Landing in New York for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. If you aren’t used to a big city, then New York can be pretty overwhelming. Learning how to navigate the subways can be a challenge at first. Do I take the A train? C train? Where does the R train go? Don’t get me wrong, subways can be the way to go to quickly get from stop to stop, but you miss out on the amazing scenery along the way. One of the best ways I was able to jump from Brooklyn, to Red Hook, to the Financial district was by water taxi.
Click here to check out the water taxi website
There are several ways you can ride the water taxi: get off at various points along the way, or ride the complete loop in 70 minutes.
One of the best features of getting out on the water to get around NYC are the amazing views, and the amazing views of the Statue of Liberty! If you are like me and weren’t interested in actually going to Ellis Island, then you can take in the amazing angles you get to see on the water taxi.
Water Taxi Route Includes stops at:
1. Pier 11, Slip A
- This stop is right near Wall Street. Walk just a few blocks to check out the famous bull, Museum of American Finance, and Battery Park
2. Pier 1 – DUMBO
What does DUMBO stand for? Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Shopping
- Eat! There are a lot of good places to check out (Gran Electrica, or River Café)
3. Red Hook
- This is a place that is being cleaned up and is slowly opening new little cafes and shops. We enjoyed walking around for a bit and grabbed some coffee and pastries at Hope & Anchor. The Fairway Market is also a great place to go.
- The main highlight of this place is the Ikea that is here!
- If you have time, grab a beer at Sixpoint Brewery
4. Hell’s Kitchen – Pier 79
- On this stop, you are just blocks from Times Square:
- Broadway Theaters
- Radio City Music Hall
- The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
- Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
- Carnegie Hall
5. World Financial Center
- The World Financial Center area is a definite must see. This is the site of the 9/11 memorial. The memorial is sobering. There are two gaping holes where the towers used to be with water cascading into the middle. There is also a museum you can check out right next to the Memorial site. This area is up and coming again. There are several new World Trade Center towers under construction / complete.
Have you ever taken a water taxi in New York? What was your favorite stop?
