New York
Launch at Liberty State Park. (You can find it with a GPS) Free parking and restrooms. Rental kayak companies regularly launch here so come early to avoid them. Launch from a small beach on the right shoreline as you as facing the statue. Great place to launch into calm protected water. Paddle out to the statue but stay outside the buoys or the police will chase you down. Also see Ellis Island. GO EARLY!! The ferry's start running around 7 and they really churn the water in the harbor. Traffic gets really heavy throughout the day. Try to get out of the harbor by 6:45 and you will have calm water to yourself all morning. Fantastic trip. There is no better way to see the statue. More Pics here - Statue of Liberty - 5
The Finger Lakes
Owasco Lake - Have breakfast at Hunters Dinerant (18 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021) before you go to Emerson Park. (6914 E Lake Rd, Auburn, NY 13021) There is a small fee per car. Launch at the boat ramp and kayak across the crisp clear water of the the lake. The water is clear as pool water and you can see all the way to the bottom on most of the lake. There are often events held on Emerson Island. We went on fathers day and there was a great car show with hundreds of rare and valuable cars. Check the schedule of events before you go. See the pics here - Owasco Lake. - 4.5
Skaneateles Lake (pronounced skinny-atlas) - We launched at a public boat ramp off of Route 41A, 2 1/2 miles south of the Village of Skaneateles. Follow the signs. There are porta-potties and parking for about 30 cars, so go early. There are other launch sites including car top launching around the lake. Check the website here. The water is as clear and clean as any we have seen. It is calm in the morning but prone to wind waves and boat wakes as the day progresses. See the pics here - Skaneateles Lake - 3.5
Lake Seneca - There are boat ramps and launch sites all around the lake. We launched in Geneva at Lake Front Park on Lake Street off of Lakefront Dr (Hwy20 - Lakefront Park, Geneva, NY, 14456). There is parking for about 20 cars. There are restrooms in the visitor center. Launch from a boat ramp with dock. The water is clear and clean. It is calm in the morning but gets choppy through the day with increases in wind and boat traffic. See the pics here - Lake Seneca - 3
Lake Cayuga - launch at the state park 2678 Lower Lake Rd, Seneca Falls, NY 13148. Nice water that is usually calm. Restroom in the park and plenty of parking. Camping nearby. See more pics at - Lake Cayuga, NY - 3
Onondaga Lake, Syracuse, NY - there are a couple of launch sites around the lake. I launched at the public canoe and kayak launch on the north side of Lake Outlet, but there is another location near there here - 395 Long Branch Road, Syracuse. The water was calm when we were there. There is a nice park around the lake for a picnic. See more pics here - Onondaga Lake - 3.
Lake Ontario, Sodus Point, NY - launch on the beach at 7958 Wickham Blvd, Sodus Point, NY 14555. Plenty of parking and restroom facilities are nearby. The lake is big as an ocean and can be just as treacherous. Go in the morning on a calm weather day. See more pics here - Sodus Point - 2.5
Massachusetts
Boston Harbor, USS Constitution, MA - Go toward 255 Medford St,, Charlestown, MA 02129 then follow Terminal St around to Little Mystic Boat Ramp. We paddled south (turn right) after leaving Little Mystic Channel and follow the west shoreline to the USS Constitution. Also kayak in the Charles River while in Boston. Bring your bike and ride around the city and see the sites. There is a lot to see in this historic city. Don't forget to take a tour of the USS Constitution. See more pics at - Boston, USS Constitution - 4
Charles River, Christian Herter Park - launch at Charles River Canoe and Kayak Launch, 1071 Soldiers Field Rd, Boston, MA 02134. We headed east on the Charles river and paddled all the way past the "Salt and Pepper Bridge" (Longfellow Bridge) and stopped at the Esplanade for a picnic. A fantastic, scenic metropolitan kayak trip. See more pics here - Charles River, MA. 4
Plymouth, MA - we launched at small boat ramp right next to the Lobster Hut. We avoided the busier large ramp. (25 Town Wharf, Plymouth, MA 02360) The weather was not great so we made the trip short. We paddled over to see the Mayflower and out into big water for a short time. The water here can be really rough depending on the weather. Be prepared. This could be a very good deep water paddle area for the experienced kayaker. Take out and take at tour of the Mayflower and see the sites around Plymouth. We ate at the Lobster Hut and went to see the rock. See more pics here - Plymouth, MA