Staten Island attractions: Top 16 things to do for every taste

Staten Island is the least populated borough of New York City, like a separate city on the East Coast. It's the perfect place to enjoy the tranquility, especially in comparison to the sensory overload of Manhattan, and to experience the cultural and historical attractions.

Even though the area attracts not so many tourists compared to New York City, you will definitely have something to do in Staten Island. The peninsula of the same name has its own appeal, offering unlimited space for recreation and many activities to suit every taste. In addition, you can enjoy some of the best views of New York City.

The borough used to be a record holder, but not in a very good light when it came to the number of landfills. However, the government has managed to turn waste into treasure by cleaning up the land and starting to create an extensive public park, Freshkills Park, which is scheduled to open in 2036.

An integral part of New York City, the borough, is less than 25 minutes away by ferry from Manhattan or by car across the Verrazano Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn. The following list will help you find ideas for things to do in Staten Island first.

Staten Island Ferry

Even if you've never been to New York, you've seen the triple-decker orange vessel in front of the iconic Statue of Liberty. Peninsula residents use this vehicle every day to get to work for free. However, for travellers, the ferry is an opportunity to see what to see New York sights and world-famous landscapes. In particular, when travelling on this vessel, you can see Governors Island in the east and Ellis Island in the west, and, of course, the important symbol of the whole country, Lady Liberty. The best views can be seen from the upper deck.

The ferry operates around the clock seven days a week, departing every 15-20 minutes and heading to the St. George terminal. It is worth considering that it is impossible to travel in both directions at once. So if you don't plan to explore the tourist attractions of Staten Island, you need to disembark before returning. You can buy snacks and drinks on board.

Snug Harbor Botanical Garden & Cultural Center

The Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is a Staten Island attraction managed by the renowned Smithsonian Institution. This natural and cultural oasis is located next to the St. George Ferry Terminal on the north shore of the island, so it is convenient to visit immediately upon arrival.

The territory of the complex is 83 acres, including the following locations:

• Staten Island Children's Museum;
• Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art;
• Botanical Garden.

There are also buildings dating back to the 19th century, made in the style of the Greek Renaissance, a beautiful chapel and one of the oldest concert halls in the United States. You can spend the whole day and even more here exploring cool places in Staten Island, attending various events with the whole family, and just strolling through the lush gardens.

If you're interested in the supernatural, including ghosts, you can take interesting tours of Snug Harbor buildings, such as the Surgeon's House or the Butcher's Cottage.

Staten Island Zoo

If you are travelling with children or just love animals, then one of the best things to do on Staten Island is to visit the Staten Island Zoo. Its feature is the large Serpentarium, which covers an area of 16 thousand square feet. This department has the largest collection of rattlesnakes and a large number of other reptiles.

In total, the zoo covers eight hectares, showcasing more than 800 species of fauna from around the world. The favourite and main character of the Staten Island Zoo was Chuck the Groundhog, an animal forecaster whose weather forecasts were 85% accurate. The zoo has a new aquarium with "walls of water" that showcases a variety of marine habitats, including

• tropical coral reefs;
• pacific kelp forests;
• Caribbean marine life.

The "biggest little zoo" can be reached by bus S-48, which runs from the St. George ferry terminal.

Fort Wadsworth

Places to see in Staten Island include a military fort located near the Verrazano-Norrows Bridge. The base was closed in 1994 after more than 200 years of functioning and protecting the state. Nowadays, one of the longest military forts has been transformed into a 226-acre public park.

In addition to its historical significance, the location offers amazing views of Brooklyn and Manhattan. To explore Fort Tompkins and the Battery Weed fortifications, as well as buildings built in the 19th century, it is best to sign up for a guided tour.

If you don't know what to do in Staten Island this weekend, try the unique experience of camping at Fort Wadsworth by booking a spot in advance during the season. Don't be surprised to see a large number of goats here in the summer, "hired" by the National Park Service to naturally destroy the weeds around the location.

Staten Island Children's Museum

What to do in Staten Island with children? A large number of entertainment programmes and events are offered by the Staten Island Children's Museum. With 12 different exhibitions on display indoors and outdoors, regular music and craft workshops, as well as summer camps, you can spend the whole day here without getting bored.

Most of the exhibits are interactive, so children and adults have the opportunity to participate in performances, build a house, go rock climbing, create music, and much more.

In addition, the Children's Museum of Staten Island has an entomological exhibition, where you can see cute and creepy insects up close, looking at them through a huge human-sized anthill. The collection also includes arthropods and giant millipedes.

Staten Island Museum

Located in a former retired sailor's dormitory, the Staten Island Museum is part of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center. It is one of the best places to go on Staten Island, dedicated to art, regional history, natural sciences, and more. Due to the variety of exhibits and artifacts, it will be interesting for both children and adults. In particular, some of the most popular exhibits are the Cabinet of Curiosities (Kunstkamera) and Remember the Mastodon. The latter demonstrates the ancient relatives of elephants that inhabited the island and the territories that later became densely populated areas of New York. Visitors also have the opportunity to learn about the life of the Lenape people who were the first to settle Staten Island.

Postcards: September 11 Memorial on Staten Island

This is a 2004 sculpture that rises above the waterfront overlooking New York Harbor. Postcards is an important monument dedicated to the memory of the victims of the September 11 terrorist attack.

The memorial honours more than 260 Staten Islanders who died during the 2001 World Trade Center attacks and the 1993 bombing. Next to the installation is another sculpture dedicated to the first responders who came to the rescue immediately after the attack.

Every Staten Islander who died during the terrible events is memorialized with their name, profile silhouette and facts about them. For many families, Postcards is the only place they can come to remember their loved ones.

