Fun things to do in Staten Island, New York with kids

Like many native New Yorkers, I’m not familiar with Staten Island, and can probably count on one hand how many times I”ve been there before. Boy was I shocked to find out there are so many fun things to do in Staten Island. Staten Island looks like San Francisco and Houston had a baby and moved to Maryland. I viewed more American flags in one square block per than I’ve seen in any other city I’ve ever been in. It’s as if Staten Island no longer cares to prove its a part of New York, to the city itself but bypass the Big Apple and become a card-carrying member of the heartland itself.

Stately houses perched on hilltops set far back from the sidewalk sat crumbling slowly into disrepair. As if their long since developed unobstructed views of the water held the secret to their grandeur.

Unlike the rest of New York, these Staten Island streets weren’t meant for walking. I encountered not a single pedestrian on my 2-hour walk. Long stretches of sidewalk have been taken back by Mother Nature. Weeds taller than my daughter, bend and twist with their two close neighbors, reaching into the walkway straining for a bit of sunlight. Often reaching into my stroller and tickling my daughter we passed only to whip at my legs as they returned to their previous places.

Getting to Staten Island with kids

Getting to Staten Island on public transportation is quick and easy. On what one Staten Island taxi driver called the “the last free thing in New York.” The Staten Island ferry is a smooth thirty-minute ride from the South Ferry Terminal in Battery Park Manhattan. Check the schedule to make sure you’re not riding the ferry during the commuter rush, because outside of that time its a relaxing ride that lets you see the city from a different view. If you want the quintessential New York skyline view, and to see the Statue of Liberty en route to Staten Island, board the ferry at the right side of the boat when departing from Whitehall Station. When departing from Staten Island to Manhattan board the Staten Island Ferry from on the left side.

Fun Things to do in Staten Island

If you arrive at Staten Island via the Ferry there are a few attractions nearby that are worth checking out before exploring more of the island. The Richmond County Bank Ballpark, home to the Staten Island Yankees sits right on the water, a five-minute walk from the terminal. If you or your child are baseball fans this is the most intimate stadium you’ll find in New York City. Right past the stadium and down a flight of stairs is the Staten Island Memorial to 9/11, a stark white sculpture seemingly embraces the New York skyline in the distance. At the right angle, One World Trade center is nestled in the crux of the memorials outstretched arms, the empty space symbolizing where the Twin Towers once stood.

Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
Hours |closed on Mondays and after 5:00 PM Tuesday – Sunday
Price |The campus grounds are free to explore, while a few attractions have an entrance fee between $3 and $12 for adults, Free for children 5 and under

Snug Harbor was once a village for retired sailors, however, the 83-acre property now it houses a litany of arts and agriculture for the whole family to enjoy. The sprawling grounds contain a fun topiary maze that you enter through a faux castle facade, a greenhouse, and a children’s museum full of things to do, to name a few. The crown jewel of Snug Harbour is the Chinese Scholar’s Garden that has drawn the attention of millions. Sadly it was closed for a video shoot the day we went. The grounds also house a rose garden, an heirloom vegetable garden, compost sites, and a future winery. When arriving via Staten Island ferry from Manhattan you will need to take a cab, bus, bike,  or walk the more than a mile along Richmond Terrace, an industrial corridor, to get there.

Fort Wadsworth |Another one of the fun things to do in Staten Island is visiting Fort Wadsworth. Now part of Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort Wadsworth gives visitors plenty of unique opportunities to explore the site’s history as the United States longest running naval base. They offer daily tours of the Fort. There is also a photo point to get a stellar picture taken with the Verrazano bridge up close and personal in the background.

South Beach | To be honest, the only South Beach I’ve ever heard of is in Miami, and I’m starting to think there is a conspiracy to keep this lesser-known South Beach under wraps. This Staten Island beachfront is hands down the most picturesque beach in New York City. With warm ochre sand and an expansive view of the Verrazano bridge. If you’re heading straight to the beach from Staten Island’s St. George Terminal, transfer to the S51 bus to Father Capodanno Boulevard and Robin Road.

