Staten Island Things to Do

Snap!! Snap Snap!!
That's what I did... on board the ferry although its very cold when the wind starts to blow against me... my hands turned numb after awhile...so make sure u have enought clothing in case u board a ferry during winter... But again, battling the chilly cold wind that almost freak me out is worth while.. especially when I look at those shots which are priceless to me....

The shots are taken as the ferry slowly drifts away from the tip of Manhattan.The photos you're about to experience are in sequence taken from the moment it departs the Manhattan terminal till it reaches Staten Island 20 mins later.

Go back to colonial times and visit Richmondtown on Staten Island. See how colonialist made bread, cooked, lived and weaved clothing and blankets.

In one of the nearby cemetaries resides one Ichabod Crane. This is the main character in "The Legend of Sleepy Hallow", by Washington Irving.

There is a nice pond nearby, feed the ducks and climb to the top of the hill for a nice view.

A nice day can be had with lots learned at Richmontown. Great place for kids and history enthusiasts.

Check out VT member Cecille Travelogue's She did a wonderful job.

Cecille Traveloge 2

Cecille Traveloge 3

Read about Ichabod Crane Burial site

More Ghost stories about Richmondtown. Old houses on S.I. = Ghost stories. It doesn't make it untrue now, does it? LOL

No one place was hit harder than Staten Island on September 11tth 2001, who lost 267 souls. I personally lost many good friends that I gained working at Cantor FitzGerald Securities. Cantor lost more than 700 employees that day, many of them living on Staten Island.

A memorial was commemorated on September 11th 2004 to honor those Staten Islanders who lost their lives. This memorial is designed in the form of angel wings with the people's profile mounted on the walls. A look at the picture shows a straight shot to where the Twin Towers once stood.

See about the memorial here

Guide to finding names

A great place to go with the kids or adults even. This zoo has quite an extensive array of animals. They have a tropical forest, African Savannah, Serpentarium, petting animal area, children's center and a nice collection of sea creatures.

This zoo is one of the best in New York City. Not as large as the Bronx Zoo.

This is the only pre-revolutionary manor
house still standing in New York City. Such famous Americans as Benjamin Franklin, Edwin Rutledge and John Adams once used this place.

Most known for a famous peace conference held here on September 11, 1776. See how people lived back in colonial times. There is a nice park to walk around next to the water overlooking a harbor on the New Jersey side.

BEWARE; As old as this place is it has been subjected to people seeing ghosts. See here Billips House BBBBBBBBBBoooooooooooo!!!!!

A great place to visit. The nicest beach on Staten Island with a beautiful harbor nearby. Jog, play frisbee, fly a kite, softball, whiffle ball, fly remote control airplanes, roller blade and many more activites are available here.

The Great Kills harbor is a great place to visit at sunset.

There is a place specifially for people with remote control planes. This is interesting to watch.

Approximate Driving Directions

The Verrazano Narrows bridge spans the narrows that lead to New York Harbor. Started connecting Brooklyn to Staten Island in 1964 the bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Today, its length is surpassed only by the Humber Bridge in England. The ends of the bridge are at historic Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, both of which guarded New York Harbor at the Narrows for over a century. The bridge was named after Giovanni da Verrazano, who, in 1524, was the first European explorer to sail into New York Harbor.

I always search for the institutions that are administered by the National Park System. They always are real thorough and in tip top shape. Fort Wadsworth did not dissappoint at all. The Verrazzanos Bridge looms overhead as you walk through an old fort that was once NY harbors chain of defense. There's trails that lead you to disclosed areas with fort ruins all around you, or you can take a tour of the actual forts with a park ranger. I was stunned that this sat on SI and I never have heard anything about it. I think it is part of Gateway National Recreation Area but don't you go and quote me on that. Theres a visitor center on the premises that has a 12 minute movie explaining the purpose of the Fort and how it was built.