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
RESCHEDULED- HEADING South Along the Hudson River Greenway With INDOOR STOPS !
Location not specified yetWE ARE AGAIN RESCHEDULING THIS EVENT TO FEBRUARY 28.
We start right near Penn Station.
DO NOT CLICK ON THE RSVP BUTTON UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT (And any comments posted) VERY CAREFULLY ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NEVER ATTENDED AN EVENT BEFORE. I like to think all the events we do are fun and interesting.
This is a Members Appreciation Event. I want to initially reward those members who have supported this group -especially those in the past 12 months.
NO GUESTS unless you have attended events before with this group.
We are looking to add a number of First Timers to this event. However, you actually need to read the description of the event carefully or you are wasting your time and mine. We are not asking for that much. This group has lots of rules in order to prevent the spread of anarchy within Meetup!
We will make this fun and interesting.
IF YOU HAVE NEVER ATTENDED AN EVENT WITH THIS GROUP, I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP AND COOPERATION. WE ARE REQUIRING THAT YOU SEND ME AN E-MAIL TO [bsb2@att.net] AS SOON AS YOU RSVP, WHETHER YOU ARE ON THE GOING LIST OR ON A 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 ARE NOT 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. If you think this request is just too much for you to bear, please let me know.
Again, NO GUESTS UNLESS YOU HAVE ATTENDED AN EVENT BEORE WITH THIS GROUP. One way to deal with this if you are new to the group is to have your potential guest join the group just as you did. And tell them to take their RSVP seriously.
I won't accept any money on this event even if you try to force your cash on me!
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.
I do NOT believe that the Meetup waitlist works well for a number of reasons.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.
MEETING DETAILS WILL BE SENT BY MEETUP MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO RSVP NO LATER THAN THE EVENING BEFORE THE HIKE.
Join us on a fun fast paced approximately 5 mile hike starting near Penn Station and heading south. Much of the event will be along the Hudson River but there will be a few brief indoor stops along the way. This will be a hike and I will provide much less commentary than usual. But I will still be funny!
We will meet BEFORE 10:20 A.M. Be ready to go. WE LEAVE ON TIME.
BRING SNACKS AND WATER. THERE WILL BE NO FOOD STOPS. IF THIS PRESENTS A HARDSHIP TO YOU TRY TO DEAL WITH IT. DON'T BE A BABY!IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, ON YOUR DESKTOP, PLEASE CLICK ON YOUR PROFILE (it's in the upper right of the Home Page), THEN SETTINGS ,THEN E-MAIL UPDATES AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE E-MAILS THRU MEETUP. THAT'S THE WAY YOU WILL LEARN WHERE THE MEETING PLACE IS. ALSO PLEASE CHECK THIS SITE RIGHT UP TO THE DAY OF THE EVENT TO SEE IF I HAVE POSTED ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THE EVENT-I LIKE TO THINK THOSE COMMENTS ARE IMPORTANT! ALSO PERIODICALLY CHECK YOUR MESSAGES LINK ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE WEBSITE. YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICH MEETUP GROUPS YOU WANT TO RECEIVE MESSAGES FROM.
I am 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 somehow have some deep insights into something or other. Please keep that deepness to yourself. AFTER the event, post as many comments and photos as you like. PLEASE RESPECT MY WISHES ON THIS.
If the weather forecast is really bad, I will post a notice on the day of the hike by 7:00 A.M. If there is no notice, we go.
We will probably finish around 1:30 p.m. or so near two major transportation hubs in lower Manhattan but you can always leave earlier.
23 attendees
Williamsburg Expedition via the Lower East Side -7 Mile Hiking Tour
Location not specified yetThis event has NOT been announced to all members yet but you can RSVP now.
It will be on the second day of spring!PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS EVENT CAREFULLY AS WELL AS "WHAT WE'RE ABOUT" ON THIS MEETUP'S HOME PAGE BEFORE YOU RSVP IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. I am asking you to please take your RSVP seriously. That does NOT mean you have to go -it means you PLAN to at this time.
WE HACVE BEEN GIVEN THE GO AHEAD TO GAIN ACCESS TO A SPECIAL VENUE FOR A BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME.
A MONETARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE EVENT IS REQUIRED BUT THE AMOUNT OF THAT CONTRIBUTION IS UP TO YOU. (See details below.)
We are looking to add a number of First Timers to this event. However, you actually need to read the description of the event carefully. We are not asking for that much. First Timers-Don't Rush It.
I just ask that all attendees be considerate with respect to the RSVP process.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 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. )
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.
I do NOT believe that the Meetup waitlist works well for a number of reasons.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.
ON THIS EVENT, WE WILL REQUIRE A MONETARY CONTRIBUTION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT BUT THE AMOUNT OF THAT CONTRIBUTION IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU. THERE IS ALWAYS A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE IF YOU FEEL I HAVE NOT EARNED YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
Meetup charges an Organizer like me to run the group and the amount was raised substantially and I spend much time and effort planning and preparing for an event. You can contribute whatever you want at the BEGINNING of an event IN CASH. (On most events, I will NOT accept any monetary contributions).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)
This will be a hiking tour-part hike, part tour. We we will stop a number of times in order for me to briefly talk about what we are observing.
Join us on a fun, fast paced, 7 mile hiking tour which will begin in the Lower East Side. We'll explore a very small bit of the Lower East Side & the relatively new Essex Crossing Development. After walking over the Williamsburg Bridge, we'll tour some of the hipster part of Williamsburg, a world of its own where zoning laws prevent anyone over thirty from living there (don't ask me to cite specifics). We'll also see some interesting use of park land, MANY great waterfront views and several places of interest. (I also like to "sneak" into the lobbies of fancy hotels.)
For a large part of our journey, we will be hiking along the waterfront. (Photo by Rise)
MEETING DETAILS WILL BE SENT BY E-MAIL TO THOSE WHO RSVP NO LATER THAN THE FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE THE EVENT. (If you drive, I will provide information on a "secret" free, large underground parking lot in Williamsburg but it will require a fairly long walk (or UBER) to get to the meeting spot-nothing is perfect!)
We will start and end close to a subway station.
We will meet BEFORE 12:50 P.M. We will finish around 5:00 P.M. or so.
WE LEAVE PROMPTLY. NO FOOD STOPS. Bring snacks and water. We don't do lunch. Eat before we meet. This group NEVER leaves time to shop for food.
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 CUSTOMIZE YOUR SETTINGS FOR A SPECIFIC GROUP WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL IF YOU BELONG TO MANY MEETUP GROUPS.
I am 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. You may even think you have some deep insight into something or other-you probably don't-but please keep your deepness to yourself. These comments are really annoying to me and everyone else. Respect my wishes on this and PLEASE DON'T POST A COMMENT OR QUESTION PRE-EVENT. AFTER the event, post as many comments and photos as you like.
If the weather forecast is really bad, I will post a notice on the day of the event by 10:00 A.M. If there is no notice, we go. Again, we will finish around 5:00 p.m. or so near a subway stop.
3 attendees
Past events
223