With miles of picturesque boardwalk, there are plenty of places to eat and things to do for the folks whose idea of a fun day at the beach is absent sand.

Where to Eat in Staten Island New York

Even Anthony Bourdain found the time to check out things in Staten Island for the mouthwatering fun that is the Staten Island food scene. Heavily dominated by Italian and Mediterranean food, the bourgeoning foodie scene is heavily influenced by the immigrant cultures that add flavor to the makeup of this borough.

Jimmy Max
Hours |Free kids pizza class 5:00 -7:30 pm
Price | $

Jimmy Max is a Staten Island staple, a neighborhood pizza place that bills itself as the Most “family-friendly restaurant” in Staten Island, New York. After finding out about their weekly pizza making class I has to check it out for myself, and see if they lived up to the hype. Jimmy Max is like a chain restaurant on the cusp of getting franchised imagine when Applebee’s was a neighborhood joint with a single location. They serve cheese, meat, and bread in varying combinations, with concoctions like Philly Cheesesteak Eggroll. The rosemary bread is served in heaping warm chunks, the overly salty bread is meant to be eaten warm, and served with cold packets of butter instead of olive oil.

However, on Mondays and Tuesdays between the hours of 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm with every adult entree you purchase up to two children will get to make their own cheese pizza for FREE. Be sure to call ahead in order to secure a spot. Pizza making is the top of every kid’s list of fun things to do in the kitchen, so be sure to check this out next time you’re in Staten Island. A Jimmy Max employee will take your kid to a pre-floured table and allow them to roll out and season their own dough. They apply all the ingredients besides sauce (the mess) at the table on their own under the supervision of an experienced pizza maker. However for an activity and a meal in New York City they can’t beat It’s like if they don’t ask patrons whether or not they want plastic straws and the food lacks seasoning.

Blue | This Mediterranean restaurant has been lauded as a go-to spot on Staten Island. Opened by restauranteurs that have about three distinct dining experiences to Staten Islands food scene. Blue is located a five-minute walk from the Richmond Terrace entrance to Snug Harbor and offers waterfront dining and a bevy of drinks. A quick peek at the water from Blue’s adjacent parking lot reveals that the view of what appears to be New Jersey’s commercial shipping dock is not spectacular. However, the food and decor are totally worth the visit, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Staten Island that are a bit more high brow.

Uncle Louie G of Westerleigh | Situated right next to Jimmy Max this place was an obvious choice for dessert. A Brooklyn staple and a childhood favorite I knew this Staten Island outpost would be a hit with my daughter. For $3 you get two heaping scoops of up to two flavors. I was really impressed by the fact that they had vegan almond milk- based Oreo Cookie Ice cream in stock that tasted really good.

Ralph’s Famous Italian Ice |This Staten Island-born chain has been whipping up Italian ices & ice cream in 100-plus flavors since 1928. As if holding on to its Staten Island nostalgia its one of those New York eateries that still cash only. With over 150 flavors to choose from in its original location, it’s a good thing you can fit up to two flavors into their rather large small size for just over 2 dollars. Open till 11:00 pm its a great place to score a snack before heading back to Brooklyn.

Fun things I want to do on my next visit to Staten Island

Freshkills Park | a former toxic dump, this parklands deserve the award for glow-up of the century. At three times the size of Central Park this 2,200-acre park is something you don’t expect to find in New York much less on Staten Island. there are over 360 acres of restored wetlands that I think would be the perfect place to go bird watching with tiny people. There is rumored to be a vantage point where you can see the NYC skyline in the distance with rolling hills in the foreground.

Mall | There’s a new mall at the landing site of the Staten Island Ferry that I’ve heard has really awesome deals for the savvy shopper

There are many fun things to do in Staten Island with kids, are you going to explore this part of New York on your next trip?

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