Governors Island is one of those places that somehow still feels like a hidden gem despite sitting right in the middle of New York Harbor. If you are planning to stay overnight with Collective Retreats, here are a few things worth knowing before you go.

There is something strange about Governors Island. Every time the ferry pulls away from Manhattan, it feels like crossing into another world. Not far away. Not dramatic. Just... different. The noise softens. The pace slows. The city begins to feel less like something surrounding you and more like something you are simply looking at from afar.

For our 40 for 40 location number 22, Rick and I decided to spend a night glamping on Governors Island with Collective Retreats, and somehow, despite being only minutes from Manhattan, it felt like we had fully left the city behind. That is one of the things I love most about Governors Island. It never really feels like New York. It feels quieter, slower, almost like a little forgotten town floating in the harbor.