Foraging Walks New York

Adventure in Nature: a Walk in Forest Park

**let’s get outside and take a walk at Forest Park for fitness, fresh air and camaraderie with friends old and new.** **About the Park:** * https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/forest-park * https://forestparktrust.org/forest-park * **[Click here for trail map](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f2b0fb8e4b73c703250481c/t/5f359dab86d57033d70acaa1/1597349293068/ForestPark_2014FINALSIGN.jpg)** **MEETING POINT:** Wallenberg Square located at 115-29 Metropolitan Ave, Richmond Hill, NY, about a 10-min walk from the Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike subway station (E. F trains) **PACE**: This is a **LEISURELY PACE HIKE AND NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.** We will have stops for water breaks, lunch break, take time to soak in the surrounding views, savor the sights and sounds of nature. **PLEASE, NO SPEED DEMONS!!!!** **DURATION**: We should be done by 3pm but no guarantee. You can leave on your own at any time. We won’t judge. Much. **THE IMPORTANT STUFF:** * Dress for the weather in non-cotton layers. * Wear appropriate shoes suitable for hiking. * Bring liquid to stay hydrated. * Bring lunch and snacks for yourself. * Bring a sense of adventure and a positive attitude. A smile also goes a long way. Please leave the drama and crankiness at home. **POST-HIKE** for those interested we'll do eats and drinks at Neir’s Tavern before heading home. **WEATHER**: Rain cancels **LIABILITY WAIVER: come prepared. Participate at your own risks. Hold no one liable etc. etc.**

GREEK FESTIVAL IN BROOKLYN AND MORE

Enjoy Brooklyn's Greek festival with authentic food, rides, games, live music, pastries, flee market, raffles, prizes and souvenirs. ALL FOR FREE! There will also be an additional easy walk in the neighborhood. All meet Alan at 5PM at the Kings Highway station 24 hour token booth on the B/Q line. Call Alan with any questions at 347-339-4857. $5 fee for nonmembers of Outdoors Club.

Let's Walk!! Brookdale Park

If entering from Bellevue Avenue and park in the first parking lot on the left. We will be gathering near the the playground area. if entering from Watchung Ave, park and walk up to the upper parking lot near the playground area. We will be walking the outer path. There are several break-off points if you do not want to walk the entire path. The walk will be about an hour or at least 3-4 miles. Wear comfortable shoes! Please plan to arrive 5 minutes early. The walk will start promptly. Brookdale Park offers the public access to both passive and active recreational activities as well as picturesque vistas. Trails for walking and running, lush groves and extensive lawns, playgrounds, sports fields, track facilities, tennis courts, an archery range and stadium grandstand are just some of the numerous attractions that make Brookdale Park a magnet for nature lovers, families, and physical fitness enthusiasts for miles around. https://www.essexcountyparks.org/parks/brookdale-park Disclaimer: If you join us for a hike, please understand that you are responsible for your own preparedness and well-being and will hold no one else liable in case of injury or mishap.

Central Park Bird Walk- WARBLERS!

Bird walk with an experienced naturalist and bird guide. $20 per person for 2 hour walk. To register please send $20 via Venmo to @Deb-becker-8 or $21 via Paypal to editconsul@aol.com See WARBLERS & spring birds. Location will be posted by 10am on the day of the walk. We always meet at a major entrance to Central Park off 5th Avenue.

