View from the Staten Island Ferry and other New York City, NY Things to Do Tips

The boats to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are quite expensive and can involve some long waits, especially in tourist season. A free alternative is to view them from the Staten Island Ferry. This ferry, primarily designed to connect the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island, is also very useful for tourists, as you pass quite close to both Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Coming from Manhattan, your best views are from the top deck ("hurricane deck"), starboard (right-hand) side. You'll get a similar view on the port (left-hand) side coming from Staten Island. The opposite side gives you a nice view of Brooklyn and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

Boats depart from Whitehall Ferry Terminal (co-located with the South Ferry subway stops) 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Departures range from every 15 minutes weekdays, to every 30 minutes weekends, to every hour late nights (midnight to 6 AM Monday- Saturday, midnight to 9 AM Sunday). Travel time is approximately 25 minutes. You are allowed to make an immediate return trip, but you are required to exit the ferry and re-enter from the end of the line of those waiting at Staten Island (so there's a slight possibility you'll need to wait for the next ferry if the boat is full). Passage in both directions is free.

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Address: 1 Ferry Terminal Drive, Staten Island NY 10301
Directions: Take the 1, R, or W Train to South Ferry (UPDATE: The new station just opened, allowing exit from all 1 Train subway cars and free transfer to the R and W trains). You can also use the Bowling Green station (4,5)
Website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/statfery.shtml

Fans of the "Grand Theft Auto" video game will be familiar with the scene. It is possible to walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn (or vice versa) over the Brooklyn Bridge. The Manhattan side of the bridge is accessible from the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall subway station (served by the 4,5, and 6 Trains), Chambers Street (J, M, Z), or City Hall (R,W); while the Brooklyn side is close to the High Street subway station (served by the A and C Trains). The way to go is rather simple: walk on the middle walkway between the lanes of traffic (left-hand side for bikes, right-hand side for pedestrians). The walkway will soon become the familiar wooden planks. The views from either side are tremendous; you get especially good, unobstructed views from the observation points on the two stanchions. Be sure to keep control of yourself as you enjoy the views, or you might start speaking with a Russian accent and get a strange urge to steal cars.

I also understand the entire bridge is for sale. If you're interested, talk to any of the water salesmen on either side of the bridge for details.

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Directions: From Manhattan, go to the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall subway stop (4,5,6,J,M, and Z). From Brooklyn, go to the High Street subway stop (A and C).
Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge

The Weather Lady said it was going to be a beautiful day, so we went to the Empire State Building.

The one thing you need to be prepared to do when you go: wait. You will need to wait in line to go through security, then wait to get tickets, then wait to get on not one but two elevators, to get to the 86th Floor Observatory. You also have the opportunity to go up to the 102nd Floor, but that involves an additional cost and another wait to get on yet another elevator.

Cost of a ticket to the 86th Floor (including taxes and "surcharge") is $21 for adults, $19 for Seniors and children 12-17 years old, $15 for children under 12. You can save a bit of time by purchasing tickets online and printing them out yourself. This allows you to skip the ticket line after you pass security. If you have more money than time, you can purchase an "Express Pass," which also allows you to cut in front of the elevator lines. Cost for this option is $49 for all ages, including taxes and "surcharge."

Despite all of the waiting, the view from the 86th floor is definitely worth it if the weather is good. You can also shorten your wait times a bit by arriving early in the morning. If you want to go higher, you can purchase tickets to the 102nd Floor outside the elevator on the 86th Floor (credit cards only, cost $15 per person). It's fun, but the observatory is enclosed in plexiglass marred by "scratchiti." As such, it's probably not worth the extra cost and time.

The Empire State Building is open 365 days a year, from 8AM to 2AM. Last elevator up is at 1:15 AM.

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Phone: +1 (212) 947-1360
Address: 350 5th Avenue New York NY 10118
Directions: Enter on the corner of 34th Street and 5th Avenue. Closest subway is 33rd Street (6 train). You can also walk from 34th St/Herald Square (B,D,F,N,Q,R,V,W), 33rd St (PATH), Grand Central Station (4,5,6,7,S, MNR) and Penn Station (1,2,3,A,C,E,NJT,LIRR).
Website: http://www.esbnyc.com

The Weather Lady said it was going to be a beautiful day, so we went to the Statue of Liberty.

For many visitors to New York, going to Liberty Island is a required event. While there are a few boats that provide service to the island, the one sanctioned by the National Park Service is Statue Cruises. Ferries depart to Liberty Island and Ellis Island from the Battery Park area of Manhattan, as well as Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Be aware the lines will be extremely long, especially during peak season. Your best bet to avoid a long wait are to visit off-season and early in the morning. Be aware security measures are very tight, and you will be required to pass through an airport-style metal detector before boarding the ferry.

