16 Reasons to Love Governors Island

City-Kid Review:

I love the field, and the stuff, and the climbing thing, and the hammocks, and the goats, and the compost, and the field, and the ferry, and the bell. Can I have an ice cream?

We have been regulars, going to Governors island  several times a year,  since it was decommissioned. We love it.
So why have I not written about it for an entire year? You’d think it would be an obvious first choice.
I have my reasons.
I will get to them in a minute. Or you can scroll down directly to ‘My Rant’.

My father-in-law and his family stayed at Governor’s Island when it was a military base,  so my partner waited with baited curiosity for the first chance to return as an adult and an ordinary civilian. When the island first opened to the public, it was a truly idyllic escape, just a short boat ride away  from the hustle and bustle of the Big City.

Artists moved in first and, being the visionaries they often are,  reated interested installations and imaginative visions. It was the artsy version of the Wild West. Relaxed and funky bars and food places opened up – artists gotta eat. None of the roads or greens had officially displayed names – I suspect some were not even named yet –  and it was all a very relaxed and peaceful place.
It was, also, fun.
One summer an entirely french turn-of-the-century fun fair opened up on one of the lawns, complete with pommes frites et bier blanc. I’ll always treasure City Kid’s first ride on a carousel, outside of France, being on an old french carousel on Governors Island.
Another summer an entire green was taken up with art exhibits filled with fascinating and fun experiences. I remember looking into an exact mirror which showed my face the way others saw it.

I thought it would be like that every year. Alas, no.

Every year, there has been new tinkering, something different. More corporate, fewer artists.
But, still, artists. And spots for relaxation, for activity, for walking and cycling. It’s still rather lovely. It’s just hard to adjust, sometimes. Once a park ranger said to me, ‘yes, sometimes people feel ownership and find change hard.’
In this case, that is me. For sure.

My rant:
I did not write about Governors Island last year, out of protest.

Firstly, after five years, the wonderfully whimsical tree house was taken down. Created by the artists of Figment, it was a place of delight and respite around an ancient oak tree and for five years, children scrambled and scampered all around the tree house, and slid down an enormous slide located at one end. It was temporarily replaced by work upon which you could not climb. I remember my heart breaking a little when I saw folks tearing it down.

Secondly, and more importantly to me, last summer I was upset to see that one of the oldest, most delicious, resplendent and plentiful mulberry trees in all of New York City had been chopped down. The reason given? To flatten out the central lawn in order to make it more amenable to concerts. As if the city does not have enough outdoor venues for concerts! (I do not often use exclamation points but sometimes you just gotta…)

Breathe.

Having gotten that off my chest, I am happy to say that I still think Governors Island is an absolutely wonderful place to visit. It has something for everyone. There are forts, there are hammocks, there is a farm, there are goats, there are Adirondack chairs, there are events, there are family fun days, heck, there is a zipline, there are fantastic views, there is food (on weekends), there are new things being added all the time, there are flappers once a summer, there is joy, there are century’s old trees,  there is respite. It is very fun to get on a ferry and go somewhere different and still be in the city.

They have slides! They have the longest slide in New York City. I may do an entirely separate post about those because they rock. 🙂

And one thing we really, really love? NO CARS! Yes, there are golf carts and bikes but it is such a pleasure to be pollution and car-traffic free.

Yep. Governors Island is wonderful.

Need to Knows:

Location:  Governors Island is off the south tip of Manhattan in New York Harbor.

Nearest subway: 1 train to South Ferry, the 4/5 to Bowling Green, R to Whitehall Street. From Brooklyn, the 2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall or the R to Court Street. Walk towards the water in both instances.

Ferries run from Manhattan daily. The schedule is here. Ferries run from Brooklyn, Pier 6, on the weekends.

Cost: The Ferry costs $3 per adult, children under 12 are free, NYCID holders are free. Military Personnel are free. Senior Citizens are $1.

Food places are basically open at the weekends. During the school vacation, often there will be food places open during the week. I have discovered that food places which should be open are very often not open during the week. It varies. On the weekend, there are plenty of carts from which to choose.

Information correct at time of writing. 

Top-Tip

My favorite food cart? Hands down – Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights.

In Manhattan on a sunny evening,  Stone Street is a lively place to have dinner, with tables and chairs from all of the different restaurants lined up, back to back, outside on the cobbled street.

If you take the ferry over to Brooklyn, be sure to check out the playground right when you come off the ferry.

What is your favorite NYC park? Please tell us about it in the comments section.

If you go, can you take a photo and post on the CityKidAdventures facebook page? Here is the link. Would love to see them!

Sign up to become a City-Kid Insider. You will receive upcoming adventure tips and ideas, which I only share on email.