A ride on the NYC Ferry is a great way to see New York City from a new point of view—and cruising on the water is so much more exciting for jaded city kids than taking the boring old subway—especially during the summer. The NYC Ferry system makes it easy and fun to hop on a boat for a day trip to a not-so-distant shore.
While we're big fans of all the family activities you can enjoy on Governors Island, and riding the FREE Staten Island Ferry is on our list of the top 100 things to do with kids before they grow up, the NYC Ferry has opened up tons more waterfront neighborhoods to easy exploration. Here are our favorite things to do near NYC Ferry stops, plus a couple of longer ferry rides that will whisk you away to nearby shores for a daycation.