Free Outdoor Fun in Queens

New York has seemingly endless attractions and activities. However if you’re looking for free things to do or fun nature settings to explore, you’ll have to be a little more creative.

Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, we’ve found a free, outdoor activity for you to enjoy in Queens: the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Jamaica Bay

A natural oasis in the heart of the concrete jungle, Jamaica Bay is the perfect place to spend the afternoon or the entire weekend (year-round campsites are available for $20 per night). Load your car rental up with a picnic or camping gear and prepare for some outdoor fun! Below are just a few of the free activities you can enjoy:

• Birding: Jamaica Bay is actually one of the biggest bird sanctuaries in the northeastern U.S. It’s located directly over the Atlantic Flyway — the easternmost migration pattern for birds. Watchers can see over 100 types of birds in the late summer, including the endangered Piping Plover.
• Biking: See the beautiful bay on wheels. Jamaica Bay has several biking trails such as Fort Tilden and the Rockaway Gateway Greenway. You can even bike the historic airplane runways of Floyd Bennett Field.
• Hiking: Explore the beautiful vegetation, ponds, and wildlife. The East Pond, West Pond, and Upland trails are all fantastic options. Before your hike, stop by the visitor’s center and learn about some of the flora and fauna you’ll likely see.

The fun doesn’t end after these activities, however. The next entry will discuss even more ways to enjoy this beautiful area of Queens, NY. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge has something for everyone.

New York Transportation

If you’re visiting New York and need a convenient way to tour the city, Empire Rent a Car is the affordable answer. We have locations in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and several other areas of the Big Apple. Our various locations give people easy access to our spacious van rentals, car rentals, and moving truck rentals regardless of where they are in the city.

To book your set of wheels with empirerac.com, make an online reservation or call us at 800-750-8782. We look forward to serving you.