I will stop on occasion a number of times to talk very briefly about what we see. We cover a lot of ground at a reasonably steady pace and the goal is to see as much of a specific area in New York City as possible. It is my hope that on each and every hiking tour you will not only experience something that will give you a sense of wonder and excitement but you will enjoy yourself as well.
I plan on visiting and exploring many different areas in New York City. For example, I really enjoy exploring Central Park (I have guidebooks from the 1860’s), the lower Manhattan Waterfront, Riverside Park, Prospect Park, Williamsburg, Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Chelsea and the Meat Packing District where I am familiar with a number of art galleries there, Roosevelt Island, Governors Island, City Island, Long Island City etc. etc. I tend to focus on certain areas and know some of these areas better than others.
I make it a point to insure that the hikes and walks I lead are a lot of fun. BUT and this is a big BUT, I take the RSVP process very seriously and expect that any participant should do the same. I will often limit registration to keep the group size manageable and I do not like to keep a “Wait List” for a lengthy period of time. I want you to be able to plan your day in advance and I want to be able to plan the event as well. If you RSVP for an event and are a “No Show” because you did not remove your RSVP and do not have a good reason for not showing up, I am going to simply delete you from the group. If you make it a habit of withdrawing your RSVP shortly before an event begins, I am also going to delete you from the group. Meeting Details will only be provided to those who RSVP and will not be publicized on the website. I also require that members use a real first name unless I know them. I’m just asking that people be considerate to me and the others in the Group and that every one act responsibly.
As an Organizer I have to pay Meetup a relatively small fee each month but I spend much time and effort planning and preparing for an event. I am a Iicensed NYC tour guide with many years of experience leading tours around NYC. I am going to request that anyone who attends an event make a monetary contribution but the amount of that donation is entirely up to you. However, on many events I will not accept any monetary donations.
ABOUT ME
I’ve been a licensed NYC sightseeing guide for around 20 years. I have led professional tours in different parts of New York City for tourists from all over the world, camp kids, locals who want to learn more about the City, college and alumni groups and even a fairly large group of Danish architects (coincidentally, I once lived in Copenhagen while I was in college). I have also led tours for Open House New York and the Guides Association of New York City (GANYC). At one time, I have been a volunteer hike leader for probably the premier hiking club in the Northeast where I have led tours in the woods upstate and in New York City for 15 years.
In July 2018, a book I wrote called You Gotta Have Heart was published. It's a coming of age story about an orphaned boy growing up in New York City. Some of the most memorable scenes of the book take place in areas of New York City that we tour. The book is suitable for both adults and children.
Healthy living is very important to me. I spend a lot of time exploring NYC, read a lot, enjoy listening to music and watching movies and I have extensive training in the martial arts and even train to this day – although I have to admit I’m getting my butt kicked in an awful lot learning new disciplines. But-it’s all fun.
WAIVER OF LIABILITY
Your participation in any activities of New York City Hiking Tours is your acknowledgement that you are solely responsible for your own assessment of your abilities and your physical fitness to participate in that activity.
Walkers and Hikers must be physically fit. There are always inherent risks that can cause or lead to injury, property damage, illness *including the corona virus*, emotional trauma, disability or death to participants or others when participating in an activity. Some, but not all of these risks include: hazardous and unpredictable ground, water or weather conditions, traffic conditions, misjudgments made by the leader or a participant, the potential that the participant or others may act carelessly or recklessly, etc. etc. New York City Hiking Tours cannot assure a participant’s safety or eliminate any of these risks. The participant is voluntarily participating in any activity conducted by New York City Hiking Tours with knowledge of these risks, and therefore the participant must accept full responsibility for the inherent and other risks (both known and unknown) of these activities, and for any injury, damage, death or other loss suffered by the participant.
By joining any event conducted by New York City Hiking Tours, the participant agrees to release and not sue New York City Hiking Tours and/or Bruce Bernstein with regard to any and all claims, liabilities, suits, or expenses (including reasonable costs and attorney’s fees) for any injury, property damage, illness including the corona virus, emotional trauma, disability or death to participants or others in any way connected with the participation in an activity. Should a participant bring an action against New York City Hiking Tours and/or Bruce Bernstein despite this waiver of liability that participant will be responsible for any and all attorneys fees incurred by New York City Hiking Tours and/or Bruce Bernstein in defending such action.
