Interactive Tours throughout the season offer visitors opportunities to discover and rediscover the Bronx
Hikes, bikes, foliage and food! This season there is something for everyone in the Bronx. The “Fall for the Bronx Action Tours” is a series of activities designed to offer visitors an enjoyable, as well as informational experience.
“The Fall is a magical time in the Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “Whether you are travelling here from around the world or around the block, there are so many fun things to do.”
“It’s also a perfect opportunity to experience some of the wonderful things this borough has to offer” stated Olga Luz Tirado, Executive Director of the Bronx Tourism Council.
Each guided tour is themed and includes sites, historical content and interactivity. All tours, with the exception of Tour de Bronx, offers round-trip trolley service from the visitor’s center located at 810 7th Avenue in midtown Manhattan.
Saturday, October 6th, NAUTICAL TOUR
The fun begins with a guided trolley tour throughout City Island, a small community located at the edge of New York City just beyond Pelham Bay Park. After the tour, participants will visit the Nautical Museum, dedicated to City Island’s past and present nautical heritage, including the contributions of famous yacht-builders and sail makers.
Break for a light lunch meal (cost not included in registration fee) at a local seafood restaurant then visit a local art gallery, take in a photo exhibit and chat with long-time residents and artists.
End the day aboard the 65-foot Island Current IV and fish for blues and striped bass. Gear and bait are included in registration fee courtesy of Captain Chris.
Sunday, October 14th, TOUR de BRONX
Participate in a FREE family-fun event promoting healthy living through physical activity! Choose the 25 OR 40-mile course that runs through the borough’s 61 communities! Great for the novice rider as well as the biking aficionado!
Both rides feature great neighborhoods, waterfronts, historic districts and end with a music festival at the New York Botanical Garden. This event is FREE, but registration is required at www.tourdebronx.org.
Saturday, October 20th, NATURE TOUR
Enjoy a walk through the African Plain Exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. Trek past lions and zebras and get as close to the Serengeti as you can in the Bronx!
Then head to New York’s real Little Italy and enjoy lunch at the famous Mike’s Deli at the Arthur Avenue Market (cost of food not included in registration). Hear about the rich cultural history of the Italian-American experience in the Bronx.
Experience the ecology, industry and history of the South Bronx waterfront while paddling your own canoe on the Bronx River. Bronx River Alliance staff will guide you on a two mile tour as you encounter the wildlife, the working river and three of New York City’s newest waterfront parks while learning about the return of this amazing Bronx resource
Saturday, October 27th, FOOD TOUR
Begin your epicurean journey with a visit to the La Finca Del Sur community garden in the South Bronx. Enjoy an exciting tour of a real-life urban farm and partake in a cooking demonstration utilizing organic herbs and vegetables that you can bring home for the family!
Then head to New York’s real Little Italy and enjoy a lesson on making home-made mozzarella. Sample cheeses and enjoy a light lunch in the famous Mike’s Deli in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market (cost of lunch not included in registration). Hear about the rich cultural history of the Italian-American experience in the Bronx.
The tour continues at the popular Bronx Ale House on the west side in Kingsbridge, where you can enjoy a tasting of unique Bronx craft beers! Representatives will give a presentation on the Bronx Pale Ale and the Bronx Rye Pale Ale. Pair your beer with the famous Bronx Ale House’s veggie burger sliders, recently voted the best in the city by the New York Daily News. Samples and sliders are courtesy of the Bronx Ale House.
Saturday, November 3rd, HIKING TOUR
Take a walk through Woodlawn Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in New York, designated as a National Historic Landmark. Pay tribute to illustrious Bronxites and other notables interred there. Take a guided tour of the gravesites of Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Herman Melville, Celia Cruz and more.
Then enjoy a Garden Highlights walk through Wave Hill, overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. Stroll through the Aquatic Garden, a friendly environment for fish, frogs and dragonflies. Partake in a light lunch at the Wave Hill Café (cost of food not included in registration).
The day ends at historic Van Cortlandt Park with a hike on the Putnam Trail, where the New York Central Railroad’s Putnam Division once ran. Learn about the Van Cortlandt and Vanderbilt families and what the park has in common with New York’s famous Grand Central Station.
Each tour (except for the Tour de Bronx) is $30 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Registration includes rentals and admissions as described. All tours make fun stops for lunch but the cost of lunch is NOT included. Tours depart via trolley at 9 a.m. from the Visitors Center in Manhattan, located at 810 7th Avenue, and return at 5 p.m. Tours take place rain or shine, but the hiking and nature tour may be rescheduled in case of inclement weather.
To purchase tickets, log onto www.fallforthebronx.com. The Tour de Bronx is free, but registration is required at www.tourdebronx.org. For additional information contact the Bronx Tourism Council at 718.590.2502
These tours are hosted by the Bronx Tourism Council, a program of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC) funded by the Office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Additional promotional support provided by the NYC & Company Foundation.
About the Bronx Tourism Council: Established in 1991, The Bronx Tourism Council is a subsidiary of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC), creating a cohesive and symbiotic relationship between arts and culture and economic development. The role of the Bronx Tourism Council is to promote the borough’s rich history, its institutions, and cultural diversity on a local, national, and international level.