What we’re about
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain
What is meaning of Soulventures? A phenomenon of seeking and fueling one’s soul with life experiences through adventures to enrich and fulfill one’s inner self. These adventures often involve stepping outside of one’s comfort zone, embracing new challenges, and cultivating a mindset of curiosity and self-discovery and can encompass a wide range of activities, from travel and exploration to creative pursuits and acts of service, all aimed at expanding personal growth and a deeper connection to one’s purpose and values.
Our objective: We aim to build a social circle for those weekend warriors, year-round explorers, adrenaline junkies and general fun seekers extraordinaire in the New York City area seeking to escape the everyday grind and to live an extraordinary life with sass, spice and flair through connection, joy, and movement with new friends who share your vibrational frequency 🤗
Our philosophy is simple … be positive, have fun and enjoy the moments and memories we will be building together. You only have one life to live, so make the best of that life!
Our events: In this group, we aim to accomplish great things! Climb that mountain! Book that ticket! Take that weekend journey to explore a town you’ve never been to before. Try that new cuisine! Learn a new skill! Volunteer for a worthy cause! Hiking, walks in park, dining out, Broadway shows, museums, happy hours, movie nights, wine tasting, brewery tours, day trips, weekend getaway ... and for the adrenaline junkies, tell your fear to hold your beer because you’re about to jump off that perfectly good airplane! Carpe Diem Baby!
Why You Should Join Us: Whether you’re a seasoned adventure pro or a novice beginner, a thrill-seeker at heart, or just looking for opportunities to get out of the house and meet new friends and have a great time, we will have events that will appeal to everyone to enjoy and satisfy your thirst for fun and adventures 😊
Don't worry about coming to our events by yourself. RSVPs to all our events will be kept to no more than 20, taking into consideration those last minute cancellations. This way you will know everyone’s name and they will know yours. Everyone will have fun and hopefully go home having had a memorable time. As long as you are open to adventures, maintain a positive attitude and a willingness to try new things ... we want to meet you!
Getting there: No cars? No problemo. All our events are reachable by public transportation!
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE NOT A DATING SITE. If you are looking for a dating site, this group is NOT it, please look elsewhere. Please respect your fellow members. Any inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated and person with the inappropriate behavior will be expelled from the group.
So if you are ready, let the adventures begin. Let's come together to inspire each other to push our boundaries and make the most out of every moment of every day of our lives. Together.
Let’s do this!
Group founded: July 6, 2025
Let's get outside and walk the walk on the New York City portion of the Empire State Trail starting at Battery City Park making our way to Inwood Hill Park for a total of about 13 miles.
About the Empire State Trail: In 2017, New York State launched the Empire State Trail to promote outdoor recreation, encourage healthy lifestyles, support community vitality, and bolster tourism-related economic development. The 750-mile Empire State Trail showcases New York’s special places, diverse history, and iconic landscapes. This scenic hiking and biking path, which runs through New York State, stretches over 750-miles, starting from The Battery in Manhattan and running north all the way to Canada and west from Albany to Buffalo. Cutting through the Hudson Valley, the Champlain Valley, and running along the Erie Canal, it is the longest multi-use trail in the entire nation!
Read more about the Empire State Trail -------> HERE and HERE
FIRST SEGMENT: Battery Park to Inwood Hill Park, totaling about 13 miles.
- This 12.5-mile trail section marks the beginning/end of the Empire State Trail, starting at the southern tip of Manhattan and running north on the Manhattan Greenway trail, along the west side of Manhattan. The Greenway is a paved, off-road trail, physically separated from vehicle traffic, through Battery Park City, the Hudson River Park, and Riverside Park. The trail is extremely popular with cyclists, walkers, and runners. Access is available from numerous city streets. A mix of on-street parking and paid parking garages are available, and the trail is accessible by the NYC subway and bus system. This popular trail segment provides stunning views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. The off-road Greenway Trail ends in NW Manhattan at Dyckman Street.
NOTE: I haven't hiked this trail, hence exploratory. Come with an open mind for adventure and flexibility for whatever the day might bring.
