Call to confirm (or cancel) the evening before the tour to rule out last-minute changes. Get to bus or train station 15 minutes early to buy tickets and find gate or track on time or you may miss the tour.

All New York City park tours usually run from 11:45 AM sharp to 3:45 PM. Pack your gear the night before, give yourself extra time in case of delays, and BE ON TIME!

ALLEY POND PARK, Douglaston, Queens—Meet at Northern Blvd. & Springfield Blvd. (219th St.).

A. Best way from Manhattan: Penn Station 11:19 to 11:46 AM LIRR train to Bayside. Go to parking lot on Manhattan-bound side of the station and wait for car pickup. Return 4:56 to 5:22 PM.

B. F train to 169th St. or E train to Sutphin Blvd. & Archer Ave., #31 bus (30-min. ride), departing every 30 min., to Northern Blvd. Walk uptown along Northern Blvd. to 219th St. (Springfield Blvd.) and Northern Blvd.

C. #7 train (slow local) to Main St., Flushing. #12 bus (25-min. ride) on Roosevelt Ave. to Springfield Blvd. Bus departs every 25 min.

D. Grand Central Pkwy. to Cross Island Expy., north (toward Whitestone Bridge). Exit Northern Blvd. west, take Northern Blvd. several blocks to Springfield Blvd. (219th St.).

APPALACHIAN TRAIL.1, Pawling, NY—Meet at Native Landscapes, Inc., 991 Route 22.

A. Grand Central Station 7:46 to 9:35 AM train to Pawling. Take a cab, 5 minute ride. Return from Appalachian Trail stop 2:44 to 4:41 PM.

B. Saw Mill River Pkwy. north, Rte. 684 north to end, continue north on Rte. 22, left at small Appalachian Trail hiker's crossing sign, a few yards south of the Rte. 22 parking area (with a larger sign) north of Pawling and south of Wingdale.

A. Grand Central Station 9:48 to 11:53 AM train to Tenmile River. Take a 5-minute cab ride to Backcountry Outfitters. Return 4:28 to 6:41 PM.

B. Hutchinson River Pky to Rte. 684 north 18.3 miles, , becomes NY-22 north, 18.3 miles, straight onto NY-55 2 miles, left on Dog Trail Corners Rd.3 miles, becomes Bulls Bridge Rd. 0.8 miles, left onto Kent Rd./US-7 3.9 miles, left onto Bridge St./CT-341. 0 mile, Backcountry Outfitters is on the left.

BOSCOBEL RESERVATION, Rte. 9D, Garrison, NY—Tours run hourly between 1 and 4 PM.

A. Grand Central Station train to Cold Spring, walk south 1.5 miles to Boscobel or call (845) 265-8294 in advance to arrange for a car to bring you to Boscobel.

B. Rte. 287, Taconic State Pky. north to the Cold Spring, Route 301 west exit, Rte. 301 into the village of Cold Spring, left at the traffic light onto Rte. 9D south, 1 mile, Boscobel is on the right.

CENTRAL PARK, Manhattan—Confirm alternate meeting places beforehand. Park cars in lot, street parking's usually impossible.

A. C train to West 72nd St. Meet Central Park West and West 72nd St.

B. C train to 103rd St. Meet Central Park West and West 103rd St.

C. #6 train to 110 St. Meet 5th Ave. and East 106 St.

CRESTWOOD, Westchester—Meet 12 PM on the street outside the Crestwood RR station.

A. Grand Central Station 10:25 to 11:03 AM train to Crestwood. Return 4:21 to 5:03 PM.

B. Triboro Bridge to Bronx, Bruckner Expy. east, Bronx River Pkwy. north (bear right to avoid Sprain River Pkwy.), exit Leewood Dr., go through tunnel, immediate right on Dale Rd. to Crestwood RR station.

CROTON AQUEDUCT, Dobbs Ferry, NY—Meet at 10 AM or 1:10 PM, Main St. & Cedar St.

A. Grand Central Station 8:56 to 9:31 or 12:20 to 1:02 PM train to Dobbs Ferry. Walk north on Main St. to Cedar St. Return 12:20 to 1:07 PM or 3:51 to 4:31 PM.

B. Saw Mill River Pkwy. exit 17, go west on Ashford Ave. 1.5 miles, bear right onto Cedar St., go one block to Main St.

FOREST PARK, Kew Gardens, Queens—Meet at stone wall & stairs, near the Parks Dept.'s Overlook Building, Union Turnpike and Park Lane (not Park Lane South).