Staten Island Marathon Walk: XNJ

[Please register for FREE to attend.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/staten-island-marathon-walk-xnj-tickets-1983780166881) The most pleasant walking route from Union County to Manhattan, with miles of trail, beach, boardwalk and great views. Part of the 100-mile Cross-Jersey Challenge. **Start:** Elizabeth Public Library 11 S Broad St Elizabeth NJ 07202 **Finish:** NY Penn Station **Distance:** 16-26mi **Where to find us:** In front of the library **Optional endpoints:** World Trade Center PATH **Terrain:** flat but rugged dirt trails, pavement, beach, boardwalk **Transit:** NJ Transit to Elizabeth Station, walk three blocks south on Broad St **Return:** NJ Transit or Path train **Difficulty:** Advanced **Category:** nature, urban, seashore **Coordinator:** Charles Updike, 916-225-0569. Join us on this scenic and colorful marathon walk to complete our trek across New Jersey. We start three blocks from the train station, where parking is available. Walk along the Elizabeth River and across the Goethals Bridge with views of Manhattan. A rambling trail with easy terrain, which can have a few muddy spots, takes us to the beachfront of Staten Island. A walk along the beach and through the park leads us under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and into the fascinating relic that is Fort Wadsworth. A trip up Bay Avenue ends at the Staten Island Ferry and a free ride into Lower Manhattan. A walk along the Hudson River, with optional visits to the World Trade Center and the High Line, finishes at Midtown and Penn Station. This is a beautiful walk for those not able to complete the 50-mile Big Walk beyond Elizabeth or Newark. If you are unable to complete this one, you can finish three miles early at the PATH station. There are also many bus stops along the way on Staten Island with buses to the ferry. The FreeWalkers are again offering the Cross-Jersey Walking Challenge, with a goal of walking the 100 miles of the East Coast Greenway across the entire state at any time during the year. This walk is part of the ECG trail from Trenton to New York City. You have the option of completing the challenge over three to five days. **Option 1**: Complete the 40-mile Great Canal Walk from Trenton to New Brunswick in one day, or walk the Spring Ahead to Princeton and do the 28-mile Great Canal Walk from Princeton. **Option 2:** Complete the 50-mile Big Walk in one day, or walk 24 miles of the Big Walk to Elizabeth and complete the remaining 26 miles on the Staten Island Marathon Walk. **Highlights** \- Elizabeth River Parkway \- Goethals Bridge \- Willowbrook Park \- Staten Island Greenbelt \- Cedar Grove Beach \- FDR Boardwalk and Beach \- Midland Beach \- South Beach \- Fort Wadsworth \- Verrazano Narrows Bridge \- Bay Avenue shops \- Staten Island Ferry \- Battery Park \- World Trade Center \- Hudson River Greenway \- High Line **Spring 2026 Cross Jersey Challenge** **Mar 21** Spring Ahead Walk (optional) 14mi **Apr 11** Great Canal Walk 28/40mi **Apr 19** Kruimer Walk 13mi **Apr 25** Big Walk 24/50mi **Jun 13** Staten Island Marathon Walk (optional) 22/26mi **Partners:** The [East Coast Greenway Alliance](https://greenway.org) is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality. The FreeWalkers are again offering the [Cross-Jersey Walking Challenge](https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/cross-jersey-challenge-181359), with a goal of walking the 100 miles of the East Coast Greenway across the entire state at any time during the year. This walk is part of the ECG trail from Trenton to New York City. **More about FreeWalkers:** [Our calendar of walks and hikes](https://freewalkers.org) \| [About FreeWalkers](https://freewalkers.org/history) \| [Walker stories](https://freewalkers.org/stories) \| [Walking tips](https://freewalkers.org/qatips) [New Jersey walks](https://freewalkers.org) \| [Pennsylvania walks](https://freewalkers.org) \| [New York City walks](https://freewalkers.org)

