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I’ve been excited ever since the East River Ferry asked me to come up with 4 great day trips for families highlighting stops along their ferry route. It’s given me a chance to visit and revisit some of our favorite haunts. I did posts on what to do in North Williamsburg, Governor’s Island and Long Island City. Our last ferry excursion is to Wall Street/South Street Seaport: a place where imagination takes you back in time to old NYC.
Ferry Stop Landing:
Wall Street/Pier 11
Wall Street/Pier 11 landing
It’s a fun ferry ride from Brooklyn to Wall Street/Pier 11: the views along the way are fantastic and it’s terribly exciting to see the city’s mammoth downtown buildings get closer as you approach your destination. When you disembark from the ferry into the shadow of the skyscrapers, the first thing your child might want to do is to find some open space to run around.
There’s no better place to do that than at Imagination Playground, one of the city’s most creative playgrounds. Just a short walk north and you have found playground paradise.
Imagination Playground. Image courtesy of Imagination Playground
Imagination Playground at Burling Slip, designed by famed architect David Rockwell is an inventive and open-ended playground that has elements of sand, water and moveable parts. This playground is not for the idle- it’s a busytown with lots of individual and collaborative activity going on at all times.
Blue foam blocks at Imagination Playground
The playground is gated, so although the playground can get very crowded, a parent can actually relax on the wooden bleachers under the shade of the umbrellas. There are a few park rangers at all times monitoring the playground and facilitating the use of its various elements.
There are umbrellas around the perimeter, but it still gets very hot. The children on the playground are fully exposed to the sun, so make sure you bring hats and sunblock.
Sand area. Image courtesy of Imagination Playground
The wonderfully shaped blue foam blocks allow kids to construct in amazing ways. It’s fascinating to watch the kids negotiate with one another and then decide when and how to dismantle the creations. Even small children get into the fun of the foam pieces: they roll and bump them along trying to make them their own.
Imagination Playground: building a huge fort. Image courtesy of Imagination Playground
A water trough with manipulative PVC piping.
Image courtesy of Imagination Playground
Megaphones of all sizes: even some big enough to put your whole face in!
Image courtesy of Imagination Playground
Imagination Playground
John St and Front St
New York, NY 10038
Open from 9 am- 6:30 pm.
All this creative play can be taxing for everyone, so a stroll to the South Street Seaport, (a couple of blocks away), with its many restaurants, ice cream shops and vendors, can provide some sustenance for more exploring.
Yes, South Street Seaport, is touristy, but I love going here as do many New Yorkers. Ignore the big box shopping and imagine the seaport as it was hundreds of years ago with its old sailing vessels, markets and cobblestone streets. Many of these older elements still exist and can be fully admired in juxtaposition to the newer parts of the seaport that offer modern amenities and entertainment.
The cobblestone streets.
A weekend farmers market occupies the historic former fish stalls that line South Street between Fulton and Beekman Streets. The market is held throughout the summer on Saturdays and Sundays with occasional live music performances and art exhibitions throughout the season. Over a dozen vendors (both permanent and rotating) offer fresh fare and unique artisan objects. Grab a great pizza or some poffertjesmans on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am – 5pm.
Farmer's Market on Saturdays and Sundays
There is a huge shopping mall inside of Pier 17, but, it’s not the stores you are after; it’s the food court. We often eat here with the children since it’s fast and easy and the views from the top floor food court are fantastic.
Looking up at Food Court seating. Image Courtesy of http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com
The various ships coming in and out of the seaport are a fun distraction for the kids which allows us to have a peaceful meal for once.
View from 4th Floor Food court. Image courtesy of http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com
If you want something a little more sophisticated than the food court (can’t say I blame you!), then try some of the family friendly and casual restaurants nearby: Jeremy’s Ale House, Johnny Rockets for a good hamburger or Uno’s Chicago for their famous deep dish pizza. Or, better yet, wander on some of the side streets and find a little cafe on your own.
Older kids might love the Bodies Exhibit. I have never seen it because I am squeamish (unlike the 10 year olds who seem to love this exhibit!), and also the ticket prices are steep, but many people do recommend the show.
There are live concerts all throughout the summer and the highly recommended Children’s Day was postponed to September 30th, 2012. Put it on your calendar.
Walking up and down the pier to see the old ships is fascinating: it really takes you back in time. You can board some of the ships for a fee.
Image courtesy of http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com
South Street Seaport
19 Fulton St
(between Front St & Water St)
New York, NY 10038
If you have the energy, your next stop is at the newly renovated South Street Seaport Museum. Using a combination of historical information, model building and contemporary installation techniques, the museum’s exhibits are engrossing and visually compelling.
Here are some of the must-sees:
Super Models: Ship Replicas from the Collection showcases two dozen magnificently crafted ship models selected from among the South Street Seaport Museum’s collection of more than 2,500.
Super Models!
Bottled Up: Miniature Vessels from the Collection presents ships in bottles from the collection of the South Street Seaport Museum. Ships include beautifully detailed miniature schooners, clippers, barks, and other sailing vessels. Also on view is a special “spoiler” installation that allows kids to learn the secret of how those boats fit through the necks of those tiny bottles.
Bottle Collections
Ship Breaking: Photographs by Edward Burtynsky provides kids with an opportunity to see how decommissioned ships are dismantled.
Breakikng
Family Programs: Adults with children ages 6 to 9 can visit a Museum exhibition with a professional educator for a family-friendly discussion and craft project about how objects and images tell the story of the past. Topics will include the island’s geography and ecology, what life was like in New Amsterdam, and more. Every other Saturday. Reservations necessary:(212) 748-8676 or reservations@seany.org
Mini Mates: drop-in program for children ages 18 months to 3 years old learning hands-on through arts and crafts, music and movement, play, and story time. Reservations required:(212) 748-8676 or reservations@seany.org
South Street Seaport Museum
12 Fulton Street
New York NY 10038
Your trip on the ferry to LIC:
To help you prepare for your ferry trip: tickets are $4 for a one way trip between 2 stops (bike is $1 extra) or if you get an all day pass ($12), you can hop on and off various locations. For all the info and maps go to the East River Ferry site here. If you get hungry on the ferry, you can order a cup of coffee from Brooklyn Roasters or an egg cream.