GETTING THERE: Make your way to Bowling Green subway station (4/5/6 train line). We'll meet OUTSIDE the station at 9AM and proceed from here.
MILEAGE: About 13 MILES
INTENSITY: This will be an EASY BREEZY hike on mostly paved trail on the Hudson Greenway Trail.
PACE: Hiking pace will be LEISURELY AND NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND. NO SPEED DEMONS!!!!!!!!!!!
THE IMPORTANT STUFF:
- Dress in non-cotton layers.
- Wear appropriate shoes suitable for hiking.
- Bring sunscreen, bug spray, head cover
- Bring lunch, snack and plenty of liquid (at least 3 liters) to stay hydrated
- Bring a sense of adventure and a positive attitude. A smile also goes a long way. Please leave the drama and crankiness at home.
- SPEED DEMONS PLEASE STAY AWAY.
DURATION: We will be out for the entire day. But you can leave on your own at any time. We won't judge. Much.
APRES HIKE: We'll do celebratory eats and drinks in the Northern Manhattan area.
WEATHER: Rain or extreme heat and humidity cancels!
LIABILITY WAIVER: come prepared. Participate at your own risks. Hold no one liable etc. etc.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Our First Meetup: A Leisurely Hike in NJPenn Station , New York, NY
Welcome to our new group! For our very first Meetup, come join us for a leisurely hike at Cheesequake State Park in Matawan, New Jersey, for fresh air, fitness and camaraderie with new friends. Hike is reachable on NJ Transit out of Penn Station.
ABOUT THE PARK: Scenic Cheesequake State Park is located in Old Bridge, NJ only 22 miles from Newark and 25 miles from New York City. This 1,610 acre New Jersey state park's highlights include hardwood forests, open fields, swamps, ponds, a lake and saltwater and freshwater marshland. The park’s unique eco structure of northern hardwood forest and southern pine barrens create a bird lover’s and nature lover’s paradise.
READ MORE ABOUT THE PARK ---------> HERE
GETTING THERE: NJ Transit out of Penn Station
- 9:55AM: Depart NEW YORK PENN STATION
- 11:06AM: Arrive ABERDEEN MATAWAN STATION
- One-way train ticket is $16.95
- Upon arriving at Aberdeen Matawan station, we'll then pick up Uber for an 8-min ride to the trailhead.
Drivers: you can meet us at the Visitors Center at 11:30.
HIKE MILEAGE: 4-5 MILES through forest and wetlands, up and down unique stairs, across wooden walkways and over streams.
HIKE INTENSITY: Easy to Moderate
HIKING PACE: Hiking pace will be LEISURELY AND NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.
IMPORTANT
- Dress in non-cotton layers.
- Wear appropriate shoes suitable for hiking
- Bring at least 3 liters of liquid to stay hydrated.
- Bring lunch and snacks for yourself.
- Bring sunscreen, bug spray, hat cover, and whatever else you need
- Bring sense of adventure and a positive attitude are a must. A smile also goes a long way.
DURATION: This is not a big park. So we should finish by 4PM-ish if not earlier. But no guarantee. After hike, we can go explore Matawan the town and grab eats and drinks and get social before heading home.
AFTER HIKE, if anyone is interested, we can grab food and drinks in the area before heading home.
RETURN TRAIN: return train leaves every hour
WEATHER: Rain cancels!
LIABILITY WAIVER: come prepared. Participate at your own risks. Hold no one liable. etc. etc.
- Discover Long Island HikeStony Brook LIRR Station, Stony Brook , NY
Long Island has many scenic trails that are relatively easy. Let's discover some of them. Let's head outside for a leisurely exploratory hike at Avalon Nature Reserve for fitness, fresh air and camaraderie with new friends. Hike is reachable on Long Island Railroad to Stony Brook.
NOTE: This is my first time doing this hike hence exploratory. Come with an open mind for adventure and flexibility for whatever the day might bring.
