A popular activity, and one that is well-known to many New Yorkers, is to take the free ferry from Battery Park in Manhattan to Staten Island. The ferry is a great way to see New York Harbor, and it is especially scenic on clear days. The Saint George Terminal docks are easily accessible by train, bus or cab, and it is a good way to impress visitors. The round trip takes a little over an hour and ferries depart constantly around the clock, making it a perfect last-minute idea. For more information visit www.siferry.com.
A much different, and more expensive, mode of travel for those so inclined is a helicopter tour. Like the ferry, a heli tour is a great way to exlore the island of Manhattan from a different angle.
There are several companies that offer helicopter sight-seeing tours, including New York Helicopter Tours (www.newyorkhelicoptertours.com) and Liberty Helicopters (www.libertyhelicopters.com). Most tours range from $125 to $300 per person.
From May to October, one of the more unusual and interesting things a tourist or a local can do is take a ferry ride to Governors Island, a historic and recreational site located between Manhattan and Brooklyn. The island is not usually known to the typical NYC tourist, and a trip out there can take up an entire day. A short but scenic 20-minute ferry ride results in views of castle remains and tours of a 18th-century fort with plenty of history. There are also historic homes on the island and a Coast Guard station. It is the perfect place for a picnic or ball games. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/gois.
Another lesser-known and spontaneous thing to do is to visit the Tudor City neighborhood in Manhattan, one of the most picturesque areas on the island. Tudor City sits on the top of a hill bounded by 40th and 43rd Streets and First and Second Avenues. Surrounded by lush old trees, the area has distinct resturants and three beautiful parks. It is known as one of the quieter areas on Manhattan and many famous movie scenes were shot in the neighborhood. You can also recognize it by the famous "TUDOR CITY" sign atop the eponymous apartment building.
While most visitors to Central Park prefer lying on a blanket in the Sheep Meadow or renting a paddle boat to navigate the reservoir, many do not know about the Conservatory Garden, tucked away on the Upper East Side between 104th and 106th streets on Fifth Avenue. The six-acre plot is Central's only public formal garden, and it features three styles inside: English, French and Italian. Visitors will find ivy-hung trellises, bronze statues and water fountains, along with eroding columns and large hedgerows.
The garden is a great place to spend a quiet afternoon on the fly.
