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Staying Fit in the City

From biking tours to hotel fitness programs, travelers to New York City have many options for fitness in the city.

Sticking to a workout routine can be tough while away from home. But visitors to New York will soon discover that keeping up a fitness regimen can be as varied and exciting as the city itself, from hitting the hotel facilities to running in Central Park to learning how to sail.

Hotels for Good Health

An array of accommodations with fitness facilities makes it easy for out-of-towners to stay in tip-top shape. The Affinia Dumont (150 E. 34th St., 212-481-7600, www.affinia.com), an executive fitness suite hotel, offers a comprehensive menu of services and amenities such as access to an Oasis Day Spa, a wellness library, an in room Fit Kit, and a Fitness Concierge who will coordinate appointments with personal trainers, help with exercise equipment, and book spa services.

Enjoy a fun cardio or strength training session at the health club at The Carlyle (35 E. 76th St., 212-744-1600, www.thecarlyle.com). On the third floor, this modern facility features treadmills, Stairmasters, bicycles, free weights, and Keiser resistance machines. Certified personal trainers are available for individual training sessions or you can opt for a Pilates or yoga class. Steam showers and a dry sauna do wonders after a workout, and massage therapists are on call to help alleviate sore muscles.

The Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan (1605 Broadway, 212-977-4000, www.manhattan.crowneplaza.com) has an on-site New York Sports Club. Highlights of the 29,000-squarefoot fitness center include an indoor lap pool, steam room, sauna, weights, and cardiovascular machines. Group fitness classes and nutritional counseling are also available.

Exercise enthusiasts can opt for private in-room fitness or yoga instruction or choose to work out in Central Park with their own personal trainer when staying at the Four Seasons Hotel New York (57 E. 57th St., 212-758-5700, www.fourseasons.com). At the beautiful Fitness Center and Spa, certified trainers help guests navigate the weight training and cardiovascular equipment and strength training machines.

The Kimberly Hotel (145 E. 50th St., 212-702-1600, www.kimberlyhotel.com) keeps guests active with a complimentary membership to the New York Health and Racquet Club during their stay. This network of sports facilities features swimming pools, whirlpools, saunas, steam baths, squash, racquetball, strength training, cardiovascular equipment, and more than 600 free weekly classes such as power cycling, step, and karate kickboxing.

It’s easy to achieve a buff body at Le Parker Meridien Hotel’s (118 W. 57th St., 212-245- 5000, www.parkermeridien.com) 15,000- square-foot total fitness center, called Gravity. Strength training reaches new levels with state-of-the-art machines and good old-fashioned free weights. For those in the mood for a little cardio conditioning, there’s cycling, elliptical trainers, and stair climbers. A rooftop swimming pool and basketball and racquetball courts provide additional stress relief.

At the Mandarin Oriental, New York (80 Columbus Circle, 212-805-8800, www.mandarinoriental.com), there’s a wide range of treadmills, stationary bikes, Stairmasters, and elliptical machines, as well as free weights and machines for shoulder presses, leg extensions, and chess presses. Afterwards, be sure to book an appointment at The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental to alleviate the aches.

The only hotel in New York City with an indoor tennis court is the Millennium U.N. Plaza New York (44th Street & 1st Avenue, 212-758-1234). Here you can find a unique fitness experience to encourage a healthy life style with a heated indoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, sauna, massage, and reflexology services.

The New York Palace Hotel (455 Madison Ave., 212-888-7000, www.newyorkpalace.com) energizes the mind, body, and spirit with its palatial 7,000-square-foot Spa and Fitness center, overlooking St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Complimentary exercise clothing, including cross-training sneakers, as well as personal TV monitors with headphones are available for guests’ use.

See results in the privacy of your own suite at the RIHGA Royal New York (151 W. 54th St., 212-307-5000, www.rihgaroyalny.com). There’s no excuse to skip the exercise routine with a Bowflex strength training machine, exercise accessories, videos, music CDs, and more available right in the room. Those who need a little inspiration may call down to the concierge and arrange a personal training session.

Heed the good advice of the Village People, and head to one of the 17 health and wellness facilities that are part of the YMCA of Greater New York (citywide, 877-692-9622, www.ymcanyc.org). Branches in all five boroughs offer access to 26 gymnasiums, 25 handball and racquetball courts, 21 pools, 14 aerobic studios, and 11 running-walking tracks, not to mention a host of fun group classes that range from Absolute Abs to Yoga.

The New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway, 212-398-1900, www.nymarriottmarquis.com) provides inspiration with its “Great Health-Fit for You” program, an initiative that features in-room fitness and workout options designed for every body type. Hotel guests can request The BodyRev, a portable exercise device and video routine created by a former Navy Seal; the BodyWedge21, which provides a full body workout using an incline to target abs, buttocks, thighs, triceps, chest, and lower back; or Michael Sena’s Traveling Trainer, quality resistance tubes that come with easy-to-follow instructions.

The Trump International Hotel & Tower (1 Central Park West, 212-299-1000, www. trumpintl.com) accommodates every workout style with its 6,000-square-foot Fitness Center and Spa. In addition to great exercise equipment, guests can select from unique services such as MyFitnessExpert.com, a personal exercise program that is accessible over the Internet; one-on-one sessions with certified personal trainers; comprehensive fitness evaluation; and nutritional counseling.

There are many other hotels in New York with fitness facilities on property. Check the website of your favorite hotels for more information.

Let’s Get Physical

Visitors–whether hardcore athletes or occasional exercisers–looking for activity outside their hotels will discover a wealth of choices, from flying high on a trapeze to biking over the Brooklyn Bridge.