Upcoming events
2
Governors Island - Partly in the Dark & at Sunset, Members Appreciation Event
To Be Determined, No address, New York, ny, USIF THIS IS YOUR FIRST EVENT WITH US, IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RSVP WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE WAIT LIST OR NOT, YOU MUST SEND ME YOUR E-MAIL TO MY E-MAIL AS EXPLAINED BELOW.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM AUGUST 7.
We have another event on Labor Day weekend as well.
I use capital letters to emphasize stuff not to shout at you!
I may do this with my other group. Please join that group at:
https://www.meetup.com/nyc-wanderers/?eventOrigin=your_groupsWe will try to beat the heat once again.
I consider this a Members appreciation event.
I WON'T ACCEPT MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS ON THIS EVENT.THERE WILL BE NO FOOD STOPS. PLEASE BRING SNACKS AND WATER.
If somehow this presents a serious hardship to you, try to deal with it. Don't be a baby!The wait list for this group does NOT operate in a conventional way. Those on the wait list will not be moved to the going list automatically.
IF APPLICABLE, ALWAYS JOIN THE WAIT LIST WITH LOW PRIORITY WHICH IS FREE. IF THERE IS A WAITLIST, IT APPEARS MEETUP WILL ASK YOU IF YOU WANT TO JOIN MEETUP + BUT IN SMALLER LETTERS AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE YOU CAN CLICK CONTINUE WITH THE FREE PLAN. There is NEVER a need to pay extra to use Meetup's High Priority wait list classification for this group.
SOME PRIORITY IS INITIALLY GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED EVENTS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND HAVE FEW CANCELLATIONS.
WE CAN ALSO ADD SOME FIRST TIMERS TO THIS EVENT WHO ARE ACTUALLY SERIOUS ABOUT JOINING US.IF YOU HAVE NEVER ATTENDED AN EVENT BEFORE WITH THE GROUP, I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP AND COOPERATION AS I PLAN THE EVENT. I AM REQUIRING THAT YOU SEND ME AN E-MAIL TO bsb2@att.net AS SOON AS YOU RSVP, EVEN IF YOU ARE ON THE WAIT LIST, AND PUT YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IN THE BODY OF YOUR MESSAGE TO ME. THIS WILL HELP ME COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THOSE WHO RSVP. SOMETIMES MEETUP MESSAGES DO NOT GET DELIVERED OR READ FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. IF YOU CAN'T ABIDE BY THIS SIMPLE REQUEST, YOU ARE GOING TO END UP ON THE NOT GOING LIST. (NO GUESTS UNLESS YOU HAVE ATTENDED AN EVENT BEFORE WITH THIS GROUP. AS A FIRST TIMER, YOUR GUEST CAN SIMPLY SIGN UP JUST AS YOU DO.)
TO GET ON THE WAITLIST, WHEN YOU CLICK "ATTEND" A SCREEN WILL APPEAR ASKING YOU TO PAY BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN YOU CAN JUST SELECT JOIN WAIT LIST WITH LOW PRIORITY. DISREGARD MEETUP'S ATTEMPT TO CHARGE MORE TO GAIN WAITLIST PRIORITY-THAT IS NEVER NECESSARY FOR THIS GROUP.
Some folks have told me they consider this their favorite event because...Last few times we did this event it was magical. (Unfortunately part of the Island will be closed off as it gets dark so it is not as magical as in the past but it is still somewhat magical!!!)
I AM GOING TO LIMIT SPACE ON THIS EVENT TO AROUND 15-20 MEMBERS. NO GUESTS UNLESS YOU HAVE ATTENDED EVENTS BEFORE WITH THIS GROUP AND HAVE FEW CANCELLATIONS.
We are going to explore Governors Island and will be on the Island as the sun is setting. We will walk as it starts to gets dark -yes there are lights there but not that many! The views of the New York City skyline are great. (Photo by Marjorie). In the past, we have done this several times in late summer and once in the fall.
This will be a fun, fast paced 4-5 mile tour of the Island. It's quiet, uncrowded, and a bit eerie out there when it is dark. We will be stopping a number of times to briefly talk about what we see. I will keep things moving.
