You Will Be Merry While Riding The Ferry

By Golda Turner

 Summer is winding down and the fall foliage season is about to begin. For nature enthusiasts like me, watching the brilliant displays of multicolored leaves waving in the breeze is the highlight of the season. Each year anew I wonder at the amazing displays of color all around us. It is awe inspiring to view foliage featuring shades of green, yellow, orange, and rust contrasting with the bright blue sky and green grass, looking almost like a beautiful patchwork quilt.  

Though it is back-to-school-and-work time, we have always tried to make at least a few short trips to enjoy the scenery before winter sets in. It is the grand finale of the growing season in all of its glory, similar to the last impressive bursts of multicolored fireworks across the sky at the end of the show.

One of our favorite ways to see the grand majesty of fall is on the water, where the magnificent colors of the surrounding trees and blue sky are reflected on the shimmering face of a river or lake.

Out on the water, with the bright sun caressing you and the breeze blowing in your face, you feel a sense of relaxation, as if time has slowed down. Your boat sways gently back and forth as it makes its way to the shore beyond. You look around, and see beautiful views to commit to memory, just begging to be photographed and framed.

One of the best ways to enjoy the trip is by ferry. Though there are a number of attractions featuring ferries, there are also many commuter ferries that are relatively inexpensive to ride. Most depart from modern terminals and feature both open and closed decks, comfortable seats, and quick, smooth rides. Some will even carry your vehicle across to the opposite shore. A few can even accommodate trucks and RVs. Many ferries are wheelchair accessible on their main decks, though restrooms may be an issue. Contact each individually for more information.

Planning a day at the park or some other venue in New York? Add some spice to your outing by catching a ride on one of the ferries servicing the New York City area. Start your day with a wonderful opportunity to soak up the skyline views from a different perspective.

One of the most famous is the Staten Island Ferry (New York City www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/staten-island-ferry.shtml#passenger), a commuter ferry which has been plying the waters between Manhattan and Staten Island for over 100 years. The 25-minute voyage offers riders stunning vistas of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Best of all, it is currently a free ride! Both ferry terminals are accessible, and disabled passengers can board the ferry on the lower level.

New York Waterway (New York www.nywaterway.com) runs over a dozen Hudson River commuter ferry routes between a number of locations in the New York/New Jersey area. Northern New Jersey to NYC destinations include Midtown Manhattan, Wall Street, Battery Park City. All routes give stunning views of the New York City skyline. The company also runs free commuter shuttle buses from the dock to a few of the main Manhattan areas. A bit further upstate, they run between the suburbs of Haverstraw & Ossining, and Newburgh & Beacon. The ferries are wheelchair accessible as are the buses.

NYC Ferry (New York City https://www.ferry.nyc) has six routes traveling the waterways between waterfront communities throughout the boroughs of New York City. They travel the East River, and between Governor’s Island, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Far Rockaway, and the Bronx. Wheelchair accessible.

Would you like to visit our national monuments, the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island? Both are accessible only by water. Statue Cruises (New York City https://www.cityexperiences.com/new-york/city-cruises/statue/) provides ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. They leave from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Wheelchair accessible.

And now, it is time to get away from the steel and bricks of New York City to take a relaxing fall foliage cruise as part of an enjoyable day trip.

Seastreak (https://seastreak.com/) operates a number of commuter routes between New York City, Sandy Hook Beach and other towns in New Jersey, Nantucket MA, and Martha’s Vinyard MA. They also do special summer & fall foliage cruises, lighthouse tours, and whale watching.

Cross Sound Ferry (https://www.longislandferry.com/) is a 1 ½ hour ride which crosses Long Island Sound to connect New London CT with Orient Point, NY. Board yourself or take along your car. The company also does a 2-hour narrated cruise to view the many area lighthouses. Some ferries are wheelchair accessible.

Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry (https://www.88844ferry.com/) is a ferry service between Bridgeport CT and Port Jefferson NY which accommodate both passengers and vehicles. Relax as you enjoy the 1 ¼ hour ride across Long Island Sound.

Sail across the Delaware Bay between New Jersey and Delaware on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry (Delaware Bay https://www.cmlf.com/). On the 85 minute cruise, you will pass lighthouses, harbors, and perhaps even see dolphins. The ferry carries both passengers and vehicles. Partially wheelchair accessible. Contact them in advance for assistance.

On the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat (Essex CT https://www.essexsteamtrain.com) you can ride the restored steam train with antique carriages through wooded areas and marshes, then board their ferry for a narrated ride up the Connecticut River past Gillette Castle. It is the perfect trip for fall foliage viewing. Due to the age of the restored train cars, it is not wheelchair accessible.

Are you planning a trip north on the NYS Thruway? Take a side trip to ride the Lake Chaplain Ferries between New York & Vermont (Lake Champlain https://ferries.com) The Plattsburg ferry is a 15 minute ride connecting Interstate 87 in New York to interstate 89 in Vermont. The Essex ferry is a more leisurely 30 minute ride offering spectacular views of the Adirondack and Green Mountains. Both routes accommodate vehicles.

Go back in time to the days of steamboats. Lake George Steamboat Company (Lake George https://www.lakegeorgesteamboat.com/) runs cruises of various lengths across Lake George with their vintage steamboats, including Mini-Ha-Ha, one of the last existing steam paddleboats. Wheelchair accessible.

Wherever you go, there is so much to see. So make your family merry. Take a ride on the ferry.