It’s A Runner’s World

Go the distance on the streets and park trails of New York City, which offers the most green space of any large city in America. From Central Park to Queens’ Flushing Meadows- Corona Park and from Prospect Park in Brooklyn to the Bronx’s Pelham Bay Park, the great outdoors offers the perfect opportunity to build up endurance, train for a marathon, or jog just for the joy of it. The New York Road Runners (212-860-4455, www.nyrr.org), the organization that produces the ING New York City Marathon, hosts various events, races, and classes in all five boroughs.

Biking Through the Boroughs

Another active way to explore New York City is on two wheels. Central Park Bicycle Tours and Rentals (2 Columbus Circle, corner of 59th St. and Broadway, 212-541-8759, www.centalparkbiketour.com) offers several options including the Central Park Movie Scenes Bike Tour, Central Park Picnic Tour, and the Manhattan Island Bike Tour. If you prefer to go solo, bike rentals are also available. To discover New York City’s other boroughs by bike, join Bike the Big Apple (877-865-0078, www.bikethebigapple.com) for tours including the Brooklyn Chic Bike Tour and the Surprising Bronx Bicycle Tour.

Walk This Way

Walking tours are a great way to simultaneously cover ground and learn something new. This is just a sampling: for a full list of companies giving tours go to nycvisit.com/thingstodo. Visitors that want to explore the boroughs outside of Manhattan can now take a step in the right direction. More NYC Walking Tours (888-692-6673, www.morenyc.info) helps visitors discover the rich history, natural beauty, and diverse cultural attractions found throughout Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. Tours depart from New York City’s Official Visitor Information Center at 810 Seventh Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets in Midtown Manhattan.

Big Onion Walking Tours (212-439-1090, www.bigonion.com) leads informative excursions throughout the boroughs on tours including the New York Discovered Tour and the Official Gangs of New York tour. Harlem Heritage Tours (212-280-7888, www.harlemheritage.com) shines the spotlight on one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods, covering jazz, gospel, hip hop, shopping, art, and history. In the Bronx, SusanSez NYC Walkabouts (917-509-3111, www.susansez.com) takes groups to top borough destinations such as City Island, Arthur Avenue, and Woodlawn.

Stay on Course

Many people are surprised to learn that there are many opportunities to golf in the Big Apple. American Golf Corporation manages eight public courses throughout the boroughs, with online booking available on www.nycteetimes.com. At the Dyker Beach Golf Course (86th St. and 7th Ave., 718-836-9722) in Brooklyn, players will enjoy their sport with stunning views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

In the Bronx, the Pelham Bay-Split Rock Golf Course (870 Shore Rd., Bronx, 718-885-1258) offers two 18-hole courses, ideal for all levels. Easily accessible by subway, the Van Cortlandt Golf Course (Van Cortlandt South and Bailey Ave., 718-543-4595) celebrated its centennial in 1995 and remains one of the area’s most exciting courses to play.

The 18-hole Clearview Park Golf Course (202-12 Willets Point Blvd., Bayside, 718-225-4653) in Queens features open fairways. On Staten Island, the Silverlake Golf Course (915 Victory Blvd., 718-447-5640) can be tough with the occasional tight fairway; a patio and clubhouse offer the perfect setting to relax after a challenging round. Also in the area are the South Shore Golf Course (200 Huguenot Ave., 718-984-0101) and La Tourette Golf Course (1001Richmond Hill Rd., 718-351-1889).

Alternatives for the Adventurous

Compass Rose (Liberty Landing Marina, 80 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City, NJ, 973-378-8011) caters to the sailing set with a fun-filled program that encourages full-on participation. Captain Matthew Carmel provides his “crew” with informal instruction and helpful guidance on skills such as maneuvering off the dock, taking a trick at the helm, handling lines, and trimming the sails. While prior experience is helpful, it is not required. 

Soar through the air and build strength at the Trapeze School New York (Hudson River Park btwn. Piers 34 and 26, 917-797-1872, www.trapezeschool.com). Students learn how to hang from their knees and catch. Flying trapeze classes are two hours long and are taught in groups of up to 10 people.

Work That Body

Gold’s Gym (250 54th St., 212-307-7760, www.goldsgym.com) in Midtown Manhattan offers $25 day passes and a flat rate for memberships of less than one month. This multi-level club has a large selection of free weights and more than 65 classes a week.

Chelsea Piers (23rd St. and Hudson River Park, 212-336-6800, www.chelseapiers.com) is the ultimate paradise for athletes. This 30-acre, waterfront sports complex features a golf driving range, roller and ice skating rinks, a skate park, bowling center, batting cages, swimming pool, and facilities for gymnastics, rock climbing, soccer, and basketball.

Get Into the Groove

Learn how to move from the best teachers at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (211 W. 61st St., 212-405-9000, www.alvinailey.org). The Ailey Extension, a new public dance and fitness program, invites students of all levels to try a range of disciplines including hip hop, West African, Salsa, and Tango, as well as yoga and Pilates. Another good option is the Introductory Private Lesson Special at Dance Times Square (156 W. 44th St., 3rd Floor, 212-994-9500, www.dancetimessquare.com), which offers two half-hour private lessons for $60. Beginners learn the basic elements of dance and receive critiques from professional instructors.

Get the Gear

Suit up at Modell’s Sporting Goods (citywide, www.modells.com), a family-owned retail chain where you can find athletic apparel, footwear, and all types of equipment. Whether you’re running a marathon or just around the corner, the Super Runners Shop (Citywide, www.superrunnersshop.com) provides the latest shoe styles.

Edited by Erika Wright

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