YOU WILL NEED TICKETS IN ADVANCE FOR THE FERRY. I WILL PROVIDE INFO ON HOW TO GET TICKETS TO THOSE ON THE RSVP LIST ONCE WE GET CLOSER TO THE DAY OF THE EVENT. THERE IS A COST -$5-TO THE FERRY FOR SOME FOLKS. DO NOT GET TICKETS UNTIL YOU HEAR FROM ME.
Ferry cost is $5.00 round trip unless you are a Governors Island member, senior 65 or have IDNYC, etc. There may be a security check before you board the Ferry. Please leave your unlawful weapons at home (I actually know alot about this based on personal experience!).PLEASE ALSO READ "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" ON THIS MEETUP'S HOME PAGE BEFORE YOU RSVP IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WAIVER OF LIABILITY ON "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT” NOW SPECIFICALLY REFERENCES THE CORONA VIRUS. (THE WAIVER OF LIABILITY HAS BEEN POSTED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS MEETUP GROUP)
MEETING DETAILS WILL BE SENT BY E-MAIL TO THOSE WHO RSVP NO LATER THAN THE EVENING BEFORE THE EVENT AND POSSIBLY SOONER.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, ON YOUR DESKTOP, PLEASE CLICK ON YOUR PROFILE WHICH IS ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SITE, THEN CLICK "SETTINGS", THEN CLICK E-MAIL UPDATES" ON THE LEFT. MAKE SURE YOUR E-MAIL UPDATES ARE ON AND WHERE IT SAYS "UPDATES ABOUT YOU”, CHECK MESSAGES BOX. THIS WILL HELP TO INSURE YOU GET MESSAGES FROM ME. I LIKE TO THINK THOSE MESSAGES ARE IMPORTANT. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN EVEN CUSTOMIZE YOUR SETTINGS TO GET MESSAGES FROM SELECT GROUPS.We will meet NO LATER than 6 P.M to catch the ferry.
If the weather forecast is bad, I will post a notice on the day of the event by 12 P.M. If there is no notice, we go.
After we conclude our visit, the plan is to catch the 9 PM. ferry and arrive back on Manhattan ten minutes later near multiple subway lines.
I am also going to ask that people NOT post any comments or questions prior to the event. You have more than enough information to do this once you get the meeting details. No offense, but I don’t need to know-and probably neither does anyone else- what you are doing that day if you can’t make it or what you think the weather will be. You may even think you have some deep insights to something or other but please keep that deepness to yourself. AFTER the event, post as many comments and photos as you like. Please respect my wishes on this.
11 attendees
Unlock the Secrets of Mostly Northern Central Park, Labor Day Weekend
Location not specified yetIF THIS IS YOUR FIRST EVENT WITH US, IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOU RSVP WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE WAIT LIST OR NOT, YOU MUST SEND ME YOUR E-MAIL TO MY E-MAIL AS EXPLAINED BELOW.
This event has NOT been announced to all members yet but you can RSVP now.
We have another event on August 21 as well.
I use capital letters to emphasize stuff not to shout at you!
WE WILL SEE SOME WATERFALLS.
PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE RSVP BUTTON UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT VERY CAREFULLY. I just ask that all attendees be considerate with respect to the RSVP process.
The wait list for this group does NOT operate in a conventional way. Those on the wait list will NOT be moved to the going list automatically.
IF APPLICABLE, ALWAYS JOIN THE WAIT LIST WITH LOW PRIORITY WHICH IS FREE. There is NEVER a need to pay extra to use Meetup's High Priority wait list classification for this group.Initially, I will give some priority to those who have attended events in the past 12 months. However, we are also looking to add a number of First Timers to this event. However, you actually need to read the description of the event carefully.
FIRST TIMERS: IF YOU HAVE NEVER ATTENDED AN EVENT BEFORE WITH THE GROUP, I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP AND COOPERATION. I AM REQUIRING THAT YOU SEND ME AN E-MAIL TO bsb2@att.net AS SOON AS YOU RSVP, EVEN IF YOU ARE ON THE WAIT LIST, AND PUT YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IN THE BODY OF YOUR MESSAGE TO ME. THIS WILL HELP ME COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH THOSE WHO RSVP. SOMETIMES MEETUP MESSAGES DO NOT GET DELIVERED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. IF YOU CAN'T ABIDE BY THIS SIMPLE REQUEST, YOU ARE GOING TO END UP ON THE NOT GOING LIST. (NO GUESTS UNLESS YOU HAVE ATTENDED AN EVENT BEFORE WITH THIS GROUP-Your guest can always sign up just as you did.)
