Some people love trains, other cars or planes. My adoration is for the Staten Island Ferry. Having grown up on Staten Island the ferry connected me to the rest or the world which started in Manhattan. Today every time I visit NYC, I must take a ride on this iconic orange boat.
The 25-minute ride each way is a spectacular way to experience the NY Harbor. The views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, New Jersey and Ellis Island are some of the best of all of NYC . The freedom of walking around the boat up and down the stairs on all levels allows us to take in everything from all angles. The tugboats, the sailboats, the bridges, the sea air. Both daytime and nighttime views are spectacular. The light, the air and the passengers change offering different experiences.
When kicking off a trip on the Staten Island side at St. George terminal the boat is experienced as commuter ferry. The same people ride the same boat every day to their jobs into Manhattan and take the same 5-mile trip back 8 hours later to return home. Unlike the crowded rough subway ride while many commuters experience throughout other parts of the city on the ferry they are free and make the most of the commute time. Some people have their coffee and bagels while other get in their 10,000 steps walking around the boat. Some prepare for the day by applying makeup in the rest rooms or have their shoes shined by a vendor. Others catch up with friends and pick-up conversations they left the day before.
When departing from the Whitehall terminal in lower Manhattan it is experienced more as a tourist boat with an abundance of visitors from afar. Often stories are overheard about relatives who landed on Ellis Island many years ago to come to America. Foreign travelers try to get that perfect shot of the Statue of Liberty which feels so close that you can almost reach out and touch. Some prepare a picnic for the trip, watch the sun rise and set or to view the city lights. Visitors rarely venture into Staten Island once they arrive except for a few who stop to listen to street performers or take advantage of the tax-free clothing sold at the outlet mall right outside the terminal.
On our most recent trip to NYC, we avoided the trains and subways because of the pandemic and took our bikes on to the ferry to take into Manhattan for the first time. This limitation showed us a whole new way to explore the city. And we were not alone. After we went through the security check process, we encountered people who commute this way on a daily basis for work and to explore the city. We picked up the Hudson River Greenway at Battery Park and rode up to the George Washington Bridge and back in a few hours. There were many parks and stops to explore along the way.
On our return trip on the ferry, we rested with the cool sea air blowing on our faces, the waves crashing underneath us and watched seagulls dive for fish. In this experience the commute was the adventure, and it was easy, fun and free.
