Planning on spending the weekend in Staten Island? Whether you're flying in from another state or taking a staycation, Staten Island will not disappoint. The best part about the island is that you can experience a perfect weekend getaway with miles of beaches, parks, wildlife refuges and botanical gardens. No wonder why Staten Island is known as the city's greenest borough!
For a weekend full of adventure and fun, here are five activities to include on your calendar.
Located on the grounds of Snug Harbor, the Children's Museum offers a wide variety of interactive exhibits where kids can learn about nature, science, culture and history. Parents can join in on the fun, too! Make light dance, run a conveyor belt, fish for oysters and climb a rock wall. It's all possible at the Staten Island Children's Museum!
After spending a few hours at the Children's Museum, head over to Staten Island Zoo, which is open year-round for visitors. The zoo may be small, but that doesn't mean you won't see your fair share of animals. Follow the path through the reptile house, tropical forest wing and amur leopard habitat. The zoo also has native animals from Australia, Africa and the Sahara Desert.
La Rosa Chicken and Grill is located on Victory Boulevard in Staten Island. Open daily from 11am-9pm, you can stop here for delicious crispy or grilled chicken. We also have an assortment of fresh salads, homemade side dishes and freshly baked breads. Order separate meals for everyone or choose a generous family meal that's perfect for sharing!
New York is full of specialized museums, but the Staten Island Museum gives you the whole package. Here you'll find exhibits containing natural and manmade artifacts, works of fine art and history collections. Not only can you learn about the history of Staten Island but also the world at large. The exhibits are always changing so each visit is a unique experience!
Though the borough is accessible by car, it's much more fun to take the Staten Island Ferry. You'll get a scenic tour - and you don't have to pay a dime! That's right, the Staten Island Ferry is a free service provided by the city of New York. You can get great photo ops of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
It's hard to narrow down just five activities because Staten Island has so much to offer. But these five ideas will get your weekend started off right. The best part is that none of these activities will break the bank - and you can do all of them in a day or two!