MY PICKS
CENTRAL PARK
Central Park Guided and Self-Guided Tours
Central Park Sightseeing Bike Tours & Rentals
Central Park Sightseeing: Full Day Bike Rental
On Location Tours Central Park TV and Movie Sites
Public Boathouse Kayaking in Central Park
OTHER PARKS
Hudson River Park
Governor's Island (Free Ferry) and Water Taxi Beach
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
Washington Square Park
Prospect Park & Zoo
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Union Square
Bryant Park
BOATS, FERRIES & CRUISES
New York Water Taxi
NY Water Taxi All Day Pass
Cruises and Boat Tours
3-Hour Circle Line Cruise Around Manhattan
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Clipper City Tall Ship Cruises Manhattan By Sail
Shearwater Classic Schooner – Manhattan by Sail
City Sightseeing Cruises: Twilight Sightseeing Cruise
Spirit Cruises in New York & New JerseyHarbor Lights Cruise
Night Tour
Best of NYC Cruise
World Yacht at Pier 81 Dinner or Sunday Brunch Cruise
Dinner Cruises via Viator
Dinner Cruises by Hornblower
Staten Island and Staten Island Ferry
BROADWAY & TV
On Location Tours UPTOWN New York TV and Movie Sites
Be Part of the Studio Audience TV Shows
Inside Broadway Tours
Walkin' Broadway Tour of the Theatre District
NBC Studio Tour
Discount Broadway Tickets
MUSEUMS & HISTORIC BUILDINGS
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Metropolitan Museum of Art & the Roof Garden Café and Martini Bar
The Cloisters & Fort Tyron Park
Hamilton Grange Museum & Morris Jumel Mansion & City College Campus & Sylvan Terrace
Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Museum
New York Transit Museum and the Old City Hall Subway Stop
New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
City Hall
Chrysler Building
Woolworth Building
Museum Mile on the Upper East Side
9-11 Memorial & Museum (Memorial is Free)
Slavery and Underground Railroad Tour
SHOPPING
New York Insider’s Shopping Tour
Union Square Farmer's Market
Fifth Avenue
57th Street Shopping
The Shops at Columbus Circle - Time Warner Center
Macy's Herald Square
Lord & Taylor
Siegel-Cooper Building - Bed, Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx and Filene's Basement
Manhattan Mall - former Gimbels Department Store site
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
Thrift Shops
Williamsburg Smorgasborg, East River State Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park Smorgasborg
Hell's Kitchen Flea Market
Chelsea Market
South Street Seaport
MoMA Design Store Soho
Thrift Shops
Century 21
WALKING TOURS
Manhattan Walking Tours
Free Tours by Foot
Self-guided Tours by Foot
Fashion Windows Walking Tour
Grand Central Terminal Audio Tour
Greenwich Village & Washington Square Park
High Line-Chelsea-Meatpacking
The High Line
Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy
Theatre District - Broadway Shows
The West Village
Hell's Kitchen
On Location Tours
OTHER TOURS & ATTRACTIONS
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour
Rockefeller Center Tour
Times Square
Union Square
Grand Central Terminal
United Nations Headquarters
Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Carnegie Hall
Empire State Building
Madison Square Garden
Flatiron Building
St. Patrick's Cathedral
The 7 Train
Take the M5 City Bus
New York Aquarium
Mast Brothers Factory Tour and Chocolate Tasting
Steinway & Sons Piano Factory
NYC Double Decker Tours
Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tours
NY Skyride
STATUE OF LIBERTY
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Ferry Ticket
NY Water Taxi Statue of Liberty Flex Pass
OBSERVATION DECKS
Best New York Skyline Views for Free
Top of the Rock
Empire State Building Observation Deck
Top of the Empire State Building
BROOKLYN
Brooklyn Brewery Tours
Brooklyn Smorgasborg/Flea Market
Brooklyn Bridge, Heights Promenade and Park
Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing Bike Tour
Brooklyn Bridge Sightseeing Full Day Bike Rental
The Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO Neighborhood Tour
Dumbo, Fulton Street and Furman Street
Fort Greene Park
CONEY ISLAND
Coney Island
Luna Park at Coney Island
MOST POPULAR
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60763-Activities-New_York_City_New_York.html
http://www.nyctrip.com/Pages/Index.aspx?PageID=2
New York City Parks - Most Popular
Central Park
Battery Park
Bryant Park
Union Square Park
Washington Square Park
Riverside Park
New York City Attractions - Most Popular
Empire State Building
Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty
Times Square
Rockefeller Center
Madison Square Garden
Ripley's Believe It Or Not
New York City Museums
Museum of Natural History
Guggenheim
Museum of Modern Art
Whitney Museum of American Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Brooklyn Museum
Liberty Science Center
National Academy Museum
Intrepid Air and Sea Museum
New York City Music and Theater
Broadway
Radio City Music Hall
Carnegie Hall
Webster Hall
Bowery Ballroom
The Metropolitan Opera
DESCRIPTION OF MY PICKS
Free Tours by Foot
Free Tours by Foot is proud to present the only pay-what-you-like food tours of New York City. You’ve done your research and you know that food tours cost $45 and upwards. If you are looking for a food tour that leaves your stomach full but your wallet empty, then Free Tours by Foot food tours may not be for you. If you are looking for a fun, filling and affordable way to take a bite of the Big Apple, come join us. We offer food tours every day of the week, but not all tours run daily. We recommend that you take a look at our full schedule to see whether or not a particular food tour listed below will be running when you are in NYC.
Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island
We took the ferry from New Jersey to Ellis Island, which is an island at the southern tip of Manhattan. It is a place which millions of people who migrated by ship to the Port of New York in the United States.
Whether you ogle it from Battery Park or while onboard the Staten Island Ferry, you must gaze upon the Statue of Liberty. Ascend to the tiny lookout area in her crown to get another great view. The world’s most iconic copper statue was designed by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi as a gift from France in celebration of our nation’s centennial in 1876. Lady Liberty stands an astounding 151-feet tall—with index fingers measuring eight feet long and eyeballs that are almost three feet wide.
There is a free half hour ride on the Staten Island Ferry with great views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island and the Lower Manhattan skyline on the smooth ride to Staten Island. You can stay on the island for a brief tour and then hop on another ferry for a ride back to New York City. On a hot day the breeze was very refreshing.
