Staten Island Ferry

Taking a ride on the Staten Island Ferry doesn't sound quite as tempting as imbibing the delicious Malibu rum and pineapple juice concoction that shares its name. But be assured, a voyage on this orange behemoth of a boat is plenty fun in its own right.

Though the ferry's chief reason for existence is shuttling 60,000 Staten Islanders to and from Manhattan each day, a round-trip ride also boasts breathtaking vistas of the downtown New York skyline, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty -- all for free. That's right,
after reaching an all-time-high 50-cent fare in 1990, the Department of Transportation completely eliminated the fee in 1997, making the S.I. Ferry the only form of transportation in these parts (other than riding a mule) that's become more affordable in the last 200 years. Take note, MTA!

Ferry service runs 24 hours a day (check the official site for schedule) from Whitehall Ferry Terminal, which is located at the southernmost tip of Manhattan near Battery Park and is easily
accessible from the 1, N, R and W trains at South Ferry station and the 4 and 5 trains at Bowling Green.

From Whitehall, the boat cruises five miles across the Hudson to Staten Island's Saint George Ferry Terminal in a leisurely 25 minutes -- plenty of time to cozy up to that special someone, drink in the romantic views ... and perhaps drink an adult beverage. Yep, the Staten Island Ferry even serves booze, though its namesake cocktail is sadly not on the menu.

By Tom