The Social Paws allows you to kayak or paddleboard on the Hudson River with your dogs for about 45…read moreminutes! You don't even have to own a dog to participate; simply be a dog lover. Paddleboarding is recommended if you have a dog. I wish you could kayak/paddleboard more, but you are allowed to explore the area around the Intrepid. If you are not interested in the Social Paws, there are other tours available, such as the Night Kayaking Tour, the Private Hudson Tour, the Spuyten Duyvil Tour, the Tribeca Tour, and so on. Five stars - it's a fun time!

Margo and Paul took excellent care of us on our sunset kayak trip. With an emphasis on safety, they…read moretaught the basics on land, made sure we were comfortable on the water, and then led us on a tour, stopping often to share historical information (and to let the stragglers catch up.) Our trip wasn't a high level athletic event, but Manhattan Kayak does offer training and equipment to get you there if you desire. PS, my wife forgot her wallet in a changing room, the staff called and texted immediately but we were already home when we checked our messages. Stacy came in early the next day so we could collect the valuables. Operation, equipment, and staff all highly recommended at Manhattan Kayak.

We stumbled upon Manhattan Community Boathouse free kayaking program while exploring the city and…read morewhat a glorious experience. The program is run by volunteers and funded by donations. Kayaking is offered on a first come, first served basis. They supply everything: life jacket, paddle, a single or two person kayak and a locker. You have 20 minutes and must say within the boundaries of the cove. Participants must be at least 18 years and know how to swim. Under 16 must share the kayak with an adult. Our experience felt like finding a treasure but in our case we want to share it with others

I first came here back in 2016 for the free kayaking. It was a blazing hot day and I just HAD to…read morefind a way to get out on the water, somewhere in the city. Manhattan Community Boathouse was just the place! I felt so welcomed and had so much fun during my first visit that I decided to become a volunteer. 5 years later, I still spend almost every summer weekend here, helping the organization offer the public the priceless (FREE!) experience of paddling on the Hudson river. Sharing this unique experience with the public is one of my favorite things to do in the city, and seeing the smiles on people's faces makes it all worth it. As a volunteer, I enjoy the extra training classes offered and volunteer-only kayaking trips we get to go on as well! A few things to know for the 2021 season, some of which is different from prior year reviews: MCBH is operating by reservation to prevent overcrowding. They are open Saturdays and Sundays from 12 PM - 6 PM through October 10. You can reserve your spot up to 2 weeks in advance on the website. Paddlers of all skill levels are invited to participate as long as you know how to swim. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. They offer changing rooms and lockers with locks provided, so you can bring a change of clothes if you want, because you will get wet. There's no public restroom here though, so be sure to stop in Clinton Dewitt park at 54th & 11th Ave before walking over if you need to use the facilities! Otherwise, a portapotty along the bike path near the boathouse is the only toilet option. Did I mention it's all free? The program is run entirely by volunteers, and funded solely by donations from the public, but there is absolutely no pressure to donate. Whether you come as a volunteer or as a member of the public, I think this is the best free activity in NYC!

The setup: Mother's Day was coming up and I always try to find something unique and different for…read morethe momma of my kids as well as the mother-in-law. And I stumbled upon Urban Paddle and booked it for a 9am adventure. We lucked out that every variable and condition was ideal: weather, tide, calm water, almost no other boat-related traffic. We're a party of 7. The 'Urban Crew' numbered at 5. We were spoiled from start to finish with a group of really cool and helpful workers that were informative, fun, professional and made sure we were always safe and engaged the entire hour. (Make sure to watch their 6-minute YouTube video ahead of time so you know all about the proper paddling/rowing techniques when it comes time to hit the water.) The 'Urban Crew' were also invaluable because the owner was constantly taking pictures and videos and at the end airdropped them to us which was a nice 'cherry on top' since you can't really snap pictures for big chunks of the time when you're on the water. Is it expensive for an hour? No doubt. Did everyone absolutely love kayaking and getting to see everything from the Colgate clock to the back of the Statue of Liberty's head to the NYC skyline, not to mention all of the stunning yachts all docked and looking completely out of my price-range? Of course. Was it the funniest thing to see my mother-in-law somehow leaning back in her kayak like she was on a hammock while the father-in-law did all the hard work? Yup. (Did a cranky security guard try her best to be a stick in the mud regarding confusion over some parking-related issues when we were about to leave? Oh yeah.) I'd suggest clothing/footwear that you don't mind getting wet as well as sunglasses and sunblock (that sun is no joke bouncing off the water). Highly recommended. (The Mrs. is already plotting when to go back and I think she's even pricing kayaks to buy with that stimulus check that's burning a hole in her wallet.)

Overall this place is solid. My boyfriend and I went for the LED kayaking. The view was beautiful!…read moreThe difficulty was a 2/10 but honestly it does depend who you are and where your skill level is now. Our guide was perfect and he talked to us all night! Only bummed I never received the photos taken from that night. The entire trip takes a little over an hour. Parking is a little confusing but you have to find the parking authority and tell them you are there to kayak and pay $5 for a pass to put on your car. Overall great experience. I strongly advise not to put your hand into the water (who really knows what is in the Hudson River)

Fantastic--who doesn't love FREE kayaking under the Brooklyn Bridge?! Volunteers were so sweet and…read moreeven though we arrived early for our appointment they got us right out on the water. A must do!!!!

