It's in the planning stages, no date set.
I think urban hiking in cities with a little history can be just as interesting as rural hiking. More interesting, really - and I am an informed amateur naturalist.
There is no such thing as suburban hiking, though. That is just walking.
Due to my route's meandering nature with crosstown zigs and zags, street crossings, and opportunities for refreshments, photo stops, and pit stops, I think it could take 6-7 hours from South Ferry (Battery Park) to Central Park then back down 5th ave to Grand Central Stn. Good walking shoes required, and rain-or-shine. This will not be a stroll. The main point is not the landmarks, but the random stuff and people and colorful life and historical architecture in between.The landmarks are just for waypoints.
Preliminary route plan:
- South Ferry, Battery Park, with view of Statue of Liberty (easy to get to via IRT or whatever)
- NYSE
- Trinity Church
- St. Paul's Chapel
- maybe WTC
- maybe South St Seaport
- City Hall
- Chinatown/maybe a quick noodle soup stop in Chinatown/Little Italy
- Soho/Cast Iron District
- Bleeker St/ Washington Square
- McSorley's (of course, for refreshment - I'm buying)
- Union Square
- Gramercy Park
- East Village/2nd ave for a while or West Village - can't do both but both are scenic
- Then west across to Flatiron District, Empire St Bldg, and NY Pub Library
- Times Square
- Carnegie Hall (How do you get to Carnegie Hall?)
- Columbus Circle
- then thru Central Park to 5th
- 5th Ave back to Grand Central Stn (via St. Patrick's and Rock. Center)
Does this sound like fun, and a good work-out? Is it overly-ambitious?
If it's too much, there's always the subway or a taxi - but we are subway people.
A lively city full of wonders, packed with attractive, high-energy young people and all sorts of other interesting humanity. Not a great work-out, because it's all pretty much flat but it's hours of walking through a variety of neighborhoods. I am open to suggestions. I'm sure my son, wife, daughters, sisters and brothers-in-law will be game for this event. Sipp & Co. might be, too, and Bulldog. And our Men's Bible study group.
Photo: I like that house on top of that building on 3rd Ave and 13th St. Rus in urba.