So many people take a ride on the ferry because you get a great view of the New York City skyline from the water and also ride close by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It's a tourist attraction. But most people just turn around and get back on the Ferry for the free ride back to Manhattan.
The Staten Island Yankees' ball field is right next to the Ferry but unless you're going to a game, I guess you wouldn't venture over there. I went to a game once with my brother and his son Robert. It was great, a night game and the view of the Manhattan skyline above the field was absolutely beautiful. There I was in this old fashioned stadium, felt like I was watching a game from the movie A League Of Their Own. It's a trip back in time to the simple days of baseball, a small field, the kids love it, the concession stands sell food at a much more reasonable price, it's a great outing for a family. 
Although this is a sad place to visit, there is a spectacular memorial to the Staten Island victims of 9/11. The memorial faces Manhattan and I believe if you are standing on the side where you would be facing Manhattan, the view is where the Towers once stood. 
When you are right in front of the memorial you will see 270 granite plaques that bear the name, birth date and the place where each of the 270 Staten Islanders lost on September 11th worked. And more, each of their profiles in silhouettes. Again, though it is heart wrenching to remember that day, all the souls lost, it is a tribute to them and if you're riding the Staten Island Ferry for free, you might want to take a walk to the memorial, pay your respects to the Staten Island victims of 9/11.
If you dare venture farther into the wilds of Staten Island there is so much more to see. Though born in Brooklyn, I have lived in Staten Island for more than half my life and I still am pleasantly surprised at some of the beauty and historical sites that I have ignored all these years.
The Staten Island Ferry is located in the St. George area of Staten Island and the courthouse and the library are both old buildings with so much character. Although we have outgrown the courthouse and a new one is being built, I believe the old courthouse will become offices or put to some use and not torn down. But walk across the street from the Ferry, go see the library, again so much character.
Not far away, and not within walking distance are some beautiful homes from at least 100 years ago, hidden by the modern overhead wires and fences that cover and surround them.
I remember not so long ago having a few friends who lived in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, beautiful brownstones and nice streets, but right around the corner drug dealers, abandoned and burned out homes. Or homes where people were living in horrible conditions, unsafe buildings. Park Slope has changed, it's a beautiful artsy neighborhood, families wanting to raise their children in that neighborhood. We hope for that in Staten Island in some of the old areas, they hold so much history and can be turned into beautiful safe neighborhoods where people would want to raise their families. But everyone forgets Staten Island and all that it has. Yes traffic is awful. Staten Islanders think so too, but again being forgotten our roads haven't been expanded as quickly as the population grew or as quickly as the price of the bridge rose!
We have beautiful parks and historical sites. The Alice Austen House which I've actually had picnics by many times and never knew anything more than it was the Alice Austen House. I didn't know who Alice Austen was. Well, she was a photographer in the 1880s, rare for a woman and she travelled, she lived a big life for a woman of her times. Her photos were filled with satire, some even risky and wonderful photos of the landscape of Staten Island during those times.
At that time photography equipment was huge and bulky but she filled a trunk and traveled everywhere with her equipment, capturing pictures wherever she went. Less concerned with decorum than with getting a good picture of the auto speed trials, Alice perches on a fencepost. Photo (and this blurb) courtesy of the Staten Island Historical Society.
This is a picture of the beach where I would have my picnics,
a beautiful view of the bridge and then a picture of the Alice Austen House 
right across the street, which I ignored for years. So much history right in my own backyard. I bet wherever you come from, you'd be surprised if you looked up the history of your area. Historic Richmond Town is more popular, located I guess in the center of Staten Island, but again it's a great tourist attraction for history buffs and children. My niece and nephews have been there.
They learned how to make soup like they did 200+ years ago. They made a toy that children of that era would make and play with. They so enjoyed the visit, right in their own backyard. The picture is of the carpenters shop. It's wild, for me anyway, to see these buildings built hundreds of years ago and imagine life in those times. Blue Heron Park Nature Center.
During the winter, there's an event called The Owl Prowl. During this time of the years the owls are beginning their courtship, in the quiet peaceful park, you can hear and see nature's wonders. My niece and nephews spent one of those nights in the park and they loved it. Wolfs Pond Park, beaches, nature, lots of land.
Clove Lakes Park, picnic areas, boating, streams, just take your shoes and socks off and walk on the rocks.
Miller Field, right by the beach. Kids play soccer there, fields and fields of grass.
So many beautiful parks in Staten Island.
Come visit. Take a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry and then you can find a bus or a train to get you to some of these locations or if you have a car take a ride, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
4 comments:
My mother always LOVED Staten Island. Always going to the Mall and Richmond Town. I'm glad your able to show us your island in a new light, most of only see the traffic and overcrowded streets and think of "Easy Money"! Thanks!!!
Easy Money! I forgot about that.
My mom used to take us to the beach in Staten Island when I was little. We'd take the bus from Brooklyn and spend the day there, it's a nice memory. They've cleaned up the beach again, water not as clean but the boardwalk is great, I've lunched there on benches too and then take a nice walk on the boardwalk.
It's not a bad place to live, I've grown to really like it here.
I've been to the Staten Island Botanical Gardens and they are lovely. A big collection of peonies is well worth going to see in the spring, and the azalea bushes are about 12' tall. They remind me of the huge azalea bushes in Texas. You rarely see them this size out here.
Also, there are some lovely Japanese fences made of bent wood, and also an arbor that is beautiful. Plus an allee that you can walk in -- it is shaded and the day I was there several couples had their pictures taken at the end of the allee (they were in the light just outside of the alee, the pics were taken from the darkened inside of the alee).
There's a garden for the blind, too, and it is very peaceful.
It's well worth a visit, and I'm sure at other times of the year there are other attractions.
Thanks Jules, I forgot about the gardens! And since I've never been there, I thank you kindly for sharing some more of Staten Island's beauty. There's another place I must visit soon!
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