The Statue of Liberty is New York City's most recognizable landmark. To visit the monument, buy tickets online in advance of your trip at statuecruises.com. (Though you can see Lady Liberty from land, the short ferry ride to Liberty Island will bring you up close and personal.)
There is an extensive waiting list for the crown. If you are interested in crown access, you will have to reserve a ticket directly through Statue of Liberty.
The nearby Ellis Island Immigration Museum provides a fascinating view of a historic crossroads. At this site, visitors can explore the building that served as the first port of entry in the United States for approximately 12 million immigrants, as well as search ship manifests for passenger names in the American Family Immigration History Center.
9-11 Memorial
You can visit the waterfall memorial for free. The National September 11 Museum charges a fee.
Empire State Building
This is yet another icon of New York City. Glimpses of it are shown in movies and TV shows set in NYC. It is internationally famous.
To get to the top of the Empire State Building is a long wait because of the popularity of the attraction.
Instead, check out the observation deck at Rockefeller Center, which offers 360-degree views that are nearly as stunning and can be seen after a fraction of the wait.
Central Park
http://www.centralparknyc.org/maps/
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/
For first time visitors and seasoned New Yorkers alike, Official Central Park Tours are the best way to enhance your visit. Our expert guides highlight the Park’s history and design, horticulture and maintenance, and amazing story of this American masterpiece.
http://www.centralparknyc.org/tours/self-guided/walking-tours.html
There's more to do in Central Park than just do the routine walk, stroll, tai-ichi and running excercises. Couple of things you can do are Horse Coach or carriage riding, the TukTuk or tricycle ride,...
Whether you ride Central Park's vintage circa-1908 Carousel, sip Sancerre while admiring the view of the lake at the Boathouse Café, giggle at the sea lions and penguins in the zoo (sadly we just lost Gus, the famous swimming polar bear), go birding in the Ramble, or run laps with the locals around the Reservoir, this 843-acre oasis is the world’s biggest backyard and a must-explore experience during any visit.
Spanning 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, Central Park is one of the world's greatest urban oases, encompassing a diverse landscape of rolling fields, walking trails and tranquil bodies of water—all sculpted by human hands. Designed in the mid-19th century by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, Central Park is the centerpiece of the City's public parks system.
Among its attractions are the Central Park Zoo, Belvedere Castle and the Friedsam Memorial Carousel (which, weather permitting, operates seven days a week from April through October and intermittently the rest of the year). Sheep Meadow and the Great Lawn offer sprawling expanses where visitors can relax and enjoy the outdoors. In the winter, there's ice-skating at Trump Rink, which provides a picturesque backdrop for that classic cold-weather pastime (a second Trump-run skating spot, Lasker Rink, is in a quiet section at the northern edge of the park). In the summer, the Delacorte Theater hosts Shakespeare in the Park, outdoor performances of the Bard's work. Elsewhere, Rumsey Playfield serves as the primary home for SummerStage, a citywide free performing-arts festival featuring music, dance, theater and more. Notably, Rumsey hosts Metropolitan Opera recitals featuring singers and a pianist from the famed opera company. For more ideas on what to see while visiting the sprawling NYC green space, check out our slideshow of must-see Central Park sights.
Central Park Zoo Tickets
At the heart of the park, our sea lion gang can be seen sunning themselves or swimming amidst the Manhattan skyline. The exhibit features both above and below water viewing of some of our most acrobat swimmers. As of November 2013, the CPZ has King Penguins, Gentoo Penguins, Rockhopper Penguins and Chinstrap penguins.
http://pages.centralparkzoo.com/ticket-discount/
Horse-drawn Carriages
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/activities/horse-drawn-carriages.htmlhttp://www.centralpark-attractions.com/product/central-park-horse-carriage-rides/
Our most popular tour of Central Park! Make a reservation in advance to ensure that a Central Park Horse & Carriage Rides are available when you want it.
1-4 PERSONS 5-8 PERSONS
45 Mins 200.00 400.00
30 Mins 150.00 300.00
20 Mins 100.00 200.00
Central Park runs north to south from 110th street to 59th street and west to east from Central Park West to 5th Avenue.
Pedicabs and Gongolas
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/tours/pedicab.html
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/classes/gondola-italian-lessons.html
There are numerous subway stops in the Central Park area:
N, R, W Trains:
Located at 59th street
2, 3 Trains:
Located at Central Park North/110th street
B, C Trains:
Located at 110th street, 103rd street, 96th street, 86th street, 81st street, and 72nd street
A, B, C, D, 1 Trains:
Located at 59th street/Columbus Circle
Though it is typically easiest to get to Central Park by subway, there are also several bus routes available.
http://www.centralpark.com/guide/general-info/get-directions.html
New York Transit Museum
The MTA Transit Museum in New York City offers tours throughout the year of old stations, artwork in the stations and nostalgia rides. Generally tours sell out to museum members before being opened to the public, and some tours are for members only. Membership starts at $50 for an individual and $80 for a family of two adults and two children. Once a member, be ready on the day the tickets go on sale to purchase immediately. Some tours, like this Old City Hall Station tour, sell out in hours.The Old City Hall Station tour is only available to members.
The Old City Hall Subway Stop
On October 27, 1904, New York City's first subway station opened to the public. At City Hall. Service was discontinued on the last day of 1945, but interested visitors can still ogle its tiles, skylights, and chandeliers. Tours are led roughly 16 times a year to groups of about 40 people at a time. To attend, you have to have to be a member of the New York Transit Museum and be ready to act quickly. Tickets for the City Hall station tours cost $40 each and always sell out fast.
There is a (semi)-secret way for you to get a pretty sweet glimpse of the old City Hall station without going through all that. Simply get yourself on a downtown 6 train at the Brooklyn Bridge station and see if your conductor will be kind enough to let you stay aboard as the train passes by the erstwhile stop as it trundles towards the uptown platform. You'll be able to see a little something if it's a sunny day, but it's best to go on days when tours are scheduled because that's when the chandeliers will be turned on. But if you go on a tour day, don't be in the front car. You might encounter one of the official tours en route and start a row with the paying customers.