Guided Mindful Walking in Nature - Prospect Park Edition

**Though the body we move in nature, with our mind/consciousness we are part of nature.** **MINDFULNESS - the practice of maintaining a nonjudgemental state of heighted or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.** **MINDFUL WALKING - a practice that enhances mental clarity and reduces stress by fostering a deep connection with the present moment (the here and now) through awareness of each individual step and the Sight, Sound and Smell of the surrounding environment.** **Please read the below information carefully and take the time to view the myriads of videos available that explain the concept of Mindful Walking.** **Let me begin by thanking you for accompanying me on a work in progress to develop a methodology for teaching and leading a Mindful Walking workshop, my goal is to guide/lead the novice through an unfamiliar or complex procedure in a step-by-step process so that they can attain a basic level of skill and knowledge in the practice of Mindful Walking. Upon entering "Brooklyn's Jewel" the stunningly beautiful Prospect Park, we will commerce with a breathing and exercise session followed by several training practice walks that will introduce the attendees to the techniques of Mindful Walking.** **For the remainder of our Prospect Park adventure, we will alternate long bouts of conversation flowing walking sessions with shorter bouts of silent guided Mindful Walking sessions. The route that we will follow will include specific areas of the park of such stunning scenic beauty (in every season of the year) that will inspire and uplift all who attend.** **Because of the workshop nature of this event, I will limit the number of attendees to ten (10) people. When you sign up, you will be placed on the Waiting List. Attendees will be manually moved from the Waiting List to the Going List. Am looking for First Timers to attend these training events. My future vision for this method of training is to present many workshops for first-timers, mixed with separate events for those adepts with the Mindful Walking concept. Furthermore, I will expand the range of this event to scenic natural locations (including waterside venues) around the Greater New York area.** **We will exit Prospect Park by the Grand Army Plaza entrance. The nearest Subway Station will be the Grand Army Plaza Station of the #2 and #3 Trains.** **Will be walking at a moderate (not slow) pace. The walk will last three and a half hours and will cover about 5 miles. There will be ample restrooms stops and a thirty-minute lunch break.** **Heavy rain/snow or other forms of extreme weather will cancel the walk. Please check this site for updates.** **LEADER: Bob Lazzaro email: rlazzaro4@aol.com.** **I will use a voice amplification device to foster better understanding and clarity between myself and attendees.**

A walk around Fort Totten, Beechhurst, Whitestone, and Malba (Queens)

We’re going to take a walk around **Fort Totten, Beechhurst, Whitestone, and Malba (Queens)**. This walk will be \~7 miles at a brisk pace, stopping every few blocks to briefly read aloud from a guide book. **Start**: **10:30am, Sunday, May 31st**, outside of the public restrooms near the main entrance to Fort Totten (next to the "Totten Ave/Cross Island Pkwy" bus stop). If you are using mass transit, you can take the 7 train to Flushing-Main St, then transfer to the Q13 or Q16 bus to Fort Totten. Plan for slow Sunday buses. We will only wait 5 minutes, so please arrive on time (lots of scenic spots nearby for hanging out if you arrive early). There probably won’t be any restroom opportunities during the walk, so please plan ahead. **End**: **\~1pm**, Parsons Blvd and 14th Ave (where you can get the Q44 bus to the 7 in Flushing, or to the 2 or 6 in the Bronx). Please only RSVP if you plan to attend, and promptly change your status when your plans change. We will reschedule to avoid rain. Please see “What we’re about” (group’s About tab) for more details.

Chinatown Food Crawl (Cantonese + Fuzhounese + Sichuanese)

The Summer Hudson River Loop Walk!

[Please register for FREE to attend.](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-summer-hudson-river-loop-walk-tickets-1982694890791) A FreeWalker CLASSIC! Incredible views of NYC from the NJ side and of NJ on the NY side. There are many rest stops and options to shorten your walk if you choose, or challenge yourself and do it all! **Start:** Exhange Place - **Finish:** Exhange Place or wherever you choose. **Distance:** 28 - 30 miles or less if you choose . You can duck out at any point. **Where to find us:** **On the plaza in front of Gregory's Coffee near the Path Train.** **Optional endpoints:** You can end your walk at any time in NJ or NYC - your choice. **Lunch Stop Optional:** Whole Foods in Edgewater. Pack your own or purchase. Additional food options along the way. **Bathrooms:** Several along the route. **Terrain:** Sidewalk mostly flat with elevation on the GW bridge. **Public Transit:** Subway to Path Station. In NYC Path or Ferry back to Exchange Place depending on finish time. **Driving:** FREE street parking (check signs carefully). **Pet Policy:** Please leave your dogs at home. **Difficulty:** Beginner to Advance walkers, depending on your choice of distance. **Category:** Urban **Coordinator:** Sarahjane and Matt Rath/Risa Olinsky **Partners:** The [East Coast Greenway Alliance](https://greenway.org) is a non-profit organization developing a public multi-use 3,000 mile trail from Canada to Key West through New Jersey and New York. Donations and memberships help make this dream trail a reality.

