This past weekend my husband and I took a daytrip to Brooklyn, New York, to visit with some of my friends from college. The five of us had our husbands in tow, and two of my friends have two children each, so we opted for a visit to Governors Island and dinner at my friends’ apartment.

My husband and I decided to drive instead of taking the train or bus. We made great time, encountering no traffic, and parked at Pier 6 in Brooklyn, where the ferry to the island departs. Our friends arrived shortly after, and we all boarded the ferry. The ride is quick, and we were at Governors Island in no time!

Despite having family in Brooklyn and going to college in New York, this was my first visit to Governors Island. The 172-acre island in New York Harbor boasts green space, playgrounds, lodging, historical markers, food trucks and bike rentals. It’s a great spot to visit with groups of all ages.

We arrived around lunchtime, so we decided to stake out a table and eat. Our group of 14 pulled a few tables together, and we took turns grabbing food. My husband and I decided to split a green papaya salad and a chicken sandwich with fries from two different vendors. After lunch, we all walked along the water to one of the island’s hills for a panoramic view. We then took the kids to a few of the playgrounds before cooling down with beers for the adults and ice cream for the kids (and some of the adults, too).

Ferries back to Brooklyn run hourly, so we picked a departure time and made one final stop to Castle Williams. The structure is a 19th-century fort on the island. We strolled through, then made our way to the ferry.

Once back at our friends’ apartment, we all gathered on their terrace and enjoyed wine, beer and pizza from Wheated. It was the perfect end to the day!

— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director