Looking for a fresh way to scout Brooklyn’s waterfront? Try a ferry. For $2.75, you can explore ports of call that cradle a bounty of cultural and culinary adventures. Island-hopping from Manhattan can begin at the Pier 11-Wall Street landing, where the salty air is invigorating and anticipation builds as vessels with names like Ferry Godmother, City Fishy and McShiny pull in to whisk you away.
NYC Ferry launched in 2017 and has expanded its reach ever since. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio championed the city-subsidized service (even far more than the city apparently knew), operated by Hornblower, a private company based in San Francisco, as a way for subway-starved neighborhoods to have a convenient transit option. Tourists can benefit, too. Snack bars, fairly clean bathrooms and a top deck with epic, windswept views of the Brooklyn Bridge and glittering shorelines are part of the ride.
Six daily routes link all five boroughs. A Governors Island shuttle runs on weekends through Sept. 11, according to a NYC Ferry spokeswoman. Vessels have a capacity of 150 to 350, relatively small considering the Staten Island Ferry can fit thousands. The longest line on balmy days is for Rockaway, Queens (tip: go before noon). Of 25 landings, eight are in Brooklyn; Greenpoint is temporarily closed owing to repairs. Dumbo/Fulton Ferry has its charms, including stunning Manhattan skyline views, waterfront parks, the century-old Jane’s Carousel and Bargemusic, a moored barge presenting chamber music concerts. The Brooklyn Navy Yard, North Williamsburg, South Williamsburg and Brooklyn Army Terminal/Sunset Park are more for commuters than sightseers.
Three stops that are fun for separate day trips are Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6, Red Hook and Bay Ridge, all along the South Brooklyn route. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6
On a recent sweltering day, a merciful canopy of trees shaded the path through Brooklyn Bridge Park, just off the landing at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Heights, bordering Cobble Hill. Families and groups of friends can easily spend hours picnicking on pesticide-free lawns and make use of sandy volleyball courts and playgrounds with two-story slides and cooling water jets. For get-up-and-go types, there’s a lot more to see.
Wander through Brooklyn Heights and be astonished by the beautiful medley of Federal, Greek-Revival and Italianate architecture. Columbia Place, Joralemon, Pierrepont, Clinton, Pineapple, Orange, Cranberry and…
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