Thanks to
an immediate need to expand the original IRT line with newer, longer
cars, the City Hall Station was closed just a few decades later on
December 31, 1945. The gorgeous wrought iron skylights were covered over
and the station was boarded up. Although it
would spend the next few decades closed to the public, the tracks were
still used as the turnaround point for the 6 train after its final
Brooklyn Bridge stop. So, while the station was lost to the ages, it was
not forgotten. About a
decade ago, New York City began the long and arduous process of
restoring the City Hall Station as New York's transit museum, but
security concerns that started before September 11, 2001 fully killed
the idea after the twin towers fell. Still,
although it's not open to the general public, there's a way in-the-know
New York subway riders can still see this famous and beautiful
architectural glimpse at the city's past. The 6 train used to make all
passengers leave the train at the Brooklyn Bridge stop, but no longer. If you have a little extra time, you can stay on the train and view the City Hall Station as the train makes its turnaround.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
But perhaps one its greatest lures is the amusement park–like ride one takes to the island aboard the Roosevelt Island Tram (tel. 212/832-4555; www.rioc.com/transportation.htm). This is the aerial vehicle you have probably seen in countless movies, most recently Spider-Man. It originates at 59th Street and Second Avenue, costs $2.50 each way, and takes about 5 minutes to traverse the East River to Roosevelt Island, where there are a series of apartment complexes (part of the fun is peering into the apartments as you swoop by). The tram operates daily from 6am until 2am and until 3:30am on weekends.
Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pebble Beach, Brooklyn Bridge Park Smorgasburg, Squibb Park, Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn, Fulton Ferry Landing Pier
The Brooklyn Bridge offers spectacular views of lower Manhattan and other city landmarks (such as the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island) as you stroll its more-than-mile-long expanse. Heads up, though: You may run into the occasional cyclist trying to navigate through the crowds on the pedestrian walkway.
Brooklyn Bridge Park is a world-class waterfront park with rolling hills, riverfront promenades, lush gardens, and spectacular city views. Our list of amenities continues to grow as we work each day to revitalize this previously deteriorated industrial space and build a park that allows New Yorkers to rediscover the waterfront.
Ironically, one of the best ways to appreciate Manhattan is to leave it. Get off the F train at York Street in Brooklyn and enjoy the two-and-a-half kilometer walk back to the city via its most historic gateway, enjoying a remarkable view of Manhattan that will make you feel like you're living a particularly charming moment from a Woody Allen film. Before making the journey, spend some time in Brooklyn. Check out Brooklyn’s bridge-side DUMBO neighborhood, which offers a waterfront view and features warehouses converted into an array of residences and businesses. If you enjoy waiting in line for food that you eat with your hands, check out Grimaldi’s, one of New York’s best-rated brick oven pizzas.
Berg'n - A Brooklyn Beer & Food Hall
899 Bergen Street
Berg’n, which seats about 300, features food from Asia Dog, Mighty Quinn's BBQ, Pizza Moto, and Ramen Burger. Plus craft beer from well-received breweries, including several from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Smorgasburg/Flea Market
Sunday 11am-6pm
All Food • 100 Vendors
Rain or Shine Smorgasburg happens every Sunday in Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 5 on the waterfront, featuring packaged and prepared foods, purveyors from New York City and across the region, and other food-related vendors (kitchen utensils, housewares, etc.), for a total of 100 vendors.
Brooklyn Heights and Promenade
The Brooklyn Height Promenade is located on an escarpment over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278) with a view oriented the East River and toward the skyline of Manhattan. This is a great place for walking the dog anytime of the day or night. There are benches and it's a romantic spot for couple to neck. Montague Street, particularly between Hicks and Clinton Streets, is a tree lined neighborhood commercial district with several sidewalk cafes and coffeehouses. This is a good area to retreat toward after visiting the Brooklyn bridge promenade. After getting off the bridge promenade, most people gravitate along the landscaped parks and plazas, which end at the Borough Hall. Right near where Court Street narrows from a divided avenue to crowded two lane street, going in an eastward direction, Montague Street begins going south. There are some large institutional buildings at the point, but walking south Montague becomes more pleasant and pedestrian friendly after crossing Clinton Street. This is a good area to look for something to eat, and then continue southwest toward the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
It’s easy to forget that you’re standing atop the hectic Brooklyn-Queens Expressway while strolling along this esplanade, which opened in 1950. But the thoroughfare is inextricably linked to the Promenade’s existence: Community opposition to the BQE—which was originally intended to cut through Brooklyn Heights—led city planner Robert Moses to reroute the highway along the waterfront. He also proposed building a park atop the road to block noise. Stroll, run or make out along its ⅓-mile length, pausing to appreciate postcard-ready views of lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty; then check out some of the 19th-century row houses down Brooklyn Heights’ tree-lined side streets, or head down to Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Walk the fruit streets of Brooklyn Heights. They have that Brooklyn-from-the-movies feel. In the mid-1800s, prominent Brooklyn Heights resident Lady Middagh saw the “pretentious” street names in her ’hood—those named after Brooklyn’s wealthy families—and decided to take matters into her own hands by changing the street signs by cover of darkness to Cranberry, Orange and Pineapple. The names stuck and to this day add even more charm to the historic 19th-century brownstones and tree-lined streets where several movies, like Moonstruck, were filmed.
Take the L train from Manhattan to Brooklyn. There are other options to get to Smorgasburg (and the Flea when it reopens May 3 at 50 Kent)!
Here are a few alternatives:
1. Take East River Ferry from Manhattan, DUMBO, Greenpoint, or Long Island City to the N. 6th Street/N. Williamsburg stop. You’ll be a block from Smorgasburg. This is the easiest route, and a spring boat ride is ten million times nicer than the subway. It’s $6 to take the ferry, or $18 for a day pass.
2. Take the G train to Nassau Ave. From Midtown Manhattan, take the 7 train (it’s the 42 St. shuttle) to Court Square in Queens and transfer to the G train toward Brooklyn. Station. From Lower Manhattan, take the A or C train to Hoyt-Schermerhorn and transfer to the G across the platform. Here are walking directions from Nassau Ave.:
3. Take the J or M train to Marcy Ave. and walk.
4. Take a walk across the Williamsburg Bridge. It’s beautiful, iconic and you’ll be 15 minutes from Smorgasburg once you arrive in Brooklyn. Be sure to walk on the pedestrian side or you’ll get some angry looks from cyclists.
