New York City is one of the most dramatic and passionate cities in the world. It has numerous places that are exciting not only for tourists but also residents. For example, Times Square, Broadway theaters, Central Park, enormous museums, are just a few of the attractions. This sparkling, gigantic city has never stopped fascinating people from all over the world. There are a large number of amusements and attractions that are affordable in the city so you can find your own favorite activity from hundreds of options. Many of us, especially students and backpackers seek to do things that are exciting but less expensive. There are many activities to do in the city with less money or without paying. Wandering through the streets in Manhattan is one of the wonderful free activities because you encounter many interesting things. For instance, going to Central Park is a marvelous. Meanwhile, you would come across a bunch of entertainments, such as street musicians, dancers, magicians, and so on. Different types of neighborhoods are located next to each other so you can see the true melting pot that is New York. Many things stimulate me, but taking the Staten Island Ferry is one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever had.
Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of the city of New York, is not a place where tourists usually go. People living outside of the New York metropolitan area may think New York is just Manhattan because when New York City is presented through TV or other kinds of media, Manhattan always stands out as if it were the only area of the city. Actually, Staten Island has less loadstones comparing to other boroughs. Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in which the Chinese Garden located is one of the major places attracting visitors in the borough. Many old-style little local shops have still existed in the island as though the place surely is a rural area, not developing enough. Thus, people, especially tourists, may not know about Staten Island.
Even though Staten Island may not be the place where travelers usually visit, it has one of the most startling attractions within the city connecting the two islands between Manhattan and Staten Island. Staten Islanders usually use the Staten Island Ferry to commute to Manhattan. However, the ferry is more than simply public transportation. It passes by the Statue of Liberty representing freedom for all. Talking the ferry going to Liberty Island and Elis Island from Battery Park costs approximately $20 that is a lot just to see the statue frequently. There is no charge to take the ferry and enjoy the 50-minute voyage back and forth between the two islands. Furthermore, while the ferry crosses the Upper Bay you can also see the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, and the warehouses of Brooklyn, as well as Jersey City in New Jersey. The best time to take the ferry is toward sunset. The statue gets backlit from the sun and looks like a shining diamond.
If you have never taken the State Island Ferry you ought to. I think you will find it a wonderful experience. If you want to know about Staten Island, follow the website below.
Visit Staten Island
http://www.visitstatenisland.com/
Staten Island (Neighborhood Highlights)
http://www.nycgo.com/staten-island/
The Staten Island Ferry
Kohsuke Uchino
The IELI Gazette 