Things To Do With Kids in Staten Island

The ferry is free and the day on the other side is cheaper than anything in Manhattan.

Right off the ferry

1. Staten Island Ferry — free, 25 minutes, best Statue of Liberty view in the city.
2. Empire Outlets and the St. George waterfront — bathrooms, food, and skyline views.
3. Staten Island Yankees ballpark area — open plaza for running laps.
4. Staten Island Museum — small and manageable with little kids.

Snug Harbor

5. Staten Island Children's Museum — the whole reason many families make the trip.
6. Snug Harbor Cultural Center — 83 acres of gardens; the Chinese Scholar's Garden and the Connie Gretz Secret Garden with a maze and a castle.
7. Snug Harbor farm — small animals and a farmstand in season.

Nature and beaches

8. South Beach & the FDR Boardwalk — 2.5 miles of flat boardwalk, playground and splash area.
9. Great Kills Park — quiet beach and easy trails.
10. Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve — the only state park preserve in NYC.
11. Greenbelt Nature Center — free trails and family programs.

History kids actually like

12. Historic Richmond Town — a living history village with costumed interpreters.
13. Fort Wadsworth — free harbor views right under the Verrazzano.
14. Alice Austen House — small, waterfront, and free for kids.

Know before you go

• The ferry runs every 15–30 minutes; strollers roll right on, no folding required.
• The S40 and S46 buses connect the ferry to Snug Harbor in about 15 minutes.
• Pack lunch — options near the parks thin out fast on weekdays.