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One Tank Trips: City Island, NYC

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - In this week's installment of One Tank Trips, we won't even leave the city. WCBS 880's Alex Silverman took a drive to City Island, which is part of the Bronx.

When you travel through Pelham Bay Park and then over the City Island Bridge, you'll be transported a world away.

"I come across that bridge and it's like a weight comes off my shoulders," City Island businessman Paul Klein told Silverman.

One Tank Trips: City Island, NYC

"You can see the fish jumping and you feel the breeze off the Sound," said Skip Giacco, who heads the City Island Chamber of Commerce.

City Island Bridge
City Island Bridge (credit: Alex Silverman / WCBS 880)

The island is a place where the gas station sells live bait and the familiar green street signs are the only reminder you're still in New York City.

SEE: More Photos Of City Island

"You feel like suddenly you're in New England or some place like that," Silverman remarked to Giacco.

"That's the response of most people," Giacco said.

There's a museum in an old public school, which is only open on weekends.

"Artifacts of ships, of ship building, the entire nautical history of City Island," said Klein, who owns a jewelry and gift shop, one of a bunch of unique little stores on the main drag - City Island Avenue. "You got Captain Mike's dive shop. You can learn how to scuba dive."

City Island Nautical Museum
City Island Nautical Museum (credit: Alex Silverman / WCBS 880)

There's also seafood everywhere you look.

"City Island is known for its restaurants. So they can't slack off," Giacco said.

Plus, there's horseback riding and Orchard Beach, which has more parking spots than the island has people.

"Even when I go away on vacation, I come back and I kind of think, why did we leave," Klein said. "You know, this really is a pretty special place."

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