Anywhere, within a mile of shore! Bring a buddy or a phone and let us know your float plan. Please return by closing time and STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF BOATS!!!
You are leaving from the boat dock inside a marina, so you'll stay near the shoreline and away from the docks to avoid boats. You will paddle out towards the white ferry terminal building and then turn left to go into the harbor. A right turn at ferry building will keep you in the channel and ends at a waterfall under a bridge. There are boat docks behind The Cove restaurant and Garvies Point brewery/restaurant, let us know if you'd like to take along some rope to tie up so you can have refreshments! While in the boat channel you must stay to the side opposite the marina, in the shallow area so that boats can use the deeper middle part. You will return on this same side, near the marshy area and buildings and away from the boat docks.
Once you are out into the harbor, immediately to the right is Mercadante Beach, Hempstead Harbor Yacht Club (private), and Garvies Preserve. We love to send people to the beach at Garvies because it is usually very quiet and beautiful natural scenery. Beyond that is a rock jetty and Morgan Park, an awesome destination, it has concession stand and bathrooms. If you have perfect conditions and lots of stamina, you could make it to Crescent Beach or Pratt Beach at Welwyn Preserve. Across from the jetty at Morgan Park is Sands Point Preserve, a long trip but doable in great conditions.
If you go left after traversing the boat channel (look for boats before crossing) you will see beach behind private homes, the Sea Cliff Yacht Club (private) and then the Sea Cliff Village Beach (residents only, but you may dine at their concession). Continuing past the village beach is the boardwalk and beautiful cliffside homes, then Tappen Beach. The restaurant at Tappen is a popular destination, but you'll need a few hours to eat, drink and kayak there and back! Across from Tappen is North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington,
Coming out of the marina and going straight across will land you on beach behind private homes in Sands Point/Port Washington North. Looks closer than it is! Most beaches are public below the high tide line, please be respectful.