New York Chinese Scholar's Garden

A great place to visit in Staten Island and a hidden gem of New York is the Chinese Scholar's Garden. The location is located on the territory of Snug Harbor. During a leisurely stroll among the green trees and bushes and zigzagging paths along the picturesque ponds, you can find your zen and get a boost of inspiration. Don't forget to check out the upper pavilion in the central courtyard. Here you can see a mosaic skillfully made of beer bottle fragments and rice bowls representing America and China, respectively.

This place reflects the design of the Ming Dynasty garden of the 15th century. The columns, amazing roofs, tiles and other original designs were created in Suzhou, China, and later refined in New York. Another feature is that the Chinese Scholar's Garden is one of only two authentic Chinese gardens in the United States.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Beach and Broadwalk

The best places to visit in Staten Island include the beach, which stretches for 2.5 miles between Miller Fields Gateway and Fort Wadsworth. This is one of the most popular locations for summer vacation, although it is open to the public all year round.

During the season, the largest number of people gather at two beautiful beaches: Midland Beach and South Beach. In addition to the opportunity to spend time by the water on a hot summer day, this place is known for its fantastic views of the iconic New York City skyline.

In the early 20th century, the coast of Staten Island was filled with colourful amusement parks. All of them were closed until the 1930s, but later, to the delight of the locals, a well-groomed promenade appeared here. The promenade is a famous place in Staten Island, founded in 1935. Here you can take a walk, ride a bike or go jogging while enjoying the beautiful views. In addition, there are toilets and showers on the waterfront, as well as snack bars selling drinks and snacks.

Jacques Marché Museum of Tibetan Art

If you want to learn more about the culture and art of the Himalayas and Tibet, you should visit Staten Island points of interest. The Jacques Marché Museum of Tibetan Art was designed and founded in 1945 by an American collector. The buildings of the art complex, which resemble a mountain monastery, deserve special attention. This is one of the first institutions of its kind built in the United States.

The museum contains ritual artifacts, replicas of Tibetan monasteries, paintings on scrolls, musical instruments, etc. Looking at the unique exhibits, one can appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the eastern region and open the curtain of its history.

The complex regularly hosts movie screenings, lectures, musical performances, meditation classes, tai chi and other fun activities in Staten Island. In addition, the museum is located in the heart of the island near the historic city of Richmond, with a gift shop and picnic areas.

National Lighthouse Museum

What is there to do on Staten Island upon arrival at the ferry terminal? The National Lighthouse Museum is located very close by, featuring a large collection of models (over 180) and other exhibits. The area of the cultural and educational institution is 2,400 square feet. The museum is dedicated to the history of lighthouses in the United States and their keepers. The following exhibitions are available:

• Life in Light: Lighthouse Keepers;
• Supplying National Light Stations: The General Depot;
• Lighthouses through time.

If you want to get an extra dose of the best things to do in Staten Island, you can book a seasonal boat tour for a fee. During the tour, you will travel to the nearest lighthouses of one of the busiest harbours in the world and other attractions along the coast.

The historic city of Richmond

Living History Museum, which takes visitors back to the colonial times of the late 1600s when the island was settled by the Dutch, is a great place in Staten Island. The historic city of Richmond includes 15 restored buildings, including a general store and a courthouse. You can spend all day and more here to see exhibits that demonstrate life in America over the past 300 years. Visitors also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a paranormal adventure, as the village is rumored to be haunted.

Outdoor enthusiasts can go on a hike exploring the surrounding park. The 100-acre location is part of the Staten Island Greenbelt, which covers a third of the island.

Freshkills Park

The largest landfill in the world until 2001 is now a Staten Island famous place. Today, Freshkills is a huge 2,200-acre park with a final completion date of 2036. Until then, the government is gradually opening individual locations.

Despite the history of this area as a giant landfill, Fresh Kills is definitely a must-see on Staten Island. In addition, after its completion, it will become one of the largest parks in New York City with art installations, children's and sports grounds, entertainment events, etc.

Currently, several parts are open to visitors, including:

• Schmul Park with basketball and handball courts;
• New Springville Greenway bicycle path;
• Owl Hollow Fields with well-maintained lawns and soccer fields.

Freshkills also attracts fans of windsurfing and kayaking on the park's waterways.

Boat cemetery

This place to visit on Staten Island is not an official New York City landmark, and you can see "No Trespassing" signs everywhere. Nevertheless, photographers and history buffs find workarounds to explore this abandoned location and take amazing photos of the rusty skeletons of historic ships. Careful observers can spot eagle and hawk nests on the tops of the masts.

The final resting place of the ships is located in Arthur's Kill on the west coast of the island and appeared after World War II. The Witte Marine Equipment company planned to dismantle the boats, but due to their large number, the idea failed. So now the ships are piled up and are deteriorating more and more naturally every day.

St. George's Theater

The best things to do on Staten Island can be found at the St. George's Theater, which is once again welcoming visitors. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy not only family-friendly performances but also the majestic interior. The building, opened in 1929, is decorated with Italian and Spanish Baroque paintings, stained glass windows, a grand staircase, and a huge dome.

The theater is located next to the St. George ferry terminal. The 2,800-seat auditorium hosts children's shows and musicals, shows by famous comedians and musicians, and other performances. In particular, Joan Rivers, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Mraz, and others have performed on the stage.

Roller Jam USA

If you want to feel nostalgic and just have fun, you can go roller skating on Staten Island. RollerJam USA is fun for all ages. Here you can celebrate birthdays or other important events, play games, dance to retro tunes, or go on dates. Every Saturday, RollerJam organizes adult-only nights. The skating rink is located a few minutes from the Staten Island train station.