Free kayaking - The Downtown Boathouse @ Pier 96 (56th Street) May 13, 2006

Walk-up kayaking.
This is our original and most popular program. The only requirement is that you know how to swim. It runs at all of our locations on weekends and holidays from May 15th to October 15th, and on many weekday evenings. You can take one of our kayaks out for a short 20-minute paddle inside the protected embayment in front of the boathouse. We give you a life jacket, a kayak, a paddle, and some tips on paddling. You will need to stay inside our protected embayment where we can keep an eye on you, but otherwise you are on your own to enjoy the river and the sunshine.

Bring a bathing suit, or shorts and a T-Shirt. We have changing rooms, and a hose to rinse off.

Pier 96, Clinton (at 56th St.)
WALKING - The Pier 96 Boathouse is located in the Clinton Cove Park on the Westside Highway and 56th St. The nearest subway stop is the #1/9 and A/C/E station at Columbus Circle. The M57 and M31 busses run down 57th St. to West End Ave (one block east).

KAYAKING - The Pier 96 Boathouse has a distinctive sloping roof and sloping dock. It is just South of the sanitation department transfer station and fueling facility, and just North of the passenger cruise ship facility.

Official Website: http://www.downtownboathouse.org