New York City: Staten Island Ferry

In addition to walking the Brooklyn Bridge & strolling through Central Park, one of my favorite free things to do on a nice day in New York City is to take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry, which is free, shuttles passengers between lower Manhattan & Staten Island 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition to hauling commuters, little league baseball teams (there were two on board the last time I rode!), & every day New Yorkers, the Staten Island Ferry is also the perfect place for visitors to get a glimpse of New York harbor, lower Manhattan, & the Statue of Liberty – for much cheaper than a ticket on the Liberty Island ferry!

To get the best view of the Statue, when boarding in Manhattan, head to the right side of the boat & grab a spot outside if possible; when boarding in Staten Island, head to the left side of the boat. If you can’t get a spot outside (some ferry’s have limited outdoor space), grab a seat by the window, which will slide open. In addition, the platforms on either end of the ferry are also open to the public during the crossing, allowing for spectacular views of Manhattan.