5. Take a cab or a car to Kent Ave. and North 7th St. (90 Kent Ave. for GPS).
Pier 6
Ferries to Governors Island run from Pier 6 on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Ample Hills Creamery at Pier 5
Ample Hills Creamery offers a sampling of 10 flavors of ice cream and a variety of beverages, baked goods, and snacks.
Brooklyn Bridge Garden Bar at Pier 1
Brooklyn Bridge Garden Bar is a cafe and bar nestled within the trees at Pier 1. Have a glass of wine and watch the sunset!
Fornino at Pier 6
Relax on the rooftop overlooking New York Harbor and enjoy Fornino’s famous wood-fired oven pizza and signature drinks.
Lizzmonade at Pier 1
Lizzmonade Brooklyn serves fresh, artisanal lemonades that are made to order, and also offer light fare for kids and adults.
No. 7 Sub
Bargemusic
Located at Fulton Ferry Landing, Bargemusic presents great music up to five days a week, every week of the year. Walk across the gangplank of a renovated coffee barge into a “wonderfully intimate wood-paneled room with thrilling views of lower Manhattan and excellent acoustics.” Experience why critics call Bargemusic “the perfect chamber-music hall” and why artists say it is “unlike any other place in the world to perform.” Visit bargemusic.org for a full listing of their free Saturday concerts! Beginning September 6, admission-free family concerts will start at 4pm on Saturdays.
http://macautower.com.mo/adventure
In the splendour of New York's architecture, this old bridge, may pass unnoticed, unless you are adverted or have the chance to read about it.
Channel the city’s historic energy and admire its famous skyline by strolling across the Brooklyn Bridge on the pedestrian pathway that has been there since it opened in 1883. The view is best if you start in Brooklyn (several subway lines will get you within a 15-minute walk), so start with a visit to Coney Island (in summer) or the New York Transit Museum (in other seasons) and finish with a walk back to Manhattan in late afternoon as the city is silhouetted behind grand Gothic arches.
John Roebling's engineering masterpiece was the world's longest suspension bridge upon its completion in 1883. One of the most recognizable structures in NYC, the bridge has been featured in countless movies and television shows and, as the first land passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn, represents a critical piece of New York City history. Though the bridge is visible from the shores of both boroughs, it is best experienced through a leisurely stroll across its elevated pedestrian walkway. Here, visitors from around the world can share a path with New Yorkers making their daily commute; those walking across can enjoy views of downtown Manhattan and New York Harbor on every step of the 5,989-foot traverse. The Manhattan-side entrance is at Park Row and Centre Street, across from City Hall Park.
It's fun to cross the Brooklyn Bridge -- but for many people, once is enough! Where in New York City can you rent a bike and ride across the Brooklyn Bridge, explore a bit of Brooklyn, and get back to Manhattan without adding the extra mileage?
ABOUT THE BIKES
- You can rent a bike from many bike shops in Brooklyn. If you wish to rent right at Brooklyn Bridge Park, however, get in touch with Bike and Roll which also offers a bike rental and ferry boat package deal.
- Or, go the DIY route, which is cheaper and also easy. Just rent a Citi Bike, ride to your heart's content, and then just return the bike and hop on an East River Ferry. The only risk is that you won't be able to find or return the bikes exactly where or when you wish. So, if you have a plane or Broadway show to make, leave plenty of time.
- Fiind out where you can pick up or return Citi Bikes near the Brooklyn Bridge.
In the summer, Brooklyn Bridge Park is served by different ferry lines. Check out their offerings:
- East River Ferry has cheaper commuter lines.
- NY Waterway (which is corporately linked to the East River Ferry) ferries go to Governors Island.
Pros:
- fun
- environmentally friendly ways to get around
- nice way to see the Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO
- Water Taxi back to Manhattan is a quick but gorgeous ride
- street bike riding in NYC requires care and sometimes skill
- Brooklyn Bridge bike and pedestrian lanes are often very crowded
- Pricey for a family of four
Staten Island and Staten Island Ferry
This 24-hour ferry is a lifeline for commuters making their way from NYC’s southernmost borough, but it’s also a boat trip affording some of the finest views in the world. Keep your eyes peeled for Governors Island to the east and Ellis Island and Lady Liberty to the west as the Manhattan skyline recedes in the vessel’s wake.
The Ferry operates between the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The trip is about 25 minutes long. The Ferry is free.
The St. George Terminal is located at 1 Bay Street, Staten Island.
The Whitehall Terminal is located at 4 South Street, Manhattan.
Passengers using wheelchairs are encouraged to use lower-level boarding at both the Whitehall and St. George Terminals. All passengers are required to comply with applicable U.S. Coast Guard Security Regulations regardless of which level they board from.
The Staten Island Ferry does not carry cars.
The ferry runs around the clock, every day of the year. Generally, the ferry runs every fifteen minutes during rush hour, and every half hour or hour during nights and weekends. During periods of reduced visibility or heavy weather the schedule may be adjusted.
Many people told us to go to Staten island ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. We did go to the island of Statue of Liberty, since I wanted to see it close. And it was good we did.
More than a means of transportation, the Staten Island Ferry is an attraction unto itself. For no charge, visitors can enjoy the 25-minute voyage by water from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island and take in the Statue of Liberty and amazing views of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. The ferry—which runs 24 hours a day and serves beer until midnight—drops off visitors at the St. George Ferry Terminal, close to the Staten Island Museum and the St. George Theatre, and just a short bus ride from the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. The latter is an educational and entertaining destination (a former retirement home for sailors) encompassing numerous institutions whose diverse offerings should appeal to all interests and ages. Among them are the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, the Noble Maritime Collection and the Staten Island Children's Museum. Within walking distance of the ferry terminal is Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home of minor-league baseball team the Staten Island Yankees (they play from June through early September). Catch a game at this intimate stadium, which affords glorious waterfront views from the stands. For more things to see and do around the ferry terminal, check out our St. George slideshow.