A. Middle of E or F train to Union Tpke.-Kew Gardens. Exit south side Queens Blvd. Walk uphill (south) along Union Turnpike for 3 blocks to Park Lane.

B. Grand Central Pkwy. to Queens Blvd., left onto Queens Blvd. service road, right on Union Tpke., left at 1st light on Park Ln. (if you reach Metropolitan Ave., you've gone too far), park on street.

I-95, exit 21, right on Mill Plain Rd 0.2 mile, bear left onto Post Rd./US-1 0.4 mile, left on Unquowa Rd., café on left.

No trains run on the line to Bethel so early on weekends.

HUNTINGTON STATE PARK, Redding, CT—Meet at 1 PM at the park parking lot.

A. Grand Central Station 11:07-12:37 AM train to Branchville. Take cab to the park (order in advance—15 minute drive). Return 5:02 to 6:38 PM.

B1. From the south:

From the South: Merritt to exit 44 (Toward CT-58, Fairfield/Redding). Turn left off the exit onto Congress Street, and take the next left on CT-58, headed North. Follow Rt. 58 for approximately 10 miles to Sunset Hill Road* (on the right), and turn right. (Slow for hairpin turn) Go about 1 mile to the park entrance, on the right.

*Note: Sunset Hill Road is about 1 mile past a 4-way stop at Cross Highway (on left) and Church Hill Road (on the right)

B2. From the north (Danbury):

Rte. 302 (Greenwood Ave. in Bethel), Rte. 58 south 1-1/4 mile, left on Sunset Hill Rd. 2-1/2 miles, park entrance on left.

INWOOD HILL PARK, Inwood, Manhattan—Meet in playground by Dyckeman St. (200th St.) & Broadway subway station, not in Inwood Hill Park.

A. A train to Dyckeman St. (200 St.). Cross Broadway and enter playground.

B. Henry Hudson Pkwy., east on Dyckeman St. (or Harlem River Dr., west on Dyckeman St.) to Broadway.

MARINE PARK, Brooklyn—Meet at Ave. U and Burnett St.

A. Q or F train to Ave. U, B3 bus (10-min. wait, 15-min. ride) east along Ave. U toward Kings Plaza. Get off at Burnett St. Don't miss your stop!

B. Belt Pkwy., Flatbush Ave. north, left on Ave. U, go west 1/4 mile to Burnett St.

A. Grand Central Station 8:07 AM to 9:28 AM train to Wilton. Take cab to the park (call cab in advance.) Return 2:12 to 3:38 PM.

B. I-95 exit 15, US-7 N 4.0 miles, left onto Grist Mill Rd. 0.2 mile,right on Belden Hill Rd. 2.6 miles, left on Drum Hill Rd. 1.1 miles, bear left onto Ridgefield Rd./CT-33 2.6 miles, right onto Millstone Rd. 0.8 mile, the farm's on the left.

MUTTONTOWN PRESERVE, East Norwich, Long Island—Meet at 11:45 AM at 4 Muttontown Lane.

A. LIRR 9:27 AM Penn Station, 10:12 Flatbush Ave., 10:48 AM Jamaica. Arrive at Syosset at 11:19 AM. Or 11:51 AM Penn Station, 11:42 Flatbush Ave., 12:13 Jamaica. Arrive at Syosset 12:44 PM. Sit in the last car. Cross to westbound side of track for the ticket office. Return 4:13 to 5:08 Penn Station, 5:12 Flatbush Ave., 4:45 PM Jamaica. Or 4:47 to 5:39 Penn Station, 5:42 Flatbush Ave., 5:17 PM Jamaica.

B. B. LIE exit 40E, left (north) on Rte. 106 north, bear right at fork to remain on Rte. 106, left on Walnut Ave. (just before Rte. 25A), left on Muttontown Lane into lot.

A1. Grand Central Station 7:46 to 9:35 AM train to Pawling.
5-minute cab ride to Native Landscapes. Return from Appalachian Trail RR stop 2:44 to 4:41 PM.

A2. Grand Central Station 9:48 to 11:38 AM train to Appalachian Trail. Return 4:44 to 6:41 PM.

B. Saw Mill River Pkwy. north, Rte. 684 north to end, continue north on Rte. 22, park in front of nursery on left.

A. Grand Central Station 12:07 PM to 1:14 PM train to New Canaan. Take a cab to the nature center. Return 4:27 to 5:38 PM.

