Free Sightseeing NYC: Roosevelt Island Tram

Good views in New York City are pricey! Tourists will pay about thirty dollars just to view the skyline from the top of Rockefeller Center and it costs over forty bucks to see the cityscape from the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building. But there are other somewhat less impressive ways to view the infamous skyline for a fraction of the cost! How? The Roosevelt Island Tram. After a photographer friend showed me some breathtaking shots he had taken while aboard, I was convinced to check it out myself.

The Roosevelt Island Tram operates seven days a week and provides transportation between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. For one metro-card swipe, you can board the tram in Manhattan at 2nd Avenue and 60th St and enjoy the panoramic view that the three and half minute ride offers. The Chrystler Building, United Nations, and entire East Side are visible as you leisurely travel above the East River. The rain today ruined many of my pictures but Yelpers have posted tons of photos of the view including the ones below.

Once off of the tram, you can board a bus for $.25 that will take you around the perimeter of the two mile island. The parks at either end of Roosevelt Island, conveniently called Northpoint and Southpoint, also offer great views of Manhattan. I imagine on a sunny, warm day that picnicking would be a great idea! 

Granted, the view from the tippy top of a skyscraper is probably more impressive but if you're just looking to gape for a few minutes at the wonder of the man-made effort that is the NYC grid, the Roosevelt Island Tram is a great option!

If you're jonesing for another way to see the city skyline without paying an arm and a leg, check out my post about the Staten Island Ferry! 

Take a Free Ride on the Staten Island Ferry

Yesterday I found myself at a loss for how to spend my Saturday evening. After browsing my usual sources for cheap events, it seemed like there was nothing fun happening in the city  (which proves how much of a spoiled New Yorker I've become). I racked my brain for an enjoyable, free way to spend a summer evening in the city. And then it came to me...the Staten Island Ferry! 

I know what you're thinking: why would anyone who lives in Manhattan spend thier Saturday night going to Staten Island? Not that I have anything against this forgotten borough because I'm sure if I explored I would find many redeeming qualities. But it's definitely not the mecca of entertainment and culture that is Manhattan. So why go, you ask? Well, as R. Alan Woods would say, "The journey is the destination."

Leaving from the Whitehall Station at the Southern tip of Manhattan, a ride on the Staten Island Ferry offers great views of the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. The ferry has a deck and ample outdoor seating so passengers can enjoy the view. The ride takes about 25 minutes one way and ferries operate twenty-four hours a day. Best of all, it's free! The best time to go is in the evenings, after rush hour. There's something hypnotic about watching the lit up city skyline get smaller and smaller as the sea breeze blows through your hair. It's a summer must-do!

So grab some friends, your camera, and maybe a beer or two and hop on! You can get more information and check the schedule for departures here.