HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style

Polaroid of the Week: Breathtaking Manhattan Skyline from the Staten Island Ferry

Polaroid of the Week: Breathtaking Manhattan Skyline from the Staten Island Ferry

After nearly eight months of travel in 2017 with minimal time in my adopted home of New York City, I made it a priority this year to immerse myself in its vibrant offerings—especially during the warmer months. Think free outdoor movies, concerts, kayaking, rooftop bars, park picnics, beaches, island escapes, and hidden neighborhood gems. While I checked off several bucket-list items from my 'NYC Summer To-Do List,' others remain for next year.

Standout memories include a relaxed picnic and bike ride on serene Governors Island with its iconic skyline panoramas; soaring views from the Empire State Building and One World Observatory; laid-back beach days at the Rockaways; a refreshing getaway to Fire Island off Long Island; and a recent ferry hop to Staten Island for a long-awaited microbrewery visit.

The free Staten Island Ferry is a must for every visitor, delivering unparalleled Manhattan skyline vistas—especially during golden hour just before sunset, as captured in this week's Polaroid. Surprisingly, I skipped it all summer despite my Staten Island wishlist (mostly pizza spots).

This ferry ride also serves as ideal mental prep for the New York City Marathon. In under three weeks—on November 4—I'll board again en route to the start line, joining 50,000 runners for the 26.2-mile journey across the five boroughs. A longtime dream, I'm thrilled yet daunted, sticking to my rigorous training plan for race day success.


Tourist Attraction
  • Polaroid of the Week: Discover the Museum of Feelings in New York City

    This week was truly celebratory, coinciding with my birthday and Thanksgiving. Anticipating stress from a pressing freelance project due by months end, I prioritized joyful activities to recharge: catching the Broadway hit The Book of Mormon (a must-see for theater fans), the eagerly awaited Angel Haze concert, a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner, and an unexpected highlight—the Museum of Feelings, which left me utterly mesmerized.Ill detail these highlights in my upcoming monthly roundup,

  • Coney Island Mermaid Parade: Vibrant Polaroids from the 32nd Annual Spectacle

    Last spring, while housesitting in New York, I was disappointed to miss Coney Islands iconic Mermaid Parade by just a few days, as we headed to Germany right before the event. This year, I was thrilled to be back in NYC for its 32nd edition on Brooklyns southern boardwalk.Founded in 1983, the parade celebrates local mythology—think street names like Neptune and Mermaid—while giving New Yorkers artistic freedom to express themselves through bold, imaginative costumes. Though many draw from mermai

  • Polaroid of the Week: A Magical Winter Day in New York City s Central Park

    On my journey from Peru to Germany, I couldnt resist a brief stopover in New York City, my favorite city in the world. Unbeknownst to me, it coincided with a major snowstorm that canceled hundreds of flights over the next few days—fortunately not mine!I arrived feeling underprepared, wearing Converse canvas shoes and a light rain jacket in -13°C (8°F) with 10 cm (4 inches) of snow on the ground.Despite my unsuitable attire, I layered up and wandered through Central Park, transformed into an ench