Chinatown
Explore the western hemisphere’s largest Chinatown – fifty square blocks and home to as many as 350,000 people and over 350 restaurants.
South Street Seaport
http://www.stjohndivine.org/
In Pier 17 a true effort to preserve the real history of the city became a must of New York. Historic buildings, historic ships, and a lively commerce, with Brooklyn...
Museum Mile
Fifth Ave from 82nd to 105th Streets. Click here for information on suggested admission fees and times the museums may be open for free.
Museum of the City of New York
(212) 534-1672
www.mcny.org
El Museo del Barrio
(212) 831-7272
www.elmuseo.org
The Jewish Museum
(212) 423-3200
www.thejewishmuseum.org
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution
(212) 849-8400
www.si.edu/ndm
National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts
(212) 369-4880
www.nationalacademy.org
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
(212) 423-3500
www.guggenheim.org
Neue Galerie New York
(212) 628-6200
www.neuegalerie.org
Goethe-Institut New York/German Cultural Center
(212) 439-8700
www.goethe.de/newyork
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
(212) 535-7710
www.metmuseum.org
Directions:
4 or 5 IRT to 86th Street station, or #6 to 86th, 96th and 103rd Street stations, walk two blocks west to Fifth Avenue
2 or 3 train to 110th Street and Lenox Avenue, walk one block east to Fifth Avenue, then south to 105th Street.
Hamilton Grange Musuem
There is free parking at the Grange. And the house is a short walk from the subway in St. Nicholas Park. (We took the A train from Times Square to 145th Street - and it was only about 5 stops, maybe 10 minutes.) After spending a lot of money on everything in NYC, it is refreshing to visit something that is free! We enjoyed this lovely house and the history behind it. There is a short movie about Hamilton, then a short movie about the Mansion being moved, a tour by a Guide and a small gift shop. The U.S. Park Service operates the historic site. The park rangers are knowledgable and friendly. We made an after noon of it by visiting the Morris Jumel Mansion beforehand which in the same area of town. (A bus ride away but close enough). Make the visit (by subway) as part of a wider trip to the northern end of Manhattan Island (Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, Grant’s Tomb, Riverside Chapel, The Cloisters). The Mansion is nestled away in the middle of suburbia and only a short walk from the nearest subway station. The entrance fee is small ($6 USD) and the mansion feels as though Washington was there just the other day. Don’t be put off by the suburban surrounds. On Saturday at noon there is a docent to give a guided tour of Morris Jumel Mansion. Our docent was great. She was able to describe what was happening in this house and the country in the 1700s and 1800s through the various owners. A note to New Yorkers: if you've never been to the neighborhood immediately surrounding the Morris Jumel Mansion, you must go -- what a happy surprise! The row houses are stunning -- like nothing I've ever seen in Manhattan, especially that far north on the island. The subway ride was a breeze and we were able to easily connect to a bus to go to the US Grant Monument. Drove to Morris Jumel as part of a self tour of Harlem. You can drive through St. Nicholas Historic District and Strivers Row and then head here. Take the C train to 163 and head East up the steps just past C-town grocery or just turn Left at 160th st.
Open 7 Days a Week
March–October: 10:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
November–February: 10:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1
March–October: 10:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
November–February: 10:00 a.m.–4:45 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1
99 Margaret Corbin Drive
New York, NY 10040
Phone: 212-923-3700
If you're looking for a museum missed by most tourists (and a surprising number of New Yorkers), make time for the Cloisters, located in Fort Tryon Park. A reassembled French building houses the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval Europe collection, but for many visitors the best part of the visit occurs when you step outside and see gardens patterned faithfully after medieval designs for landscaping and architecture. You'll be going far further north than most visitors, but when you witness an attraction unlike anything else in New York you'll know it's worth the journey.
New York, NY 10040
Phone: 212-923-3700
If you're looking for a museum missed by most tourists (and a surprising number of New Yorkers), make time for the Cloisters, located in Fort Tryon Park. A reassembled French building houses the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval Europe collection, but for many visitors the best part of the visit occurs when you step outside and see gardens patterned faithfully after medieval designs for landscaping and architecture. You'll be going far further north than most visitors, but when you witness an attraction unlike anything else in New York you'll know it's worth the journey.
Medieval castle/museum. Amazing artwork in a remarkable building located in Fort Tryon Park. This museum is a branch of the MET and with the admission ticket you are granted entrance to the MET during the same day. Build in the XX century by John Rockefeller, and donated to NY city in 1930s, this museum recreates a medieval monastery and includes a great collection medieval arts and artifacts. Beautiful view of the Hudson, gardens were breathtaking & an entire room dedicated to unicorns. Lots of outside area, so I suggest packing some snacks/blanket & enjoy! Wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle! A few parking spaces at museum entrance.
On Saturday afternoons, the museum offers gallery talks, and during the spring and December season, it offers its popular series of $35 concerts in its chapel.
Make sure you take the free guided tours. The museum and gardens (cloisters) really come alive. If you can get a tour with Mark Cruse, jump on it. His knowledge and enthusiasm is at once infectious and informative!
This is a hidden gem in Manhattan, with a medieval museum (part of the Met) and park situated at the north end of the island with incredible 360° views of the Hudson River, Palisades, Bronx & Manhattan. Amazing artwork in a remarkable building. Medieval Christian art. Unicorns. One of the most beautiful settings in the city.
Make sure to take the subway so you can emerge from the solid rock. Enjoy the day at The Cloisters: it's a bit of a subway ride, but well worth it. I highly recommend arriving by 1pm to partake in the Garden Tour, not to be missed! Step back in time to the Medieval times. You'll enjoy some beautiful architecture. One of the most tranquil museums in the city! Don't miss the herb garden and poison garden. Try and find the 3 monkeys . It's a must see. You can appreciate the cloisters and landscaping more in the spring or summer time. Definitely don't miss The Treasury downstairs! It's quite literally a treasure trove of some of the museum's best (and shiniest) objects! Make sure you check out the murals and the statues in the rooms behind the chapel.
A quirky find in a peaceful setting. It will remind you of Europe (in part because actual structures from Europe were imported brick by brick). Surrounding gardens and view over Hudson are nice for a stroll. Don't miss out on the pingpong tables near A train. Fifteen minutes from Times Square via A express train. Take the M4 bus that drops you off in front of entrance.
