Governor's Island Jazz Age Party, art, food, slides, hammocks, views, & more!

DON'T BE LATE: THE FERRY LEAVES AT 11:30 AM AND IT MAY BE EXTRA-CROWDED BECAUSE OF THE JAZZ AGE PARTY.

Let's take a short ferry ride to Governor's Island, a former Coast Guard base converted to a huge park. Expect beautiful views of the city skyline and waterways; tree-shaded paths, rolling lawns, and lovely old houses and churches; relics of the island's military past, including a large fort from 1810; the "hammock grove;" and a pair of food courts. In addition, we'll view the annual Jazz Age party, where people dress in elegant 1920s outfits and dance to a live jazz band, as well as several art exhibitions, the giant slides (optional) for all ages--including the longest in NYC--and a recently created hill with great 360-degree views of the harbor.
(No need to dress up, as we'll be viewing the jazz festivities from the periphery, unless you want to pay $60 to join the party.
DISTANCE: About 3 miles.

ENDING TIME: We'll return to the Manhattan ferry terminal at around 4 to 4:30 PM. But you can catch an earlier ferry if you wish.

LUNCH: Buy it at the food courts or bring your own. We'll eat at around 1:30 PM.

FERRY TICKETS: $5 round trip adults, free 65 and over (though you still needa ticket). You can purchase tickets in person, but I'd recommend buying online in case they're sold out due to the jazz age party.

TRANSPORTATION: 1 or R train to South Ferry (closest) or 4, 5 train to Bowling Green. (But 4 runs just every 20 minutes and 5 from brooklyn doesnt stop at bowling green.)

• From South Ferry, facing the big Staten Island Ferry building, walk to the left (northeast) along the waterfront to the nearby Governors Island Ferry building on South St.
• From Bowling Green, walk south on State St. to the S.I. ferry building, then left (northeast) along the water to the Governors Island ferry on South St.
  Consult MTA planned service changes for weekend subway changes.