Haven’t been yet to Jamaica Bay, NY? In this post we discuss the best things to do, eat and stay at Jamaica Bay.
New York is full of great parks and promenades for making the most of a beautiful day. But if you want to escape the sounds and souls of the city while still enjoying a little car-free adventure close to home, the best place to go is Queens.
Yes, Queens. It may be the last place you’d imagine finding lush meadows, milk snakes, ospreys, and picturesque lagoons, but right off the subway yet a world away from town there is a 9,155-acre, under-the-radar wildlife refuge waiting for you.
Jamaica Bay is a coastal lagoon and wetland ecosystem located in the southern part of Queens, New York. It is home to a diverse wildlife, including over 300 species of birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. It is also a popular destination for outdoor activities, such as kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing, and birdwatching. Jamaica Bay is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, which also includes Sandy Hook, NJ and Staten Island, NY.
Your trip to Jamaica Bay begins on the A train. Ride the IND Rockaway Line to Broad Channel. Exit the station to the right and walk along Noel Road through two lights to Cross Bay Boulevard. Cross over to the far side of Cross Bay Boulevard and turn right. You’ll find the trails about a mile up the road on the left and right.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
Jamaica Bay has been in the spotlight in the last years due to the incredible strides taken by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and National Park Service, which formed the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and the newly announced environmental research center Jamaica Bay Science & Resilience Institute.
Things to do in Jamaica Bay
- Visit the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, the only wildlife refuge in the National Park System. You can explore the trails, observe the birds and other animals, and learn about the history and ecology of the bay at the visitor center.
- Enjoy the scenic views and the sandy beaches at Jacob Riis Park, a historic seaside park that features an art deco bathhouse, a pitch-and-putt golf course, and a boardwalk.
- Experience the culture and history of the Rockaway Peninsula at the Rockaway Cultural and Historical Association, which offers walking tours, lectures, exhibits, and events that showcase the heritage and diversity of the area.
Some of the best places to eat in Jamaica Bay are:
- Vetro Restaurant & Lounge, a fine dining restaurant that serves Italian cuisine and seafood, with a waterfront view and a rooftop terrace.
- Bungalow Bar, a casual bar and grill that offers burgers, wings, tacos, and cocktails, with live music and a deck overlooking the bay.
- Bruno’s Ristorante, a family-owned restaurant that specializes in authentic Sicilian dishes, such as pizza, pasta, and seafood.
Before this area becomes a hot spot, now is the time to explore the peaceful 3.2-mile East Pond trail and 1.5-mile West Pond trail. You’ll also discover there is much more to do here than hike. Try biking, boating, fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, archery, model airplane flying and even camping. Check the National Park Service website for more information and to book activities. The Brooklyn Bird Club offers great insights on some of the 300 migratory bird species you will encounter while hiking. Post-hike, take the bus or ride your two wheels 15 minutes east to cool off at Rockaway Beach.
If you’d like to take the family on an outdoor adventure around NYC, pick up AMC’s Outdoors with Kids New York City. And for more getaways near NYC that feature hikes and beaches, join the AMC volunteer run/hike in Rye, New York or visit the AMC’s Fire Island Cabin and take a hike in the Sunken Forest.
View Hiking in Jamaica Bay, NY in a larger map
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram