New York City is starting to show signs of Spring.  There are moments when it still gets cold and the wind can be chilly, but lately there are more days when the sun shines so brightly, so warm, and when the temperatures are high and the air smells like a new season.

This morning NYCity Mama woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her bedroom window.  She hadn’t heard this sound for some time, and the beautiful sound of nature inspired her to embrace the day to the fullest.  But she wasn’t sure what to do.  The list was endless.  With Midwinter recess in full swing, it seemed as if there was almost a surplus of activities and events going on throughout the city.  But with three boys, two of them under the age of 4 to care for, Mama was not in the mood to venture into a situation where it would be too busy for her to watch her kids.

So she went to her computer and put out the word via her Facebook status.  ”Looking for an adventure with the boys.” Within minutes her friend John suggested she take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry.  Not only is it free, but, he also pointed out, it was a beautiful day.

“Of course!” she thought, “What a wonderful idea!”  So she started getting the boys together, packed up all the necessary supplies, and headed out towards lower Manhattan.

The ride was long.  From Washington Heights to the South Ferry Terminal stop it is close to an hour train ride. Luckily for Mama, it was still early enough in the day where her boys where happy, awake, and playful.

They took the 1 train, after switching from the A, and it took them straight into the ferry terminal.  The wonderful thing about being a stay-at-home-mom is that you get to take these kinds of trips during the time when most people are working.  So it was them and a bunch of tourists, but not the tons of people that commute to and from work everyday.

The next ferry was leaving in 20 minutes, so Mama bought the boys something to drink from one of the nearby food vendors (cash only) and they sat alongside the windows, looking out to the water, and the Statue of Liberty from a distance.  The terminal is really spacious and bright, and pretty comfortable, especially when not crowded.

Once the ferry arrived, they quickly boarded, walking towards the back and taking the ferry’s elevator to the third level where they had access to the outside, on the left side of the ferry and could take in the views.

Mama has read reviews on travel guide sites where people, often tourists, complain about the views from the ferry, often disappointed that the Statue of Liberty is too far away.  But there are water tours for closer views of the statue, like the Circle Line, and she recommends that if the purpose is to see Lady Liberty in all her glory that people pay the fee for those purposes, otherwise, if a free ride is good enough, then so should the views be.

For Mama and the boys the views are stunning.  The view of the Brooklyn Bridge as they left the Manhattan shoreline, the salty smell of the river water, the sound of small waves softly crashing up on the ferry side as it made it’s way across, the seagulls flying up and down next to them as they watch and took pictures, the Staten Island skyline.  To Mama it was all wonderful.  The fact that there was hardly anyone on the ferry made for an extremely peaceful, quiet ride.

The ride is a short one, and often times, once they arrive to the Staten Island shore, they loop around the terminal to catch the next ferry heading back to the city.

The boys had really enjoyed their ferry ride, and it might’ve been enough of an adventure for the day.  But on this beautiful day, Mama decided she would do something she has never done before.

She would actually venture into Staten Island and take the kids to the Staten Island Children’s Museum.

So they exit the ferry and head to the gate indicating boarding location for bus S40 for stop at Snug Harbor.

And the adventure continues…(Read more on Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island, NY)