The Staten Island Ferry -- A Great Way to Begin

Nothing is as captivating as a ride on the Staten Island Ferry!  The 5 mile, 25 minute "voyage" leaves from Battery Park (Whitehall Terminal) at the southern tip of Manhattan.  The schedule varies, but at the busiest times, you can catch a ferry every 15-20 minutes.  The ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and it is free!  One guide book calls it "One of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages." From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan receding as you pull away and coming into focus again as you return. There is so much harbor activity to witness, to point out to the kids and many opportunities to ask inquiry questions.  Once on the Staten Island side, you have to exit the boat and if you want to return immediately, you have to re-board to same or the next boat.  

If you want to explore a bit of Staten Island, you can easily walk to the 9/11 Memorial on Staten Island.  The short walk from the ferry terminal along the harborfront offers spectacular views of the lower Manhattan skyline and there is a playground nearby.

To get to the ferry terminal on the Manhattan side, use any of the folowing subway or bus routes:

•  to South Ferry
•   to Bowling Green or Wall St
•         ot Broadway-Nassau/Fulton St
•   to Wall St
•   to Broad St
•   to Whitehall St or Rector St
• M5, M20 and M15 SBS buses.

"Teardrop" Park

This past summer, we discovered a little gem tucked away among residential buildings in Battery Park City.  It is an award-winning park for its innovative design, use of natural materials, and creative use of landscape features.  The park has huge slides and a variety of fountains, sprinklers, and other fascinating elements.

The park is best visited during the warm/hot days and be sure to take bathing suits and towels, even some water or sand toys.

In order to visit take the A, C or the 1, 2, or 3 subway lines to Chambers Street and then walk southwest to the park.  Ask around, as it may be a bit difficult to find.  The park location is at Warren and Murray Streets in Manhattan.

For a website about the park, see:
http://bpcparks.org/whats-here/parks/teardrop-park/

For more information about the innovative design, see:

http://www.mvvainc.com/project.php?id=2

Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island (actually a part of Manhattan) is a great place to visit with kids.  Perhaps the most exciting part is the trip by aerial tramway, but there is a lot of exciting things to do on the island.  From Manhattan, take the tramway car at 59th Street and Second Avenue.  (There are elevators there if necessary.)  The travel time is about 5 minutes and offers glorious views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. Exit at the Tramway station on Roosevelt Island.  Walk down to the Visitor Center.

Roosevelt Island Visit Center

At the Visitor Center, collect brochures for some of the island activities.  Then ask where the bus stop is for the Red Bus (very near the Visitor Center) and take a bus tour of the Island.  

There are so many wonderful things to do there with kids -- the playgrounds, the children's library, the lighthouse on the northern end and the Four Freedoms Park on the south side of the Island.  There are restaurants, supermarkets, snack stands, and more.  It makes for a very nice day.  Here is a link to a Lonely Planet guide to the Island.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/travel-tips-and-articles/76780