After a superb flight on Virgin Atlantic from the UK last October, I found myself with a free day in the New York City area before connecting to Florida.
Having visited New York several times before and seen all of the textbook attractions, I decided on a quiet day. The stand-out thing to do for a transport enthusiast was the Roosevelt Island Tramway, my trip on which had been stymied by a particularly vicious snowstorm on my last visit to the city.
On my way to the Tramway, I passed by the iconic sights of Times Square and the famous Rockerfeller Center skating rink.
The Tramway is not in fact a tram, but more akin to a cable car, with large gondolas suspended over the East River, reaching the island in around seven minutes. The fare is $3 (£2.25) and is paid by cash or card at the terminal’s ticket machines.
The island itself, despite lying mere minutes from the busy streets of Manhattan, is peaceful and tranquil and a haven for wildlife and woodland creatures.
From the Tramway terminus, I walked to Southpoint Park via the FDR Hope Memorial and the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital, before traversing the roughly two-mile (3km) length of the island on foot.
At the northern end of the island lies Lighthouse Park with its historic stone lighthouse built by penitentiary inmates in the 1870s.
Although the island is easily walkable, with the late-October temperatures beginning to bite, I took the free Red Bus shuttle back towards the Tramway Plaza and Ferry Landing.
For the return journey, I opted to view the city from the water level, rather than suspended above it, and took NYC Ferry’s Astoria Line to Lower Manhattan. The 35-minute journey via the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard is made on small commuter ferries, complete with a concession stand. The $4.50 (£3.40) fare is payable on the NYC Ferry’s app or by cash or card at the terminal on the eastern side of the island.
After alighting at Pier 11, next to the financial hub of Wall Street, I stopped by the new No. 1 World Trade Center building, an imposing beacon of resilience following the tragic events of 2001, before heading onward to the New Jersey side of the Hudson River.
My day on Roosevelt Island was a pleasant and relaxing interlude between my flights. The island is an oasis of calm, nestled by the bustling metropolis of Manhattan. It is well worth taking a few hours out of even the most hectic of schedules to take a leisurely stroll around the historic sights.
