New York's Staten Island Ferry

© Rebecca Wood

New York Instructor John Bentham and his Advanced students photo-document a trip on the Staten Island Ferry. The Staten Island Ferry provides 20 million people a year with ferry service between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan.

The ferry is the only non-vehicular mode of transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. The 5 mile, 25 minute ride provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One guide book calls it "One of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages." From the deck of the ferry is a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan receding as you pull away and coming into focus again as you return.