As the city eases into summer, the urge to fling yourself into a large body of water becomes almost unbearable. If you’ve surfed at Rockaway Beach, splashed your way through the city’s pools, and are looking for a new aquatic diversion, consider these six kayaking trips in and around NYC.
The Hudson River – Downstate
At the far end of West 44th Street on Pier 84, tucked in the shadows of the USS Intrepid, the Manhattan Kayak Company offers courses and tours for seasoned paddlers and novices alike. If you are comfortable getting in and out of a kayak, you can throw on a life vest and enjoy a half hour paddle near the boathouse, shielded from the Hudson River’s currents and within easy access of the shore. For trips out onto the river proper, you will need to sign up for a guided tour with an instructor, or complete one of the courses offered by Manhattan Kayak Company’s owner Eric Stiller and his team. “You can’t beat the Skyline Tour and New York After Dark,” says Stiller. Both are open to beginners and offer the quickest routes to sample the rarefied waters of the Hudson River.
Breakneck Pond
On July 2, the Appalachian Mountain Club opened its newest center in Harriman State Park, New York’s second largest park, situated just 30 miles from Manhattan and easily accessible via the AMC shuttle from NJ Transit’s Tuxedo Station. Whether you pitch a tent in one of the camping facilities ($36/night) or bunk up in a cabin (from $96/night), guests are welcome to take out canoes and kayaks and enjoy a paddle on scenic Breakneck Pond.
The East River
Catch a terrific view of the Brooklyn Bridge when you borrow a kayak from Brooklyn Bridge Park between Piers 1 and 2. You’ll get all the equipment you need, plus a quickie lesson before you’re allowed 20 minutes in the protected embayment. First come, first serve, weekends through the end of August. Best of all, it’s free.
The Hudson River – Upstate
Ride Metro-North to leafy Cold Spring and spend the day paddling around the beautiful Hudson Highlands. Hudson River Expeditions offers something for all levels of proficiency. Book the four-hour Destination Waterfall Tour and you’ll paddle the protected waters of Constitution Marsh to a secluded waterfall. If you’ve got kids, they have Family Excursions with special pricing for junior.
The Upper Harbor
For iconic eye-candy, try Manhattan Kayak’s Statue of Liberty Tour. This whopping 15-mile round-trip requires participants to have completed the Kayak 1•2•3 class and gone out on 3-4 evening tours beforehand. But you can’t beat that selfie at the end of it all.
For more aquatic adventures near NYC, check out Gordon Macrae’s New York City Beach Guide.
Photo credits: Jamie McCaffrey, Manhattan Kayak Company, Hudson River Expeditions, Brooklyn Bridge Park
Gordon Macrae is a travel writer based in Brooklyn. He is currently writing a travel guide to the beaches of New York City and around. He is less Scottish than you think.
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