Information
City: Staten IslandCountry: USA New York
Continent: North America
Staten Island, USA New York, North America
Overview
Staten Island, one of New York City’s five boroughs, sits southwest of Manhattan, with the Upper New York Bay glinting between it and New Jersey.Staten Island, with its quiet streets, sprawling green parks, and views of the bay, feels far more relaxed than the city’s other boroughs.Staten Island may sit farther out than Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens, but it’s packed with history, vibrant culture, and leafy parks where you can hear the wind in the trees.Staten Island sprawls across 57.5 square miles, placing it third among the boroughs by size.To the west lies New York Harbor, while the Arthur Kill-splitting Staten Island from New Jersey-runs along the south, and the Lower New York Bay stretches out to the east.The borough blends cozy neighborhoods with leafy parks and a handful of old stone landmarks.Compared to the bustle of other New York City boroughs, it feels more suburban-quiet streets, front porches, and leafy yards.The Staten Island Ferry links Staten Island to Manhattan, gliding past the Statue of Liberty with the wind in your hair and sweeping views of New York Harbor.Staten Island connects to Brooklyn via the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, a towering span of steel that ranks among the longest suspension bridges on the planet.St. George sits at the heart of Staten Island, anchored by the bustling Staten Island Ferry Terminal where the air smells faintly of saltwater.For anyone coming in from Manhattan, it’s the first place they step off the train-a true gateway into the borough.St. George is also famous for the Staten Island Yankees’ stadium-once called Richmond County Bank Ballpark-where the minor league team plays under bright summer lights.The neighborhood’s changing fast-fresh apartment towers rise next to buzzing cafés and small theaters that spill light onto the sidewalk at night.St. George boasts several notable historic spots, including the St. George Theatre-a lavish 1920s movie palace with velvet seats and gilded details-that now draws crowds for concerts, plays, and community events.South Beach is a peaceful, tree-lined neighborhood tucked along Staten Island’s southern shore.You can take in stunning views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, its steel arches gleaming in the sun, along with the historic Fort Wadsworth just down the shore.In the neighborhood, you’ll find the South Beach Promenade, a favorite spot for a stroll where the harbor glitters and Manhattan’s skyline stretches across the horizon.Tottenville, at Staten Island’s southern tip, has a quiet, suburban feel-tree-lined streets and front porches you might pass on a slow afternoon.You’ll find peaceful streets lined with charming homes, and the woods start just a short walk away.Tottenville sits close to Conference House Park, where the stone-fronted Conference House once hosted the final, desperate peace talks of the American Revolution.The neighborhood sits just a short drive from the Outerbridge Crossing, the span that links Staten Island to New Jersey.Great Kills is a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood perched on Staten Island’s eastern shore.Great Kills Park sits here, offering shady walking trails, quiet spots for fishing, and a marina where boats bob gently in the water.Families love this area for its warm, welcoming vibe, just a short stroll from the sandy beach, with top-notch schools and a cluster of charming local shops.West Brighton sits near the Staten Island Zoo, just a short walk from the quiet paths of Silver Lake Park.This neighborhood boasts shady, tree-lined streets, budget-friendly homes, and a handful of welcoming community centers.In West Brighton, you’ll find Wagner College, a private liberal arts school known for its strong academics and a campus where brick buildings rise among shady oak trees.New Dorp sits on Staten Island’s eastern shore, where the breeze smells faintly of salt from the bay.This is one of the borough’s oldest neighborhoods, its history stretching back to the 17th century when narrow cobblestone lanes first took shape.New Dorp’s a place of quiet streets, leafy parks, and a quick stroll to corner shops or a favorite café.New Dorp Beach draws crowds for a swim, a stretch on the warm sand, or casting a line into the salty breeze.Eltingville is a quiet, suburban-style neighborhood tucked into Staten Island’s southern end, where maple trees line the streets and front yards feel wide and open.Families love the area for its warm, welcoming vibe, top-notch schools, and neighbors who still stop to chat over the fence.In Eltingville, the transit hub puts buses and trains within easy reach, making it simple to crisscross the borough-sometimes you can hear the steady hiss of brakes as one pulls in.Staten Island is famous for its many parks and nature reserves, from quiet wooded trails to wide, sunlit lawns.Some of the borough’s standout green spaces include Staten Island’s Greenbelt, a sprawling 2,800-acre stretch of woods, trails, and quiet marshland.You’ll find winding hiking trails, quiet wetlands, and wildlife habitats alive with birdsong.High Rock Park and Wolfe’s Pond Park sit within the Greenbelt, where you can hike shaded trails, take in sweeping views, and spend a lazy afternoon exploring outdoors.Marine Park sits in Staten Island’s southern end, a sprawling green space with sports fields, a golf course, and walking paths that stretch for miles under the rustling trees.The park has a sandy beach where families spread blankets for picnics and kids splash in the water on hot summer days.Clove Lakes Park sprawls across 191 acres in the heart of Staten Island, offering shimmering lakes, winding trails under tall oaks, and charming pieces of historic architecture.It also features the Clove Lakes Boathouse, where visitors can rent rowboats or paddleboats and drift across the calm, green water.At the island’s southern tip sits Conference House Park, a historic spot anchored by the stately Conference House, where the last peace talks of the American Revolution once took place.The park overlooks shimmering blue water and makes a great spot for hiking, sharing a picnic, or watching herons glide overhead.Fort Wadsworth, once a vital stronghold guarding New York Harbor, now gives visitors sweeping views of the water and the towering Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.Now part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, it welcomes visitors to hike shaded trails, take in sweeping views, and wander through its old stone buildings.Staten Island is home to several museums and cultural spots that showcase its rich history and diverse traditions, including the Staten Island Museum-the borough’s oldest-where you’ll find exhibits on local natural history, art, and culture, from weathered fossils to vivid paintings.The museum features geology displays, wildlife dioramas, and snapshots of local history, along with vibrant contemporary art shows.The Staten Island Zoo, just a short walk from Silver Lake Park, ranks among New York City’s oldest, with weathered brick paths that hint at its long history.The zoo houses over 1,500 animals, from a massive python coiled in its glass enclosure to native species that roam the nearby hills.Alice Austen House sits in Rosebank, once the sunlit home of photographer Alice Austen, celebrated for her groundbreaking images from the early 1900s.Today, the house serves as a museum celebrating her life and work, where visitors can step into a sunlit room and see the world through the eyes of one of the first female photographers in the country.
Landmarks in staten-island