New York and New Jersey Surroundings

🌳 RailExplorer Cycling Adventure 🌳 Some of you might have heard about the Rail Explorer cycling adventure. This weekend, I went with Master Zhang to experience it. We visited the venue located in the Catskills in upstate New York. 🌲 Since we booked in a hurry, we only managed to get the earliest slot on Saturday morning. It took us less than two hours to drive from North Jersey. Although waking up early was a bit tough, seeing the morning mist in the mountains and the relatively cool temperature was definitely worth it—an added bonus! Rail Explorer also offers sunset golden hour rides and lantern rides at night, which sound equally fascinating. The entire venue is very decent, and they provide infant seats for little ones. After checking in, you'll receive a wristband, and your seat will be pre-assigned. We chose a two-seater car. The right seat has the brake, so it's recommended that the more experienced passenger sits on the right. 😂 (But don't worry, it's very safe.) Each seat also comes with a long-handled umbrella, which is quite thoughtful. I also recommend bringing some snacks and drinks, as the cycling experience is very chill. Chatting and enjoying snacks truly enhances the spring outing vibe. ✨ The entire journey takes about two and a half hours. You'll travel along the old Ulster & Delaware railway line to the end and then return the same way. There are a few intersections along the way, all of which are manned by staff. When we went, there were lots of wildflowers, and we even encountered baby birds that had fallen onto the tracks twice. Everyone carefully avoided them, showing a lot of love. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend it for a weekend adventure. 💚🤍 Lastly, if you're heading to the Catskills, you can also visit the Emerson Kaleidoscope, a quirky attraction just a 5-minute drive away. It's said to be the world's largest kaleidoscope, and the ticket is only a few dollars. The small mall inside even sells various Jellycat products. 🐱 That's it for today's notes. I hope you have a great time! 🌿 📍 Rail Explorers: Catskills Division 💰 Ticket Prices: Two-seater car—$95 weekdays, $105 weekends; Four-seater car—$175 weekdays, $195 weekends ✨ Remember to arrive 30 minutes early. #NY #NJ #NewJerseyLife #NYCSurroundings #NJSurroundings #NYC #SpringOuting #NewJersey #NYCWeekend #NYCLife #RailExplorers #Catskills #NYCCatskills #WeekendGetaway