Central Park Bird Walk

Bird walk with an experienced naturalist and bird guide. $20 per person for 2- hour walk.To register please send $25 via Venmo to @Deb-becker-8 or $26 via Paypal to editconsul@aol.com See hawks, eagles, ducks and spring birds. Location will be posted by 10am on the day of the walk. We always meet at a major entrance to Central Park off 5th Avenue.

Central Park Fitness Social Walk

**\*TO ATTEND GET TICKETS AT -**[https://www.eventbrite.com/e/central-park-spring-fitness-walk-tickets-1985401124208](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/central-park-spring-fitness-walk-tickets-1985401124208) *(Our events are co-organized by multiple groups so don't pay attention to the RSVPs. Our events are consistently well attended. Prepay Only Event.)* Spring will be in the air! Join us as we take a fitness walk around the famous *Central Park Loop* designed to get your blood flowing and your social life in shape! We’ll make stops along the way to enjoy some of the historic sights and history the park has to offer! **How it Works:** * Your group leader will meet you in front of the Maine Monument at the 59th Street Columbus Circle Monument entrance to Central Park. * From there the group will walk counter clockwise making stops along the way for rest, sightseeing and socializing. * Along the way we will have some icebreaker activities that will get you socializing with others in the group. * We will end back at the 59th Street entrance. * From there you can join the group for a post walk snack and hot chocolate. **Some of the Sights You Will See** * The Carousel * The Metropolitan Museum of Art * Cleopatra’s Needle ancient obelisk * The Conservatory Gardens * The North Meadow * The North Woods * The Pinetum * Strawberry Fields * Tavern on the Green * Sheep Meadow FAQs: **Can I come alone?** Yes, most guests do! It’s a great way to meet new people. **Ages:** 21+ **How difficult is the walk?** The walk is mostly flat and is about 6 miles. Y0u should be in fairly good shape. This is not a race, we will set a nice pace. Bring water. **Dress Code:** Dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes. **What if it rains/snows?** We will determine if the walk will take place the night before if there is any question. If the walk is rescheduled you may transfer to the new date or get a credit. **How much?** $15-$20 depending upon when you get ticket and spots left For more fun events follow: **[https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283](https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283)**

Little Island Social Walk (50 & Over)

**\*TO ATTEND GET TICKETS AT** - [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/little-island-social-walk-50s-over-tickets-1307347604879](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/little-island-social-walk-50s-over-tickets-1307347604879) *(\*Limited # save $5 by using discount code "5" at checkout. This is a prepay event and only way to attend is to get ticket in advance at link above).* This is the perfect cure for your cabin fever! The temps are going to warm up next weekend and will be the perfect opportunity to go out and meet others your age while also getting some exercise and seeing the beautiful park. Our 50 & Over Social Walks are an extremely popular way to make new friends and meet others in a safe and unique setting. This event is very casual and non-awkward + our host will help to make introductions. Little Island provides a one-of-a-kind relationship between nature and art—a break from urban life and a connection to spontaneity and joy. It's become NYC's newest and hottest attraction! We'll make several stops along the park so that people can take pictures and admire the beautiful views. We'll circle the island a couple of times and then afterwards, we'll continue the walk along the Hudson River. During the walk, you will randomly be paired with others in the beginning then rotate at designated times so that you get to meet everyone participating. Afterwards, you're welcome to hang out and exchange contact info with others. FAQs: **Where to meet?** Exact meeting location with host contact info will be sent to all paid attendees day of the event. **How many will attend?** We are limiting the # of attendees so that there's enough room for everyone to feel comfortable. **What if rains?** We will email attendees a new date. **Can I come alone?** Yes, about 90% come on their own. **Ages?** 50s & Over. Gender balance is not guaranteed but we usually get a good mix. **How much?** $15-$25 depending upon when you get ticket and spots left. For more fun events follow: **[https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283](https://www.eventbrite.com/o/new-york-city-social-events-10797526283)**