I actually had a fantastic time kayaking here!…read more But it was just this one racist lifeguard named Cliff who really ruined my experience. We had told this man when we first hopped on the kayak that we were beginners. Did he not understand that to be getting annoyed and impatient with me when I was just taking longer than usual to process his instructions? Plus, there was also no need to be racist with me. From a distance to when he came over to try to move us out of the danger zone, he kept asking us, "Do you speak English?" Yes, what language did you think I was speaking when I was talking with you in the beginning? If he is going to be a lifeguard to a free kayaking session specifically catered towards beginners, he should be more patient and respectful towards us first-timers.

This place Is a hidden Gem!!!…read more Place is amazing as well as the staff. Great and positive place to visit with family and friends. Its fun and it's free what better deal can you get from that. The activities are amazing and every staff is very supportive.

This was so much fun! Went on a limb to try this place and it was awesome! We did the free kayaking…read moreon Sunday mornings - it was easy and fun! Staff are all volunteers and extremely nice! Personally we were somewhat experienced kayakers but you don't need any experience to participate, they have plenty of "turtles" (staff in the water) to help. Will definitely return to do this again!

Great place with welcoming people. They're teaching you how to row and handle boats. They also…read moreinvite people to build boats. I enjoyed rowing here. Looking forward to came again and bring my friends.

Our family needed a refreshing experience a few weekends back and thought we'd do some free…read morekayaking but ended up at the Village Community Boathouse for a 2 1/2 hour row. Wow! That was great! You get to go out in traditional rowboats up or down and across the Hudson River. We made it all the way to a little beach on the NJ side. Who would have known there was a beach? The whole experience on a Sunday afternoon was just so unusual and full of interesting surprises. And we (ages 17 to 69) felt very safe with our very experienced coxswain lady. Oh, and best thing is ....it's free. Apparently it is an entirely volunteer run non profit organization and the rely on donations. Which we happily did (by check for a tax deduction) BTW - they were super nice and let us park our bikes inside the boathouse.

Another happy camper here! This time, the experience is for my daughter, and she had a blast…read morelearning about sailing, wind patterns, knot-tying, and teamwork. Hudson River Community Sailing Camp provided her with not only fun on the water but also a valuable educational experience in navigating and controlling a boat. If any parents are considering whether to bring their kids to this camp during the summer, I highly recommend it. The staff are incredibly kind, patient, and professional, making sure each child feels confident and supported on and off the water. My daughter came home excited each day, proud of her new skills and friendships.

Highly recommend the intro to sailing course. Went out on a sailboat with Andrew and three other…read morebeginners. Andrew explained the basics and then we hit the water to practice. Andrew was great at making sure each attendee actively participated in the sail, including steering. I look forward to my next course with HRCS.

This was one of the most shocking customer experiences I've ever had…read more My reservation was accepted months in advance. I received confirmation emails, booking numbers, check-in instructions, and multiple emails thanking me for my purchase. Like any reasonable customer, I believed I had a legitimate reservation. At no point during the booking process, in the confirmation emails, or on my reservation was I ever told that I was on a waiting list. In fact, everything I received indicated that my reservation was confirmed. Then, just FOUR DAYS before the event, I received an email informing me that there was no space unless I agreed to pay $1,200 PER PERSON. When I called customer service to understand what had happened, I was told that I had actually been on a waiting list all along. That was the first time I had ever heard those words. If customers are on a waiting list, they deserve to be told before they spend months planning flights, hotels, and an entire vacation--not after everything has already been booked. Think about that for a moment. A company advertises an event, accepts reservations, sends confirmation emails, provides booking numbers and check-in instructions, thanks customers for booking, and allows them to spend months planning their trip around what appears to be a confirmed reservation. Then, only days before the event, it announces that the reservation can only be honored if customers pay $1,200 per person. To me, this shifts 100% of the risk onto the customer while leaving the company with virtually none. The refund of my small deposit did not refund my flights, my hotel expenses, my vacation planning, my lost opportunities, or the trust I placed in this company. The strongest legal disclaimer in the world cannot manufacture trust once it has been broken. Fine print may protect a contract, but it can never repair a reputation. Businesses are remembered not for the loopholes they write, but for the promises they keep. A confirmed reservation should mean something. Customers should not spend months planning a trip only to face what feels like an ultimatum days before the event: pay an extraordinary amount of money or lose the experience they planned their vacation around. Whether this practice is ultimately permissible under the company's terms is for consumer protection authorities and the courts to decide. From a customer's perspective, however, it felt profoundly unfair and completely inconsistent with the trust people place in a confirmed booking. I will never trust this company again, and I strongly encourage anyone considering booking with them to think carefully before making travel plans around one of their "confirmed" reservations. Trust is earned over years and can be destroyed in a single email. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened here.

I would give zero stars if I could…read more I booked this boat tour based on the advertised departure time, and after I paid, they changed the departure time to two hours earlier. That is a major change, not a minor schedule adjustment. Because of the new time, I could no longer make the tour. Instead of taking responsibility and refunding me for a service they were no longer providing as purchased, they refused to give me my money back. I did not simply change my mind -- they changed the terms of the booking after the sale. Extremely disappointing customer service and a very unfair way to treat customers. I would not book with this company again, and I would strongly caution others before buying tickets unless you are comfortable with them changing the time and still keeping your money.