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April 2017 23 boatingonthehudson.com
boat, you’ll never feel the same about boating in the lower
Hudson again. What a great way to get the kids involved with
boating and history, and their parents.
While we are feeding our brains, lets not forget that a mile or
so west of the marina by New Jersey Transit shuttle bus is one of
the nations premier hands on science centers for kids of all ages.
More than a few years back when my daughter was a youngster,
we spent many a happy and informative Saturday at the Liberty
Science Center and it has only gotten better. Since those days the
museum has expanded, adding the nation’s largest Imax dome
theater, 3-D movies, and more staff and exhibits than I could
have imagined. If you want to know the real deal, stop at the
welcome desk, these folks know the who, what, where and when
of everything going on at the museum and they’ll get you right
to what you need. They wouldn’t let me leave without seeing the
“Our Hudson Home” exhibit on the 4th floor, and I need to thank
them. If you got here by boat you were “on” the river, here’s a
chance to see, understand, and share with the kids what’s going
on“in”the river, eyes, hands, and brains on. See the fish and other
river inhabitants that live under your boat, learn hands on how
the river constantly shapes and reshapes the land, and maybe
develop a great science project for the kids. There are four floors
of terrific exhibits and activities at the center, you can’t do them
all justice in one day, so check with the staff tomake a plan before
you start. As the they say “WELCOME! Explore, Learn, Play”.
Liberty Science Center
If we took the long way from the historic East end of Liberty
State Park to the futuristic Science Center at the West end of
the park we would have passed through a lush1200 acre park
boarded on the East by the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
affording stunning views of the harbor, Ellis Island and the Statue
of Liberty. Along the route you would have passed at least a
half dozen gardens featuring various specialty landscapes and
playgrounds winding up at the visitors center, the overlook
lawn, and Liberation Monument in the South East corner of the
park. Continuing North West on the Walkway we will end at
the boat launch ramp in the western corner of the park which
is open to the public for trailers up to 23 feet with a permit from
the park office. At this point we’ve encircled the park but if
space permitted we could cover more of the picnic, fishing and
crabbing, and event spaces in the interior of the park, call ahead
and check their website as part of your planning.
I may have started out talking Dock-n-Dine, and that’s still a
good way to get to know Liberty Landing Marina, and again, the
first two hours are on the house. It should be obvious by now
that two hours will only wet your appetite. It might be good
to plan a few visits or an overnight stay, maybe a weekend. If
you do plan a longer stay, and want to include some Manhattan
adventures as well, the Liberty Landing Ferry water taxi shuttles
passengers back and forth to lower Manhattan from the marina
every half hour from 6:00 Am to 8:30 PM weekdays and 9:00 AM
to 7:30 PM on weekends, about a 15 minute ride into the city.
The ferry will also take you across Morris Creek to downtown
Jersey City for another assortment of landside eating, drinking
and entertainment opportunities.
All the amenities, activities and services are way to extensive
to cover fully in any one article, so check the websites below for
more in depth information. For more marina and marine center
info go to ; for the Maritime
Parc restaurant try the Liberty House
Restaurant at the Statue of
Liberty and Ellis Island try the Liberty
Science Center at for Liberty State Park in general
for New York Media Boat Tours
go to for jet ski harbor tours go to
for Liberty Landing ferry go to www.
libertylandingferry.com;
All that’s left to do is drop your lines and let the adventure begin,
head to Liberty Landing Marina in the incredible Liberty State
Park. As always, have a happy, healthy, and safe boating season.
Liberty Science Center