Governors Island, New York - 26 Things to Do! (NYC Travel Guide)

Governors Island, just a short ferry ride from NYC, is a great place for hiking, biking, glamping and picnicking with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, the fabled Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. Whether you want to tour the historical fortifications and buildings on this national monument, go down New York City's longest slide, go for a morning run, or simply want to enjoy some good eats while you, Governors Island has just about something for everyone, whether a local or traveling from elsewhere. It's also pretty cheap, especially if you bring your own food, with a $4 fare for the ferry. We hope you enjoy our travel guide!
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Music from Epidemic Sound - bit.ly/2MY6ilU
0:00 Intro
0:29 Getting there
1:43 Soisson's Landing
2:04 Biking
2:32 Picnic Point
2:54 Trails
3:11 Glamping
3:37 Castle Williams
3:58 Fort Jay
4:33 Colonels Row
4:50 Liggett Hall
5:08 Liggett Terrace
5:27 Playground
5:43 Hammock Grove
5:58 Open Orchard
6:15 Outlook Hill
6:36 Slide Hill
6:56 The Oval
7:10 The Urban Farm
7:34 FAD Market
7:51 The Bell
8:08 The May Room
8:38 Fort Jay Theater
8:58 The Yard
9:13 Parade Ground
9:27 Admiral's House
9:52 Pier 101
10:08 Special Events

[@KateBrownYoga-zf3yy]

I’m moving back to city in few years. When I split, this was just “in the air” idea. I ❤ NY

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Glad you’re coming back! We ❤️ it too!

[@TravelersParadise]

You guys finally did a vlog about the island. Never got to go on the slide, but there is so much to do there! You should have invited us, we would have joined in on the fun!

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Hahah sorry, it was kind of a "oh the weather's good, let's go" last minute excursion. The slide was fun. Really is a cool island and super cheap if you bring your own food haha

[@TravelersParadise]

@@MagellanandGreyhound The food there is nothing special and pricy, so better off taking food and having a picnic. It's all good ;D

[@BambooThrives]

“I like beer”😂😂😂

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

😉

[@roblena7977]

Thankyou for posting this, nice trip down memory lane. Lived in liberty village i think it was called. It was the best place for a 9 year old kid. Coast guard really went above and beyond on that base.

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

You’re welcome. I really love that this place is 100% for kids and 100% for bringing adults back to being a kid. Just relax. Get away from the city.

[@Gewehr2180]

I can remember watching everyone gathered around on the golf course on the back side of Ft Jay and watching Gorbechov step off the helicopter. I can still remeber seeing his birth mark on his head. Although at 6 years old I had no clue who he was. I just knew they they closed the base down. No one one or off the island during that time. I have many many fond memories of running all over that island as a kid. Hell I saw the first Care Bears movie in that theatere! They have now torn all the big apartment type buildings down to make way for some glamping tents. Farewell Building 855. Hell they also tore down my old elementry school. What was PS 26. I have been back on the island in person twice since we left there in 1988. I live in Colorado now so it's a bit of a trip. But thanks to videos like this that will always keep the memories alive.

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Your comment just made my day. A few weeks ago in Florida, I met a VA doctor who grew up on the island and I told him, you are the first person in my life I’ve ever heard of living on Governors, and probably the last. Proven wrong very quickly! I’m sure if you revisit now it will still be a mix of the familiar and very new, but you’d still enjoy it. We try to go at least once a year being that we live here. It really is a special place.

[@GladysandKenny]

Kenny took me there in a date when we first started dating. We haven’t been there is years. Definitely time to revisit again! The views front the island is beautiful! What a great way to spend the day!

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

They keep improving it. It really is a wonderful place.

[@markb8412]

I lived on GI and attended Coast Guard Electricians Mate "A" school from May - Oct 1980.

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

That’s awesome. Since we’ve made this video, so many have told us about their experiences there. Was it really different compared to what it is now?

[@pinkypop9647]

Great review!!! thumbs up!! Now I have to go there next year!! The music from your intermission by the DJ was lit!!!

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Thank you! We try to go a few times a year. It’s such a cool place.

[@AdventureMuse]

What a great tour. We never made it over there when we made it to New York. Those brick building are beautiful.

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

It’s a pretty special place. And if you bring your own food, really cheap. Check it out next time you visit!

[@wendingourway]

Fantastic area! Lots of changes since I was there in 1985 I believe...somewhere around there anyway. That would be the place that I would gravitate to for sure...and definitely, ring the bell!!! Great explore...Bruce and Otis

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

It has changed a lot since then! They are definitely making it a great place to do things, and it's so quiet comparably

[@zardozmania]

oooh, i want to there! one big playground, no cars, i love it!

[@roblena7977]

Grew up a militart brat, spent 1989-90 there when it was a coast guard base. Even as a military base it was one giant playground.

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

It really is. So much fun

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

@@roblena7977 that’s awesome! I imagine it’s changed a bit since then, but still

[@Duhfnunes]

U guys are amazing... i hope to see u guys in some trail =)

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

If we do, definitely say hi 😉

[@brianmooney7009]

I used to be a deck hand on governors island ferry in the early 90’s. They used to have a golf course on it. I guess its gone

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

That’s an amazing round of golf! I just looked it up and it apparently closed in 1996, with a one time tournament in 2006.

[@totthita2200]

COME BACK FROM VIET NAM WAR WE STATION ON GOVERNOR ISALND FOR 4 YEAR 1970 - 1974. MY HUSBAND LT. FOLEY WORKED AT THE CAPT OF THE PORT. I LOVE NEW YORK CITY. APRIL 3rd 2024

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

That’s awesome! It had to be so different than what it was then!

[@petr-podrouzek]

Very nice :-)

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Thank you Petr

[@Deadchyno]

You can walk around the fort? I been there a couple of time and I always thought it wasn't allowed to go down there on the stairs

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

Yep, we go around nearly every time we’ve visited

[@Deadchyno]

I will go up close to the fort next time. I never knew that i could actually walk on those steps

[@beautyofjammukashmir3563]

💕💕🇺🇸❤️❤️

[@waterfallmadman]

So females don’t like ringing bells? 😂😂😂 not even Greyhound? I like the slide that looks fun. 😁

[@MagellanandGreyhound]

We only saw males lol and she wouldn’t do it 😝

[@raulsanchez9795]

Ill skip that trip.