?For the extra adventurous, here's an activity that's free! Paddle a kayak up close and personal with the mighty Hudson surrounded by city skyline views of Manhattan and Jersey City. The Downtown Boathouse is offering Free lessons and equipment on a first come first-served basis. All you have to do is show up in a swimsuit, strap on a life vest, and make sure you know how to swim because capsizing does happen.
If you don't have any kayaking experience, staff will let you take out one of their kayaks out for a short 20-minute paddle in front of the boathouse inside the protected embayment, free of undercurrents.
For those who want to explore and are fit enough to paddle a solid 3 hour, 5 mile trip, their guided tour is top notch! These run most weekend mornings until the middle of September from Pier 96, their Clinton Cove (56th St.) location. Show up at the boathouse before 8:00 AM and sign up. There are usually more people than boats so they run a lottery to decide who goes In the peak of summer, you will have about a 50% chance of going and there are no advance reservations. Or you can get around this by bringing your own kayak and join the trip.
Exact destination depends on the tides and weather but paddles could extend over to the Jersey side or up the shore along Hell's Kitchen (now Clinton).
Be sure to check their Calendar as well as specific location pages for Pier 40, Pier 96 and 72nd Street because dates and times often change.