There is a requested costly donation but this museum is well worth a visit! Multiple medieval art pieces and actual reconstructed cloisters.
St Patrick's Cathedral
In 1853 architect Hames Renwick was hired to design St. Patrick's Cathedral. The cornerstone was laid in 1858 and With several delays, it wasn't until 1879 that the Cathedral was completed and open,...
Greenwich Village
Commonly known as “the Village” to New Yorkers, it was here in Greenwich Village that both 1960’s counter culture and the LGBT movement were born. Famous for its bohemian past, head to Washington Square Park to get a feel for this diverse and energetic neighborhood. You’ll find NYU students, street performers, skateboarders, kids frolicking in the fountain, and locals relaxing and playing chess. Stroll the streets to discover a mix of majestic town homes and hidden bars and restaurants that give this neighborhood an old-school residential feel. When the sun goes down, check out one of the famous jazz or comedy clubs that still packs them in every night.
Soho District
The best way to experience the grandeur of Soho's cast-iron designs is on a walking tour. Explore Prince Street, Spring Street and Broome Street between Broadway and West Broadway. Greene Street between Canal and Prince also features fine examples of cast-iron design. The Soho Cast-Iron Historic District became part of the National History Landmark Program in 1978.
Kick the tourist vibe and rub shoulders with real Manhattanites at Film Forum, located on West Houston Street between Varick Street and 6th Avenue. This nonprofit theater screens independent films, including premieres and stock films. After an early show, stop by the original Dean and Deluca on the corner of West Broadway and Prince Street. This gourmet grocery store is a New York City favorite and offers a wide variety of specialty foods. Order a scrumptious dessert and coffee or tea, sit in the window and watch the world rush by.
If there is one place in Manhattan where you really could shop until you drop, Topshop is it. Excitement began buzzing around this Soho superstore several months before it opened in April 2009. Topshop sells clothes and accessories for men and women and specializes in trendy creations without the designer price tag. The four-story mega fashion gallery sits on Broadway between Broome Street and Grand Street and is open seven days a week.
Soho is a hot spot for brunching, and Time Out New York recommends the grass-fed beef burgers at Hundred Acres. When the weather allows, the open front doors provide a street café feel. The restaurant serves brunch Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is in the heart of Soho on McDougal Street between West Houston and Prince Street. Eat, relax, then head to Prince Street and commence shopping. Hundreds of boutiques grace the Soho streets, so take your time, walk the streets and see what strikes your fancy.
Experience even more Soho history by visiting the Ear Inn, a neighborhood bar that saw its first incarnation in 1812. Expect to find tasty bar food and a perfectly poured Guiness while taking in the historical surroundings. The Ear Inn sits on Spring Street just west of Greenwich Street. The Federal-style building is one of the last of its kind in the city, and rumor has it ghosts are among the regular clientele.
Top of the Rock
This was redone/remodeled fairly recently. It's clean, safe and convenient. The observation deck is really modern with tall "glass" railings so you have an unobstructed view of the city and down to...
Some people insist on visiting the top of the Empire State Building, but the view is just as incredible from the outdoor decks of Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center—plus you’ll get awesome shots of the ESB from the south-facing terrace. Time your visit for an hour before sunset and linger as the sky turns magenta-orange and lights transform the skyline into a twinkling mosaic.
Sure, the 86th floor observatory at the Empire State Building is the original place to go for an eagle's-eye look at New York, and it's located atop a global icon. But at 70 stories up, the observation deck at TOTR affords a spectacular vista of Central Park without the crazy lines. Plus, the sprawling subterranean mall at 30 Rock offers amenities like shopping and eating.
Theatre District - Broadway Shows
None of my trips to the city are complete without seeing at least one Broadway musical. I'm not a student anymore so I can't rush every show to get cheaper tickets, but my friend suggested the new...
Flatiron Building
I don´t know why, but in my eyes this is one of the most beautyful buildings in NY. Maybe it is so oldish, and it´s little bit different than the others, because of it´s interesting shape. I don´t...
Fifth Avenue
For fashion-conscious visitors, shopping at New York's 5th Avenue stores is a must. The best location is between 39th and 60th Streets. Here you'll find high end department stores, jewelry stores,...
Little Italy
The Italian American Museum is in the heart of NYC's Little Italy, at the intersection of Mulberry and Grand Streets. This building once housed the "Banco Stabile" which was found in 1885 to offer...
The High Line
New Yorkers love to walk and the 1.45-mile-long High Line, a park that stretches from the Meatpacking District through Chelsea on a previously derelict, elevated railway track, is a fantastic stroll. Resurrected with a stunning maze of gardens (showcasing 300 species of plants), pathways, and water features, it offers terrific people watching, views of cool contemporary architecture, and glimpses of the Hudson River.
https://houseandgardenningaddicts.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/high-line-park-new-yorks-floating-green-railway-park/
Grand Central Terminal
Yes, 750,000 harried commuters dash through Grand Central Terminal every day, but while you're there try not to get caught up in the bustle. Visit around midday, as light streams in from the cathedral-like windows, to appreciate this 100-year-old architectural gem’s massive main concourse and discover its hidden nooks and crannies with a downloadable self-tour app ($4.99). End your visit with lunch on the lower-level dining concourse, where you can chow down on everything from oysters to hot dogs.
http://gothamist.com/2014/06/16/where_to_eat_grand_central.php#photo-1
The West Village
From the zigzag streets that inspired beat poets, folk musicians, and activists half a century ago to the once-stinky-now-sanitized Meatpacking District that draws nightlife-lovers looking to mingle, the West Village is a neighborhood unlike any other. Head south of 14th St and west of Fifth Ave and simply get lost amid its charming townhouses, eclectic boutiques, and legendary bars, cafes, and shops, such as White Horse Tavern, Corner Bistro and Murray's Bagels.
Coney Island
It weathered Superstorm Sandy with a few bruises, but Coney Island bounced back with the re-opening of its two most famous landmarks: the 87-year-old Cyclone roller coaster and the original Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. If you visit from April to October (pre-Memorial Day and post-Labor Day weekends only), hop the D, Q, N or F train to Stillwell Ave and explore the curiosities along the boardwalk.
