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Tourist in my backyard today
Had tix to the Met game yesterday and weren't up to the shlep to the beach from the city today. Decided to be tourists at home and try the hop on/hop off WATER TAXI. Absolutely loved it and it was perfect for the younger kids who wouldn't do well for 2 or three hours on a boat. The taxi does a loop every 90 minutes, so you can spend 90 minutes or 3 hours, etc at any stop and you can get on/off as many times as you like. $25 per adult and$15 kids. VERY comfortable boat - downstairs enclosed with comfy seats and really big windows, upstairs has seating too. Views are good from everywhere. They offer specific destination tours, too - check their website. Another popular is Water Taxi Beach on Governor's Island - a friend said it's mostly for single twenty-somethings looking to get some sand under their feet while they indulge (or overindulge). Perhaps Ride might enjoy it.
We got on at 44th street, right next to the Intrepid, went south around the bottom of Manhattan - stops are the Battery (by new World Trade construction), then South Street Seaport, then across the East River to DUMBO in Brooklyn (DUMBO = Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass - used to be nothing but by the time your neighborhood gets an acronym you are paying too much live there). There is a great waterfront park there and several restaurants including the River Cafe - right on/in the water facing the city. Grimaldi's (famous pizza) is also right there if you don't mind a line on a busy day. There is more to do there but we only wanted to spend 90 minutes and with kids in tow. Water taxi also has a service where you can bike across the Bklyn Bridge and take the taxi back with you bike. I'm sure you could also walk over the bridge and then take the taxi from there for ho/ho
On the way back, it goes right back to W 44th street, but it gives you a nice close up stop (in the water) to view the Statue of Liberty.
I don't recommend the Seaport unless you're going to the Bodies exhibit, are taking a boat trip leaving from there, or want to go shopping. Otw it's a bit of tourist trap. We got lucky and found a bar/restaurant showing the Women's World cup. One well kept secret, though... there is a TKTS booth down there that has almost no lines and allows tickets for for 8 pm shows to be purchased before noon (much earlier than the madhouse midtown booth). I think they used to allow next day matinee tickets as well, but haven't done that in a number of years so check first.
If you're going with kids (or if you are a kid at heart) in hot weather, bring/wear a bathing suit and towel - there is a fabulous fountain that everyone was playing in when we got back at 5:30. There's also a very entertaining dog park directly across from the Intrepid as you leave.
I will get to the beach one of the days, but this was really fun.
We got on at 44th street, right next to the Intrepid, went south around the bottom of Manhattan - stops are the Battery (by new World Trade construction), then South Street Seaport, then across the East River to DUMBO in Brooklyn (DUMBO = Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass - used to be nothing but by the time your neighborhood gets an acronym you are paying too much live there). There is a great waterfront park there and several restaurants including the River Cafe - right on/in the water facing the city. Grimaldi's (famous pizza) is also right there if you don't mind a line on a busy day. There is more to do there but we only wanted to spend 90 minutes and with kids in tow. Water taxi also has a service where you can bike across the Bklyn Bridge and take the taxi back with you bike. I'm sure you could also walk over the bridge and then take the taxi from there for ho/ho
On the way back, it goes right back to W 44th street, but it gives you a nice close up stop (in the water) to view the Statue of Liberty.
I don't recommend the Seaport unless you're going to the Bodies exhibit, are taking a boat trip leaving from there, or want to go shopping. Otw it's a bit of tourist trap. We got lucky and found a bar/restaurant showing the Women's World cup. One well kept secret, though... there is a TKTS booth down there that has almost no lines and allows tickets for for 8 pm shows to be purchased before noon (much earlier than the madhouse midtown booth). I think they used to allow next day matinee tickets as well, but haven't done that in a number of years so check first.
If you're going with kids (or if you are a kid at heart) in hot weather, bring/wear a bathing suit and towel - there is a fabulous fountain that everyone was playing in when we got back at 5:30. There's also a very entertaining dog park directly across from the Intrepid as you leave.
I will get to the beach one of the days, but this was really fun.
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