Like being on a big barge with a bunch of commuters, since that is most of who is on there. Step outside and enjoy the view as you pass the Statue of Liberty.

The Staten Island ferry ranks as one of the best free tourist experiences in America. We'd ridden it before to marvel at the Statue of Liberty, the fantastic skyline view, and the diversity of the shipping traffic in New York harbor. On November 4th, 2001, the ferry trip was an uneasy reminder of how much America has changed since September 11.

As the ferry left the dock, the usual tourists jockeyed for position with their cameras. This day, the cameras were all competing to document the skyline that is no longer there. I saw very few cameras trained on the Statue of Liberty, instead, everyone seemed to be pointing and gesturing at the empty space where the World Trade Center used to be.

The New York City Marathon was taking place on that day. Due to concerns about security, all shipping traffic was halted and several helicopters patrolled the sky over the harbor. The normally-busy harbor was quiet.

This is a great way to get out of the city for a little while. Breath some ocean/river air, see Manhattan from afar. Good photo opp of Downtown. Ferry goes right underneath Statue of Liberty. Don't stay in Staten Island, and don't go when it's cold.

You can get a wonderful view of New York Harbor including Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, all for free! You can use bus transportation to explore Staten Island, especially the Snug Harbor Cultural Center or Richmondtown Restoration, NYC's version of Colonial Williamsburg.