The ups and downs of the nearly 90-year-old Cyclone roller coaster are a fitting metaphor for the Coney Island experience lately—every year seems to bring big changes to the quirky beachfront amusement district, but a visit there is always entertaining. The latest addition is the Thunderbolt, a new coaster named after a ride that was shut down back in 1982. These days, classic Boardwalk institutions like Ruby's Bar and Grill, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Nathan's Famous operate next to shiny thrill-ride tract Luna Park, whose Scream Zone twists, turns, drops and spins patrons into a state of pure bliss (or at least bliss with a splash of queasiness). Other area attractions include MCU Park, the gorgeous home of Mets minor-league affiliate the Brooklyn Cyclones (who play from June through early September), and the New York Aquarium, which features a menagerie of aquatic life including walruses, penguins and cownose rays. Also worth visiting on Brooklyn’s south shore is famed Russian enclave Brighton Beach, just a short stroll away on the Boardwalk. For even more things to do in the waterfront neighborhood, check out our "Must-See Coney Island" guide.
NYC Skyline
New York City's skyline is truly awe-inspiring. The skyscrapers, bridges, waterways, islands and monuments create a breathtaking panorama that is instantly recognizable worldwide. While you can feel the immensity of these surroundings from anywhere in the City, the grandeur of the cityscape is best viewed from above. Take an elevator ride up 1,050 feet to the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building; New York City's second-tallest structure (after One World Trade Center), this soaring art deco masterpiece offers a completely unobstructed, 360-degree view of the city below. For a spectacular vista that includes the Empire State Building itself, head up to the Top of the Rock, located on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (home of NBC Studios). Both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock are open late, so don't miss the chance to see the City lights shimmer after dark. F
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Give the city’s second-biggest park a day and it’ll show you the world: Its most enduring icon is the Unisphere, the mammoth steel globe created for the 1964 World’s Fair. But there’s also first-rate culture and sports at the New York Hall of Science, Arthur Ashe Stadium and Citi Field (depending on how the Mets are doing). The rolling green fields also encompass a zoo, a boating lake, a skate park, a barbecue area, playfields, and a $66 million aquatic and hockey center. Last summer, wetland plants such as swamp azalea and swamp milkweed were added to better handle the park’s water runoff, improving the catch-and-release fishing in Meadow Lake.
Though best known as the location of the US Open, Flushing Meadows Corona Park—which, at 1,255 acres, is the City's fourth-largest park—boasts a range of worthy attractions. It was the site of two world's fairs (1939–1940 and 1964–1965). The Unisphere, a 140-foot-tall stainless-steel globe built for the 1964–1965 World's Fair, and the observatory towers, site of the final alien fight scene in Men in Black, serve as reminders of the event. Nearby, the New York City Building, built for the New York City Pavilion at the 1939–1940 World's Fair and home of the General Assembly of the United Nations from 1946 to 1950, houses the recently expanded Queens Museum (formerly the Queens Museum of Art). Inside is the not-to-be-missed Panorama of the City of New York, an impressively detailed 9,335-square-foot scale model of the City featuring every building constructed before 1992 as well as Citi Field (which in 2009 replaced Shea Stadium as the home of baseball's Mets). Other Flushing Meadows–Corona Park attractions include the Queens Zoo, the hands-on New York Hall of Science, Queens Botanical Garden, Queens Theatre and the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, a weekend-long sporting and cultural event held in August.
The 7 Train
Queens is New York City's most international borough, so a ride on the 7 train—the purple-hued subway line that cuts through Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona and Flushing—can feel like a journey around the globe. Indeed, in 1999, the route was named one of 16 "National Millennium Trails" representing the legacy of the United States, as it features an abundance of immigrant neighborhoods along its stops. Riding the 7 is certainly an essential NYC experience for anyone who's interested in world cultures. What should you do when you get off at each station? Well, eating is one great option. For guidance, check out our roundup of ethnic restaurants with tasty food along the diverse line. Conveniently, Flushing Meadows Corona Park is adjacent to Mets-Willets Point, the second-to-last 7 train stop. Also near the 7, you'll find innovative contemporary art at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City. For more tips on what to do and see in neighborhoods along the 7 train, visit our Queens section.
Take the M5 City Bus
A City Bus That Hits the Highlights -- If your feet are worn out from walking, but you still want to see some sights, I suggest hopping on the M5 bus. Its route runs from Washington Heights down to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. If you board uptown, around 125th Street and Riverside Drive, and take it downtown, you’ll pass landmarks such as Grant’s Tomb, Riverside Church, Lincoln Center, Columbus Circle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, the New York Public Library, Empire State Building, Flatiron Building, and Washington Square. And all you need is your MetroCard (or exact coin change) and your trusty Frommer’s New York City guide with your maps in hand. The bus will move slowly enough where you will be able to consult your book and find the corresponding landmarks.
Grabbing a (Pedi)cab
You really don’t want to burden that nag with a carriage ride through Central Park in the middle of the summer, do you? Better you should hire a real beast of burden—a driver of a pedicab who probably really needs the money. Pedicabs are becoming common sights on the streets of New York. The drivers are friendly, informative, and don’t poop in the street. The Manhattan Rickshaw Company (tel. 212/604-4729; www.manhattanrickshaw.com) is one pedicab company, where fares range from $15–$30 for a street hail ride; call to arrange a guided tour. Tours4Fun offers a 2 hour pedicab ride of Central Park for up to 3 people for $98.98.
Prospect Park & Zoo
Urban visionaries Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who most famously designed Central Park, also put their stamp on bucolic Prospect Park. Amenities like the Long Meadow and Nethermead offer plenty of space to pull up on a patch of grass and indulge in some people-watching, and the woodland expanse of the Ravine is a towering forest within bustling Brooklyn. But we also have to give props to Robert Moses: The controversial city planner was behind some of the park’s kid-friendly offerings, including the zoo and Wollman Rink (which is currently undergoing an extensive renovation).
