Pralls Island

It is a small island located west of Staten Island almost on the border with New Jersey but at the same time it is very interesting because there is no construction and you can simply go there to observe nature away from the madding crowd that New York provides with the exception of being able to enjoy also the views of the city that never sleeps.

What a beautiful place. Granted, it is not easy to get to but that is, for me, part of what makes it so wonderful. This part of the Kull is heavily trafficked by a lot of barges with tugs and even ships and our circumnavigation was taunted by one such tug captain that did not appreciate our presence in kayaks on his channel---even though we were safely transiting near shore well out of his way. There is a good, if brief overview of the history of the island in the guide book "The Other Islands of New York," as well as Shooters Island (also along this trip if you do a Staten Island circumnavigation) and others. In addition to the crab apple trees (see the accompanying photos) and many varieties of flora, there is plenty of bird life here too. My favorite thing though was simpler and that is the geology of the beach, which is made up of brick colored rock, likely leftovers of the brownstone deposits ground down over the eons in the area or hardened red clay pebbles (not sure); but quite beautiful.

Best Place!!!!