On a sunny morning in October, we rode the Staten Island ferry to see the New York Harbor. We caught the ferry at the Manhattan ferry building and rode it to Staten Island and back. I made this map with Google Maps Engine Lite.
Seeing Manhattan from the water is a wonderful way to see the skyline and buildings. On the left is One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the western hemisphere at 1776 feet.
Ellis Island is a former immigration station where 12 million immigrants entered the US. Now an immigration museum, Ellis Island was still closed in early October due to damage from Hurricane Sandy.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift of the people of France. Located on Liberty Island, ships coming to New York would steam past.
Here’s another Staten Island ferry boat with the Statue of Liberty in the background.
On our return to Manhattan, we saw air, ground, and water transportation: a helicopter pad, the Brooklyn Bridge, and boats in the harbor.
The Staten Island ferry is free, and you get a great view of Manhattan, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. To see Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, sit or stand on the left side of the ferry when leaving Manhattan, and the right side when returning.