If Prospect Park feels like Brooklyn's answer to Central Park, there's a reason—Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed both massive green spaces in the mid-19th century. For its part, the 585-acre Prospect Park is highlighted by the immense Long Meadow, whose name isn't just an empty boast—at almost 1 mile long, it may be the longest continuous meadow in any American park. The meadow is a popular site for sports and picnics. Prospect Park as a whole is home to endless recreational possibilities, including not only the usual suspects like jogging and biking but also such rare treats as dog swimming—four-legged New Yorkers can make a splash at Dog Beach. The beach is part of Prospect Park Lake, where visitors are also known to go fishing (it's a great place to catch largemouth bass—but anglers must abide by the "catch and release" rule). Prospect Park also contains Brooklyn's only remaining natural forest, which spans 250 acres (in total, the park features more than 30,000 trees).
Other notable Prospect Park attractions include Lefferts Historic House, where visitors can view artifacts, churn butter, start fires with flint and steel, sew and otherwise experience some of the rural activities that once characterized life in Flatbush; the Prospect Park Zoo, home to a wide array of animals you're unlikely to see frolicking through most parks, including red pandas and kangaroos; and the Prospect Park Bandshell, which during the summer hosts Celebrate Brooklyn!, a mostly free concert series that has showcased Sonic Youth, They Might Be Giants, David Byrne and more. A newer development, Lakeside, has year-round skating rinks, viewing terraces, a water feature and a café. Finally, the nearby Brooklyn Botanic Garden is one of the largest, most complete attractions of its kind; highlights include a scent garden for the blind and a serene Japanese tea garden. Other neighboring sights include the Brooklyn Museum and the gorgeous main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. For many more worthy attractions west of Prospect Park, check out our guide to Park Slope.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Presenting thousands of performances each year, Lincoln Center has established itself as a hub for New York City’s performing arts scene. The sprawling 16.3-acre Upper West Side complex is home to 11 organizations, including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet. If you’re looking for an enriching way to spend an afternoon or evening, Lincoln Center delivers with an extensive lineup of concerts, plays and film screenings throughout the week. The landmark space seamlessly blends classic elements with modern renovations, seen most recently in the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center. On Thursday evenings, the David Rubenstein Atrium—a gathering space complete with vertical gardens, an abundance of seating and a floor-to-ceiling fountain—presents free performances. Additionally, tours are available daily for guests in search of the story behind the center. Highlights include the majestic Revson Fountain, Alice Tully Hall and behind-the-scenes looks at top venues. Not sure what to do before your show? Lincoln Center’s bustling neighborhood is full of top-notch attractions, including the American Museum of Natural History, a mere 15 minutes away on foot, and Central Park, which is only a two-block walk.
Be Part of the Studio Audience
It's fun—and free—to attend the tapings of popular television shows shot in New York City. You get to see huge stars up close, and if you're lucky, your friends at home might even see you on TV.
The wait for advance tickets is often long, so it's best to write in for them or reserve online far before your desired date. Still, many shows have standby options if you're willing to wait in line. Click here for the addresses, schedules and other important info for NYC-based TV shows.
http://nycfavoritethingstodo.blogspot.com/2015/04/studio-audience-tickets-tv-tours-httpwww.html
Hudson River Park, NYC
This strip of waterfront park stretches from Battery Park to 59th Street, allowing you to walk, bike or skate while looking at the Hudson River and New Jersey. There are flowers, benches, piers and lots of programs—including youth sports and kayak rides in the river.
New York’s west side waterfront has undergone wholesale improvements over the last decade, including the installation of an eight-kilometer bike and walking path, tennis and basketball courts, soccer fields, batting cages, playgrounds, skate park, trapeze school, open lawns and free kayaking at Piers 96, 40 and 72nd Street. Yes, that’s right, trapeze school. Good burgers and beers can be found at the Frying Pan, a wartime barge turned bar and grill at 26th Street.
550 acres and still under construction, begins its straight run here north to 59th Street offering 4.5 miles of bike and pedestrian paths paralleling State Route 9A (West Street). The linear park is part of the 32-mile Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, running around perimeter of borough and making up the south end of a planned pathway that will eventually extend northward to the Adirondacks.
http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/explore-the-park/map#search=activities
Christopher Street - meet for walking tour of waterfront
5 blocks north is 30th Street Heliport, helicopter tours
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID-Hudson.htm
Governor's Island Ferry and NY Water Taxi & Beaches
Governors Island
A seven-minute ride on a free ferry takes you to this seasonal island sanctuary, a scant 800 yards from lower Manhattan. Thanks to its strategic position in the middle of New York Harbor, Governors Island was a military outpost and off-limits to the public for 200 years. It finally opened to summer visitors in 2006. The verdant, 172-acre isle still retains a significant chunk of its military-era architecture, including Fort Jay, started in 1776, and Castle Williams, which was completed in 1812 and used as a prison. The 22-acre area containing the forts and historical officers’ residences is now a national landmark. Today, the island is jointly run by the city, the state and the National Park Service, and it provides a peaceful setting for cycling (bring a bike on the ferry, or rent from Bike and Roll once there). The island hosts a program of events, such as concert series and art exhibitions (see website for schedule), and where else can you have a picnic directly across from the Statue of Liberty?
Directions to the Governors Island Manhattan Ferry
The Governors Island ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building located at 10 South Street, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry in Lower Manhattan. The ferry terminal is accessible as follows:
By Subway
1 to South Ferry station
4, 5 to Bowling Green station
R to Whitehall St. station
By Bus
M6, M9, and M15
From the day trip trip Picnic with the Past on Governors Island
With its northward-facing vantage onto Lower Manhattan, this outlet of Water Taxi Beach (there are two others in New York) has by far the best views. The beach-friendly menu favors fried goodness–fries, roasted corn, hot dogs, and ribs are cooked-to-order on restaurant grills–but the food is really secondary to the main event: Drinking with your feet in the sand within sight of the city. Covered tables offer a respite from the sun, beach games abound, and piped in music lends a beach party vibe. Still, unless there's an evening concert planned, it all shuts down quite early (4.30pm on Friday; 6.30pm on Saturday and Sunday). From $3; www.watertaxibeach.com
PATH Rail System from New Jersey to Manhatten
NYCTRIP.COM
http://www.nyctrip.com/Pages/Index.aspx?PageID=2
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