Fort Lee, NJ Outdoor Activities

Miles into the Pacific Ocean, Harbor Breeze Cruises' captain tells a story. He speaks of Pacific gray whales making the journey from the Bering Sea in Alaska to Scammon's Lagoon in Baja California, Mexico, right when—as if on cue—a whale breaks the water's surface. Its blowhole fires a plume of water into the air as sightseers, spread across two decks, feast upon views of the majestic creature and their camera shutters snap furiously to capture the moment.

Up to 80-feet-long, Harbor Breeze's double-decker vessels allow groups to visit the habitats of a diverse group of marine wildlife; tours often spy whale species from blue to orca, dolphins as they leap into the air, and harbor seals as they sign traffic signals to passing boats. Aside from tours, Harbor Breeze Cruises also charters boats for weddings and memorials.

Groups of tourists walk past the current dwelling places of some of the area’s notable residents, such as Addison Cairns Mizner, Paul Ilyinsky, and Henry Morrison Flagler. Unlike the case with traditional celebrity-sighting tours, however, all of these men died decades ago. Their spooky hauntings frame the path of Ghosts of Palm Beach’s walking tours, during which knowledgeable guides share local folklore and paranormal encounters. Stops can include everything from Palm Beach Town Hall to high-fashion shops such as Gucci, Chanel, and Saks Fifth Avenue, where the ghosts still try to buy handbags for a dollar and two bits.

For more than 75 years, Olinville Arms Co. has accommodated New York's law-enforcement team with high-quality uniforms, equipment, and shooting practice space. Training classes enlighten students on the intricacies of handling firearms and performing security with classes on topics including armed service, cuffing, and baton use. To ensure clean and comfortable environs, a high-tech air-filtration system funnels gun smoke and profane one-liners away from patrons down range. In addition to safety and skills courses, Olinville's staff revamps outmoded firearms with gunsmithing services such as barrel installation, re-bluing services, and general repairs.

The party planners at Barcrawls.com coordinate pub-crawls throughout the year to commemorate holidays and work-free weekends. Hosted in more than 50 cities, events entice prospective participants with drink specials at each city's best watering holes and garden hoses.

Each year, the coaches from Kiddie Soccer introduce thousands of toddlers between the ages of 3-1/2 and 6 to the most popular team sport in the world—soccer—through safe, fun classes in a constructive environment. For the first 50 minutes of each session, groups of up to 12 kids engage in team-building games such as Red Light Green Light or Sharks and Minnows—similar to adults' Hot Potato Famine or Foxes and Attorneys—to build physical and cooperative skills and, above all, have fun. Kids then split off into teams for a 10-minute friendly competition, enjoying themselves while learning teamwork under the coach's watchful, supportive eye.

Established in 1998, Cornucopia Cruise Line's three ships transport guests along the New York City harbor or the inland waterways along the New Jersey and Staten Island shorelines. Each ship is appointed with uplit ceilings, brass railings, hardwood dance floors, and glittering lights. During evening cruises, wait staff serve a sit-down dinner of surf-and-turf entrees as the DJ's tunes coax diners onto the dance floor. Excursions on Saturday and Sunday sate guests with buffet-style lunch or brunch, respectively. The ships range in size from the Cornucopia Majesty's vast 1,200-person capacity to the Cornucopia Destiny's intimate 250-person quarters, where guests should wear business-casual attire, eschewing gym shoes on their feet and flip-flops on their hands.:m]]