Ahoy: Manhattan!

City-Kid Review:

Can we go again?
Yes.
Now?
Next time.
Ohhhhhhhh.

There is something truly magical about sailing off the coast of modern Wall Street on this century-plus-thirty-year old schooner. You can see the first original high rise, a red brick four-storey now tiny in comparison to the surrounding glass edifices,  just at the corner of South Street. It used to be a hotel.

The Pioneer Sail is marvelous. Not only do you get to run a small boat – hoist the sail, check the river water quality, etc – you get to remember that this bustling metropolis is actually a small island off the coast of North America.

You can allow your mind into flights of historical fiction, imagining what it might have been like for my twelve-year-old grandfather, along with many other children-grown-early emigrating from Poland and other European countries.

Manhattan is a magical place. Filled with dreams and passions and desires to ‘make it big.’ Or simply get by. Or, in some cases, get out. Whatever the motivation, one cannot argue that it does not bustle with human-made emotional electricity. There is never a dull moment.

Out on the water, in spite of the go-go-go of activities on the boat, there is, nevertheless, calm. The bobbing of the water and the flapping of the sail and the occastional weeeeeeek of the widow-maker – so named because – assuming all sailors were men – of your inevitable fate if you happen to be standing in front of it when it turns. Don’t worry – it is clearly marked and they are vigilant about our safety.

There is piece on the water in this little boat, a connection to our checkered and exciting history – a history of hope and fear and human striving and determination.

Need to Knows:

Location: The Pioneer launches from Pier 16, at South Street Seaport. The South Street Seaport Museum is just a little further inland at 12 Fulton Street

Opening Hours: Museum: Wed-Sun  11am-5pm.
The Pioneer sails Wed-Fri 7pm; Sat-Sun 1pm, 4pm, 7pm. You need to book in advance. Here is the site and the purchase tickets calendar.

Closest subway station is Fulton Street on the 2/3, A/C, 4/5.

Food: There is no food on The Pioneer but there are tons of places to eat around South Street Seaport. Check out Front Street for places.

Cost: Adults $32, Seniors and Children 0-12 $28. Ticket price also includes entrance to the museum and to the Wavertree next door.

Information correct at time of writing. 

Top-Tip

Go to the bathroom prior to getting on the schooner. There are bathrooms just south of the launch pier, at Pier 15.

The Imagination Playground is a wonderfully nautical themed playground, just across south street if your city kids want to run off their sea legs.

Information correct at time of writing.

If you go, do post pictures below or in the online adventurers group!

Do you have a favorite Aquatic New York experience? Please tell us about it in the comments section.

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