Fall Walks In NYC's Largest Park, Then Clam Pies
Shoreline trails on Long Island Sound, then a freezer-free Italian and Puerto Rican kitchen on City Island for dinner.
🗺️ Pelham Bay Park to City Island Pizza Company
🍂 Walk the Long Island Sound shore first
Pelham Bay Park covers more ground than any other park in New York City, and fall turns its shoreline paths into the main event. Ride the 6 train to the end of the line, then build a loop past the monuments, the Orchard Beach promenade, and the marshes along Long Island Sound. The park opens daily from 6 AM to 10 PM, with free parking for drivers and grills for rent near the picnic areas. Pack a warm layer for the walk along the water.
🍕 Cross the bridge for dinner
From the park, the Bx29 bus or a short drive crosses the bridge onto City Island, where City Island Pizza Company sits on City Island Avenue. The kitchen blends Italian and Puerto Rican roots and works without a freezer. Order a clam pie, then look past the pizza to the lobster roll dressed in butter and herbs and the tres leches tiramisu mash-up. Dinner starts at 5 PM Wednesday through Friday and at 3 PM on weekends, with bar stools, tables, and outdoor seating.
🧭 One easy afternoon in the East Bronx
Run this route Wednesday through Sunday, the only days the pizza kitchen opens. Start at the park around 1 PM, give the shoreline two to three hours, then ride over the bridge for an early dinner. The hop to City Island covers only a couple of miles, and the park and the island share one bus line. Save the walk for a dry day, with the shore paths open to the wind. Trails first and a warm table second turn the outing into a weekend escape.
