Embrace Independence This July 4th With ReachNow
July 4th is upon us once again. The hunt for that one friend of a friend with a great rooftop view of the Macy’s fireworks is on. But instead of stressing out over how we can have fun while staking out that spot in Brooklyn Bridge Park all day, maybe we should take some inspiration from the day and explore some historically significant (albeit hard-to-reach) places with ReachNow’s expanded Brookyn car-share service.
As long as you return the car to the Brooklyn Home Area, you can go wherever you like, up to 400 miles per day. And if the car’s parked, you’ll pay the discounted $.30/minute rate.
This is a great stop for anyone feeling extra patriotic. Built as a summer home in 1765 by a British colonel and his wife, it’s an important site in New York Revolutionary history. From the website:
“At the time of the American Revolution, Mary and Roger had to leave their home because they were Tories (colonists loyal to Britain). After they left, George Washington and his Patriot officers moved in and made the house their headquarters for five weeks in the autumn of 1776. It was a strategic location because the house offered a great view of Manhattan and both the Hudson and Harlem Rivers.”
That great view is just as good of a reason to pay the mansion a visit today as it was then. And you’ll have a nice riverside drive on your way up.
Get a glimpse into New York City’s agrarian past by visiting its largest tract of undisturbed farmland. Dating back to 1697, they offer hayrides, fresh produce at their farmstand Wednesdays-Sundays, and animals galore! And getting to Floral Park with a car is a cinch.
If history isn’t really your thing and you’re looking to celebrate the day with a good ole fashioned beach cool-down, there are some great destinations you may not have considered because getting there can be a pain, if not downright impossible.
A mere 20 minutes away by car, Jacob Riis Park in the Rockaways can’t really be beat. It has a huge parking area (at $10/day), a playground, and if you forget to bring food, there are tons of options from Riis Beach Bazaar. The Bazaar also hosts events throughout the summer, including The Get Summered Beach Party on July 4th.
While there, you can also get some history in by hopping over to Fort Tilden, which defended New York Harbor from 1917 to 1974, when the Army transferred it to the National Park Service.
Fire Island (Robert Moses State Park & Smith Point County Park)
Further out but inevitably quieter is Fire Island. While the more well-known, central areas of the island are famously car free, you can actually drive to the beach there.
On the western end—closer to us—is Robert Moses State Park. If you park in Field 5 (also $10/day), you can either hit the beach right there or you’ll be a ¾-mile walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach. You can walk up to the top of the lighthouse and the views promise to be amazing. There’s also a great playground by Field 5. Here’s a good rundown of the experience.
To the east—about 30 minutes further out—there’s Smith Point County Park. Among other things, the park is home to a nationally recognized corps of lifeguards, which should put your mind at ease about safety.
Both parks are great entry points to exploring some of the wilderness Fire Island has to offer. Want to sleep under the stars? Both have campgrounds, albeit only with permits. And if you’d like to keep your car overnight, ReachNow’s $110 day rate is a great option. And, as always, the rate includes gas and insurance.
So this July 4th, indulge in history. Or indulge in a beach day. And do it while indulging in your fully loaded ReachNow BMW or MINI.
This post was sponsored by ReachNow. If you would like to reach our readers, please contact us.