Round-trip fare from Manhattan or New Jersey is $12. Limited "appointment" tickets are available online, but these only save you the time waiting at the ticket window; you still need to go through the metal detector.

As for entering the statue itself, a limited number of free "monument passes" are given to ticket holders on a first-come, first-served basis. While entry to the monument is free, there is an extremely long wait time (up to 2 hours) to get through yet another security checkpoint and enter the statue (NOTE: while you can procure a "monument pass" in advance online, you still must stand in the lengthy security line with everyone else). Note also backpacks are not allowed; free lockers are provided at the entry to the security line. Once inside the pedestal, you can see a modest museum and are allowed to climb to the top of the base. You are not allowed to climb inside the statue, however. Personally, I didn't think it was worth the 90 minutes we waited to get through security. UPDATE: Visitors are once again allowed to climb up to the statue's crown. Advance reservations are required to climb the long, narrow staircase (no elevator); cost is $3 per person.

Food and beverages are available on Liberty Island, but the food is rather expensive and the quality is mediocre at best. I choked down a greasy and cold burger that cost $8. Your best bet is probably to buy a snack on the boat (hot dog $3, nachos $5).

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Phone: +1 (212) 363-3200
Address: Liberty Island, New York NY
Directions: Closest Subway stations to the Manhattan ferry dock are South Ferry / Whitehall (1, R, and W Trains) and Bowling Green (4,5). Ferries also depart from Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/stli
Other Contact: http://www.statuecruises.com

If you're up for a diversion away from Manhattan, make your way to the Bronx Zoo. Pleasantly situated in Bronx Park, the zoo gives you a chance to see a very large collection of animals from all around the world. Snow Leopards and Polar Bears are big attractions, but the biggest camera hams are almost certainly the sea lions. Check out the monkeys while you're at it.

Admission is $15 for adults, $11 for children aged 3-12, and $13 for Seniors aged 65 and up. Admission on Wednesdays is "pay what you wish" (allowing poorer residents to visit the zoo). But if you had enough money to buy a plane ticket to New York, you probably should pay the full entry fee anyway. Parking costs $12.

The zoo is open 365 days a year, opening hours vary with season.

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Phone: +1 (718) 220-5100
Address: 2300 Southern Blvd, Bronx NY 10460
Directions: Take the #2 or #5 Train to East Tremont Ave/ West Farms Square. Also accessible by Express Bus BxM11 (fare $5.50) and Local Buses Bx9, Bx12, Bx19, Bx22, and Q44. See the website for driving directions.
Website: http://www.bronxzoo.com

If you're a fan of art and museums, the Met Museum has to be very high on your list. Just off of Central Park, the sprawling building houses works of art of all sorts from all around the world. Like the Louvre, it isn't possible to see the entire place in one day. Take a look at the free guide booklet and decide which works you would like to see. For this visit, we decided to concentrate on Roman statues, African art, and Dutch paintings.

Admission is technically free, but you probably should go up to a ticket counter and make the "suggested donation" ($20 for adults, $15 for children and Seniors, also includes admission to The Cloisters) for your visit. Various types of museum memberships are also available online -- check the website for details.

Opening hours are 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, open until 9:00 PM Fridays and Saturdays, Closed Mondays (but open on holidays).

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Phone: 212-535-7710
Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
Directions: Closest subways are 77th Street (6 train) and 86th Street (4,5,6). Walk three blocks west to Central Park.
Website: http://www.metmuseum.org/home.asp

When you visit the Statue of Liberty, be sure to visit Ellis Island as well. This place has special meaning to many Americans because this is the first U.S. soil our ancestors set foot on. As you enter the beautifully restored building and its main hall, also take a look at the many photos and exhibits in the side rooms. Especially poignant are the relics encased in glass -- a part of the everyday life of those who spent time here, but then literally left to rot when the facility was abandoned in 1954.

While there are a few boats that provide service to the island, the one sanctioned by the National Park Service is Statue Cruises. Ferries depart to Liberty Island and Ellis Island from the Battery Park area of Manhattan, as well as Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Be aware the lines will be extremely long, especially during peak season. Your best bet to avoid a long wait are to visit off-season and early in the morning. Be aware security measures are very tight, and you will be required to pass through an airport-style metal detector before boarding the ferry.

Round-trip fare from Manhattan or New Jersey is $12. Limited "appointment" tickets are available online, but these only save you the time waiting at the ticket window; you still need to go through the metal detector.

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Phone: +1 212 363-3200
Address: Ellis Island, New York NY
Directions: Closest Subway stations to the Manhattan ferry dock are South Ferry / Whitehall (1, R, and W Trains) and Bowling Green (4,5). Ferries also depart from Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm
Other Contact: http://www.statuecruises.com