I am going to require that everyone who attends this event make a monetary contribution but the amount of that contribution is up to you. Meetup charges an Organizer like me each month - it's not a fortune although the cost was raised substantially-but most importantly, I spend much time and effort planning and preparing for an event. You can contribute whatever you want at the BEGINNING of an event. If you don't think I have earned your contribution, I will give you your money back-no questions asked. (Last year, there was no cost for the majority of events this group conducted.)
PLEASE ALSO READ "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" ON THIS MEETUP'S HOME PAGE BEFORE YOU RSVP IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WAIVER OF LIABILITY ON "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT” NOW SPECIFICALLY REFERENCES THE CORONA VIRUS. (THE WAIVER OF LIABILITY HAS BEEN POSTED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS MEETUP GROUP.)
MEETING DETAILS WILL BE SENT BY E-MAIL TO THOSE WHO RSVP NO LATER THAN THE EVENING BEFORE THE TOUR AND PROBABLY SOONER.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, ON YOUR DESKTOP, PLEASE CLICK ON YOUR PROFILE WHICH IS ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SITE, THEN CLICK "SETTINGS", THEN CLICK E-MAIL UPDATES" ON THE LEFT. MAKE SURE YOUR E-MAIL UPDATES ARE ON AND WHERE IT SAYS "UPDATES ABOUT YOU”, CHECK MESSAGES BOX. THIS WILL HELP TO INSURE YOU GET MESSAGES FROM ME. YOU CAN EVEN CUSTOMIZE YOUR SETTINGS TO SELECT THOSE GROUPS YOU WANT TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM.My intent for this event is that it be a fun, ambitious and interesting, fast paced hiking tour of about 7 miles where we will cover what existed BEFORE Central Park was even built, the history of the Park, and it's design features. We will also see the new Davis Center area where the Lasker Rink used to be as well the significant changes to the landscape up north which now conforms to the original design of the Park. I will stop a number of times to very briefly talk about what we are seeing. That means I talk and you listen or make believe you are listening! Over the years this group has conducted numerous tours of Central Park and I have led several tours of Northern and Southern Central Park for the Guides Association of New York City (GANYC). This event will be even better. Much better!
We are going to keep things moving as much as possible.
On this hiking tour we hope to visit areas such as the Ramble where there will be one short climb, Conservatory Gardens, the Ravine, the Great Hill, the Blockouse and the North Woods where there are waterfalls. Central Park is often considered a work of art and hopefully we can show you why! (Photo by the late and great photographer Sonia Braga)
We will probably start in lower/mid Central Park and head north to the tip of the Park. Of course, you can leave any time. We will be zig-zagging quite a bit. Public transportation will be easy to find before and after the event.
Registration will be limited to around 20 members or so.
We will meet BEFORE 10:15 A.M. and finish around 3:30 P.M. or so NOT far from public transportation at West 96th Street. If you drive, parking is free on Sundays. We plan to start on the east side and finish on the west side.
THERE WILL BE A BRIEF LUNCH STOP AT SOME POINT.
BRING LUNCH/SNACKS AND WATER. WE WON'T STOP ANYWHERE TO BUY FOOD. THIS GROUP NEVER GOES FOOD SHOPPING DURING AN EVENT!IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING, THERE WILL BE SEVERAL PLANNED BATHROOM STOPS DURING THE EVENT. FINDING GOOD BATHROOMS IS ONE OF THE STRENGTHS OF THIS GROUP.
AS ALWAYS, I am also going to ask that people NOT post any comments or questions prior to the event. You have more than enough information to do this once you get the meeting details. No offense, but I don’t need to know-and neither does anyone else what you are doing that day if you can’t make it or what you think the weather will be, etc. etc. You may even think you have some deep insights into something or other but I ask you to keep that deepness to yourself. AFTER the event, post as many comments and photos as you like. The comments/questions you post BEFORE an event are almost always annoying and unnecessary and I'm not the only one who believes that. PLEASE RESPECT MY WISHES ON THIS.
If the weather forecast is bad, I will post a notice on the day of the hike by 7:00 A.M.
7 attendees
Past events
231