About Avalon Nature Preserve: This arboretum/preserve was created by its founder in memory of his son. It is a nature lover’s paradise with more than 80 acres of trails, a wildflower meadow, habitat for numerous woodland animals, many species of ferns and massive oak trees. It is located on Harbor Road, off Main Street, across from Stony Brook Grist Mill. Read more about the Preserve =======> HERE
GETTING THERE:
- IF YOU ARE TAKING LIRR FROM PENN STATION: LIRR train leaves at 8:36AM, transfer at Huntington Station at 9:55AM, and arrive at Stony Brook station at 10:30AM
- IF YOU ARE TAKING LIRR FROM JAMAICA STATION IN QUEENS: LIRR train leaves at 8:59AM, transfer at Huntington Station at 9:55am and arrive at Stony Brook station at 10:30AM.
- From Stony Brook station, we'll share a 10-min Uber to the trailhead. Or we can walk 50-min (according to Google map).
Drivers: you can meet us at the Preserve at 11AM
- NOTE: The preserve can be accessed via Shep Jones Lane off of North Country Road (25a), Tuesday through Sunday.
- Parking is ONLY permitted in designated parking lots along Shep Jones Lane. Violators will be ticketed.
TRAIL WE'LL HIKE: TBD
PACE: We go at LEISURELY PACE AND NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND. NO FAST HIKERS!!!
THE IMPORTANT STUFF:
- Dress in non-cotton layers.
- Wear appropriate shoes suitable for hiking -
- Bring at least 3 liters of 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.
DURATION: I cannot guarantee finishing time. You can leave on your own at any time. we won't judge. Much.
WEATHER: Rain cancels!
LIABILITY WAIVER: Come prepared. Participate at your own risks. Hold no one liable, etc, etc.
- Discover Long Island: Billy Joel ExhibitionLong Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame, Stony Brook , NY
Let's go check out the Billy Joel Exhibition at the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, reachable on LIRR to Stony Brook station.
About the Exhibition: Long Island's been waiting for an exhibit like this for the longest time!
Get your tickets now for the ‘Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey’ exhibit, only at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
- Explore over 5 decades of rare memorabilia.
- Experience Billy Joel’s life-spanning career through his albums, tours, inspirations and personal experiences.
- Filled with over 50 years of rare memorabilia, videos, awards, recordings, instruments, photos, many donated from Billy’s personal collection.
TICKET PRICES: $32.50 for adults, $30.50 for seniors 65+
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR OWN TICKET
- At the link, click on "GET TICKET" button
- Select the Billy Joel exhibition then "buy ticket" button
- From the calendar select the Sunday July 20, 2025 date and 3PM entry timeslot.
- Enter ticket quantity
- Follow on screen instructions to purchase your ticket
GETTING THERE: Pick up LIRR from any LIRR station going to STONY BROOK station then either a 10-min Uber ride, or walk 30 mins on city streets, over to the LI Music Hall of Fame.
AGENDA: Ticket entry time is 3PM
we'll be here for 2-3 hours. IF there's interest we'll head to Stony Brook the Village to grab dinner.WEATHER: Since ticket purchase is involved, and event is INDOORS, this Meetup is rain or shine.
LIABILITY WAIVER: Come prepared. Participate at your own risks. Hold no one liable, etc, etc.
- Get Social over Albanian DinnerÇka Ka Qëllue, New York, NY
New York Times recently compiled their List of 100 Best Restaurants. Let's get together for dinners and eat our way through that list 😂
First up: come join us in midtown East for a Taste of Albania dinner at Çka Ka Qëllue
New York Times Review: This rustic spot dives deep into the culinary riches of Albania and Kosovo, serving a vast spread of meats and dips, much of it dolloped with yogurt or crowned with baked cheese. The homey restaurant is its own sort of museum, the brick walls of both the Bronx and Manhattan locations lined with Albanian artifacts. Eager servers are glad to educate you on a cuisine that’s still woefully underrepresented in New York.
Restaurant website: https://ckakaqellue.com/
CLICK HERE to peruse menu
We'll dine FAMILY-STYLE and share the food bill, together with tax and tip, equally. Any drinks are separate and are the responsibility of the drinkers
