We are lucky to live in a city surrounded by water. But while we frequently travel over it on bridges or under it through tunnels, we rarely travel on it. This summer, mix up your commute or your day off with a refreshing ride on one of New York’s many ferries.
Hudson River Ferry
Venture across the Hudson and into New Jersey where you can explore towns like Hoboken and Weehawken. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, take a day trip on Metro North and ride the ferry from Beacon to Newburgh for $1.50. Fare: $9 one way from NY to NJ
East River Ferry
This two-year-old ferry service takes riders from Dumbo to 34th street with stops in between neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Greenpoint. The ferry also offers service to Governors Island on Saturdays and Sundays over the summer. Board with an appetite; there are now Brooklyn-based concessions available for snacking. Fare: $4/weekday, $6/weekend, $1/bike
Rockaway Ferry
Skip the subway and make your way to Fort Tilden on the Rockaway Ferry. Departing from Pier 11 in Wall Street, this route brings you through the New York Harbor, beneath the Verrazano Bridge and past the Coney Island boardwalk. You can also booze while you cruise as beer and other beverages are available on board. Fare: $20 one way, $5/surfboards and bikes
Seastreak Ferry
If you are planning a trip to Martha’s Vineyard this summer, avoid frustrating traffic and hit the high seas on the Seastreak. This five hour boat ride is a relaxing alternative to flying or driving and is outfitted with a full bar.
Fare: $240 roundtrip from NY, $30 roundtrip/bike
Staten Island Ferry
You see them all the time, those bright orange giants, slowly chugging back and forth between lower Manhattan and Staten Island. Most people use them to commute, but the twenty five minute ride is a great way to take in views of the city and the Statue of Liberty. Spend an afternoon as a tourist in your own city. Fare: Free
Water Taxi
Start in Dumbo in the afternoon and wind up in Hell’s Kitchen for dinner. Plan a trip to Ikea and haul your purchases home on the boat, or celebrate summer aboard the ZEPHYR Happy Hour Cruise, departing from Pier 16 in South Street Seaport. The options are endless when you buy the all-day pass. Fare: $30
Photo: Sean Davis
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram