Information
Landmark: World’s Fair MarinaCity: Queens
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
World’s Fair Marina, Queens, USA New York, North America
Overview
The World’s Fair Marina sits on Flushing Bay in Queens, just steps from Flushing Meadows–Corona Park and a short walk from Citi Field, with LaGuardia’s planes humming overhead.Right in the city’s heart, the marina buzzes with life, offering everything from boat repairs to a quiet dockside café, drawing boaters and curious visitors eager for a day on the water.The marina offers more than 250 slips for boats and yachts, with room to dock vessels as long as 120 feet-enough space for a sleek sailboat or a towering motor yacht.You’ll find 24-hour security, boat maintenance, and storage for recreational craft-everything from sleek kayaks to weathered wooden canoes.Visitors can grab a bite at the restaurant or step into the banquet hall, where the scent of fresh bread drifts through the air.Parking’s easy-there’s a free lot with about 450 spaces, so visitors can pull in and park without hassle, especially if they’re driving in.Bright lights keep the parking area safe, and clean restrooms inside offer a bit of extra comfort.The marina’s a launch spot for SeaStreak ferries, carrying fans to Highlands, New Jersey for certain New York Mets games-often with the smell of salt air clinging to the breeze.New York Water Taxi runs another ferry that links the marina with Pier 11 on Wall Street and the East 34th Street Ferry Landing in Manhattan, where gulls wheel overhead.During the U. S. Open and Mets games, this service hums with activity, drawing crowds of visitors eager to catch every moment.Kayaking and canoeing are on the menu here-the marina connects straight into the NYC Water Trail, letting paddlers slip their boats into the water with ease.The marina doesn’t rent kayaks, but just down the road at Meadow Lake, Wheel Fun Rentals will set you up with one, paddle in hand.The marina also offers spots to store your kayak or canoe, right beside the docks where the wood smells faintly of saltwater.Dragon boating has long thrived here, with the marina buzzing as teams launch sleek, painted boats and crowds gather each year for the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival.As of May 2024, with safety worries mounting and Pier 1’s boards splintering underfoot, the NYC Parks Department announced that dragon boaters have to leave the marina.About 20 clubs and 60 teams have felt the impact, with Pier 1 fenced off and echoing with the clang of a major reconstruction project.Pier 1 at the marina is shut down for a massive rebuild, with crews hauling lumber and steel, a job that’s expected to stretch on for years.During this time, smaller recreational boats can tie up at the dock for a short stay, though space is limited-larger vessels and commercial crafts won’t find a berth here.Over time, the reconstruction will upgrade the marina’s docks and walkways, making room for more boats and giving visitors easier access to the water.Getting there by car’s a breeze-just hop on the Grand Central Parkway, and you’ll roll right into the marina, where a wide, open lot waits with plenty of parking.By subway, hop off at Willets Point–Shea Stadium on the 7 train; from there, it’s roughly a 10‑minute stroll to the marina, past the smell of fresh popcorn from a corner stand.By bus, you can hop on the Q66, which stops just a short walk from the marina and offers visitors another easy way to get there.The World’s Fair Marina remains a popular hub in Queens for boating, water sports, and other leisure activities, with quick paths leading to the nearby park, lively events, and the rest of New York City.
