Staten Island is the least popular district of New York, it is the least known by foreign travelers, since it is mostly solely residence and very popular among New York residents for weekend getaways or vacations. However, Staten Island has many things to see and do especially when the good weather approaches.
In this post I tell you about what to see in Staten Island, how to get there and some tips.
HOW TO GET TO STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK
It is the only area of the city that the subway does not reach, you can get there with the free orange ferries that leave from the south of Manhattan and with an extensive network of buses to reach each attraction.
During this 25-minute ferry ride you will pass very close to the Statue of Liberty, for this reason these boats fill up with tourists looking to photograph the most famous statue in New York.
Ferry to Staten Island
The ferries to Staten Island are already an attraction in themselves. That is why we already told you: they are free and they pass very close to the Statue of Liberty.
These huge orange boats leave every half hour from the Whitehall Ferry Terminal, just outside the South Ferry station on line 1 of the tube. They work 24 hours.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO ON STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK
Although Staten Island is a residential district and where it appears there is not much to see, if there are places to see and things to do and if you have time it is worth dedicating a day to Staten Island.
Postcards of Staten Island
Postcards is the name of the memorial to the victims of 9/11 on the north shore of Staten Island (it's on Bank street, a few steps from the Ferry Terminal).
It was made in 2004 to remember the 274 Staten Island residents who died in the 9/11 tragedy.
From this place there is an incredible viewpoint where you can appreciate spectacular views of Manhattan.
National Lighthouse Museum
If you like lighthouses you have to visit the National Museum of Lighthouses just meters from the Ferry Terminal.
There you will be able to learn curious facts about the lighthouses in the United States, such as which is the oldest in the country and which was the first to use electricity.
It is located in what was once the general warehouse of the United States Lighthouse Service.
Empire Outlets
Opened in May 2019, Empire Outlets is a deep discount shopping center next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. There are many shops and it is ideal for a quiet walk and find great deals on clothing and accessories above all.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Snug Harbor was until the 1950s a community for retired sailors. Today it is a huge cultural and community center spread over a dozen historic buildings.
Access to its green areas is free, including the Staten Island Botanical Garden.
To the Connie Gretz Secret Garden and the Chinese Scholar's Garden, you have to pay admission.
Within Snug Harbor there are paid museums that you can visit: the Staten Island Museum, the Newhouse Center dedicated to contemporary art, the Children's Museum and the Noble Maritime Collection.
Chinese Scholar's Garden
The Chinese Scholar's Garden is inside Snug Harbor.
This work was an initiative of the Chinese community residing in New York, which recreates the gardens of the Ming Dynasty, spaces designed to inspire poets, thinkers and monks (that is why it is called Scholar's Garden).
It has 8 pavilions, bridges, a bamboo forest, a pond with rocks and small waterfalls that add harmony to every corner.
Verrazano–Narrows Bridge
This bridge was inaugurated in the year 1964.
It is the longest bridge in the United States and its name is due to the first European navigator who explored New York Bay in 1524, Giovanni Verrazano.
This bridge is the starting point of the New York Marathon.
It is built on the strait between Staten Island and Brooklyn.
Below it passes most of the maritime traffic to the ports of New Jersey and New York.
Fort Wadsworth
A good idea to see the Verrazano Bridge up close is to go to Fort Wadsworth.
This military fortification was built in this strait between Brooklyn and Staten Island to defend New York Bay. Today it is next to the bases of the bridge.
Within the facilities is the Fort Wadsworth Museum, dedicated to the history of the American Revolution. Admission to the museum is free.
Richmond Historic Town
This town is a village-museum with more than 30 historical buildings (some dating back to the 17th century), whose mission is to educate about the American colonial period.
It is a very interesting visit to learn first-hand how the Dutch and English colonists who populated New York lived.
South Beach
When summer arrives in New York, the beaches fill up. Staten Island also has Atlantic beaches that you can reach by bus from the Ferry Terminal.
The most popular is South Beach and its long Franklyn D. Roosevelt Boardwalk. It is 35 minutes by bus from the Terminal.
Greenbelt
Staten Island is a nature lover's paradise where you can hike the trails, bird watch and enjoy the outdoors.
WHERE TO STAY IN STATEN ISLAND
If your intention is to stay in Staten Island to save some money on accommodation, keep in mind that to get to Manhattan you will have to take the ferry to and from or arrive by bus across the Verrazano Bridge. And although the ferry is free, you will lose a lot of time going and coming back.
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to New York a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
If you liked this article, subscribe to the blog so you don't miss out on upcoming destinations, curiosities, travel tips and inspiration for your trips.
A hug and see you soon!