Things to do in Staten Island?

[Rebecca]

Hi everyone, I just newly joined the forum but I have been lurking for awhile, so I've read quite a bit of the posts.

I'm planning my second trip to NYC for August 23-28 of this year. We're planning on taking the Staten Is. ferry and I've been looking for something that we can do or see in Staten Is. but I can't seem to find anything that looks interesting to me. Does anyone have any suggestions? We're a small group in our early 20's, male and female, 5 people at the most.

Even a great restaurant suggestion would be useful, it just seems like a waste to get to S.I. and immediately head back to Manhattan without seeing S.I. at all. I'd definitely prefer something close to the ferry terminal, but if it's worth traveling a bit for, we'd be down for it. Thanks!

[Front_Porch]

The only thing absolutely next to the ferry is the stadium for the Staten Island Yankees (www.siyanks.com), if you want to go to a minor league baseball game.

You can also take a bus to Snug Harbor, which used to be a retirement home for sailors. www.snug-harbor.org

It's now a "cultural center" -- it's got a bunch of big cool Victorian buildings, a famous Chinese scholars' garden, and a great little cafe. It's really pretty -- I got married there.

Finally, while it would cause you to have to plan your transportation more elaborately, Staten Island has some of America's best pizza, so you could try and get to Denino's Pizzeria Tavern or to Joe and Pat's Pizzeria Restaurant or to Nunzio's Pizzeria and Restaurant.

[Rebecca]

I apologize that this had to be moved!

Anyway, thank you for the tips! Am I correct in assuming that S.I. has good public transportation? I'm guessing busses?

[ryan]

The Staten Island Ferry is definitely worth taking just for the ride.

[ablarc]

...it just seems like a waste to get to S.I. and immediately head back to Manhattan ... I'd definitely prefer something close to the ferry terminal...
Who hasn't thought this at least once?

St. George, take note: probably no place in New York City has greater unrealized potential.

What a waste.




St. George should emulate charming and tourist-laden boat-accessed destinations such as Burano (Venice), Szentendre (Budapest), Greenwich (London) or even that island off Toronto's shore.

Artist's colony, anyone?

.

[Punzie]

I'm planning my second trip to NYC for August 23-28 of this year. We're planning on taking the Staten Is. ferry and I've been looking for something that we can do or see in Staten Is. but I can't seem to find anything that looks interesting to me. Does anyone have any suggestions? We're a small group in our early 20's, male and female, 5 people at the most.

It's August- go to the beach for an hour or two before heading back to Manhattan. SI's South Beach and 2.5-mile boardwalk by the infamous Verrazano Narrows bridge are @20 minutes by bus from the ferry. Don't expect an amazing experience, (except when you view the Verrazano), just enjoy yourself.

http://www.si-web.com/Recreation/sbeach.jpg
http://www.si-web.com/Recreation/SouthBeach.html

[Rebecca]

Who hasn't thought this at least once?

St. George, take note: probably no place in New York City has greater unrealized potential.

What a waste.


Definitely sounds like it. I really thought there would be at least one thing that everyone would say you had to do, but my 2 friends from NYC both said that same - there isn't anything really worthwhile there. :rolleyes:




It's August- go to the beach for an hour or two before heading back to Manhattan. SI's South Beach and 2.5-mile boardwalk by the infamous Verrazano Narrows bridge are @20 minutes by bus from the ferry. Don't expect an amazing experience, (except when you view the Verrazano), just enjoy yourself.

http://www.si-web.com/Recreation/sbeach.jpg
http://www.si-web.com/Recreation/SouthBeach.html

That looks interesting and is definitely something to consider - thanks! I want to at least do something in each of the burroughs.

[Punzie]

Thank you, but when it comes right down to it, I agree with him:


The Staten Island Ferry is definitely worth taking just for the ride.

If you decide to go back and forth just for the ride, time it around the sunset -- or if you're early birds, the sunrise.

[Rebecca]

Thanks, again. I guess I was just hoping that there would be some shop or something else "must see" in that area. Ah well. The ferry is free, can't ask for much more than that! And thanks for the sunset/sunrise idea!

[BrooklynRider]

Actually, when you come off the ferry, exit to the right and follow the walkway past the stadium. Staten Island built a very moving September 11th Memorial that I think is worth the visit. It looks like two large white wings, but the faces and names of S.I. residents are recessed in the walls and it is lit nicely in the eve. If I still have my memory working right, view of the Manhattan skyline through those wings outlines precisely where the towers stood. I went there reluctantly (native New Yorker - we are like that). I was pleasantly surprised.

[ablarc]

^ Sounds interesting. How long is the walk?