B. Driving directions

PRIVATE WOODLANDS, Redding, CT—Meet 12:35 PM at the Branchville RR Station

A. Grand Central Station 11:07 AM to 12:37 AM train to Branchville. Return 5:02 to 6:38 PM.

B. Henry Hudson Pkwy. north, Saw Mill River Pkwy. north, Hutchinson River Pkwy. north (or Whitestone Bridge to Hutch.), Merritt Pkwy. north, exit 39B, follow signs onto Rte. 7 north, 15 feet before sign "Jct. 102," turn right into RR station. If you miss turn, turn right at traffic light at Rte. 102 and make another immediate right into RR station.

PROSPECT PARK, Brooklyn—Meet at stone benches at Grand Army Plaza entrance.

A. #2 train to Grand Army Plaza or Q train to 7th Ave., Brooklyn, walk south past the traffic circle to park entrance.

B. Manhattan Bridge, or Brooklyn-Queens Expy.'s Tillary St. exit, south on Flatbush Ave. to Grand Army Plaza.

PUTNAM STATE PARK, Redding, CT—Meet 1 PM in the parking lot by the statue (not the lot near the lake).

A. Grand Central Station 11:07 AM to 12:37 AM train to Branchville. Take cab to the park (call cab in advance.) Return 5:02 to 6:38 PM.

B. Merritt Pkwy. (Rte. 15), Rte. 7 north, right on Rte. 107, left into lot on Rte. 107, 1/2 mile past the merge with Rte. 58.

A. Grand Central Station 7:50-9:18 AM train to Brewster, take taxi to the farm. Return 1:16-2:38 PM

B. Hutchinson River Parkway north, Rte. 684 north 24 miles, exit 8, right on Hardscrabble Rd. 3 miles, bear left on June Rd. 0.8 mile, right on Starlea Rd. 0.3 mile, left on Starr Ridge Rd., 0.2 mile

SAXON WOODS, White Plains, NY—Meet 10 AM at parking lot off Mamaroneck Ave., north of the Hutchinson Pkwy., the lot by the swimming pool (there's another lot south of the Hutch — don't go there!)

A. Grand Central Station 8:37 to 9:16 AM train to Mamaroneck, exit rear of platform. Take the #60 bus toward White Plains 10 minutes to the Saxon Woods Pool stop, or walk north along Mamaroneck Ave 30 minutes. Return 12:36 to 1:19 PM.

A1. Grand Central Station 9:20 AM to 10:10 AM train to Tarrytown. Take cab to Stone Barns. Return 12:37 to 1:20 PM.

A2. Grand Central Station 11:51 AM to 12:28 PM train to Tarrytown. Take cab to Stone Barns. Return 3:39 to 4:21 PM.

B. By car

SUGAR POND, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY—Meet 10 AM at Hillside Elementary School, 120 Lefurgy Ave.

A. Grand Central Station 8:20 to 8:59 AM train to Hastings-on-Hudson, take cab to school. Return 11:23 AM to 12:07 PM.

B. Saw Mill River Pkwy. exit 15, Cliff St. (southbound only exit), right on Mt. Hope Blvd., right on Lefurgy Ave.

SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK, King's Park, LI—Meet at 12:30 PM at the parking lot by the bathhouse.

A. LIRR 10:27 to 11:54 AM from Penn Station, 10:12 AM from Flatbush Ave., 10:48 AM from Jamaica to Kings Park. Return 4:37 to 6:08 PM to Penn Station, 6:12 to Flatbush Ave., to 5:45 PM Jamaica. Take 10-minute cab ride to Sunken Meadow Park.

B. Northern State Pkwy. exit 45, Sunken Meadow State Pkwy., north on Sunken Meadow Parkway to Sunken Meadow Park, meet in the parking field closest to the bathhouse.

TARRYWILE PARK, Danbury, CT—Meet at 1 PM at the Southern Blvd. parking lot by the greenhouse near the red gate, not the main entrance, 70 Southern Blvd.

A. Grand Central Station 11:07 AM-12:58 PM train to Danbury. Take a cab to Tarrywile (5 minutes). Return 4:43-6:38 PM.

B. By car

A. Grand Central Station 11:07 AM to 12:37 AM train to Branchville. Take a cab to the park. Return 5:02 to 6:38 PM.

B1. From Route 53, turn onto Umpawaug Road and follow past the Fire House and Red Schoolhouse, continue up Umpawaug, Topstone is the second road on the right, park at Topstone Town Park about a mile down the road on the left.

B2. Merritt Parkway to Route 7 north. Turn right on Simpaug Road (not far past the Amish Outdoor Furnishings store) not far north of Branchville. Drive 0.6 of a mile and turn right onto Topstone Road (going through a one-lane tunnel). Drive 0.7 of a mile and turn left into the entrance for the parking area.