I’ve talked about Governors Island a few times here on the blog. It is an island that served as a military base for almost 200 years and is about 800 meters from Manhattan. It is open to the public during a season, which begins in late May and runs until the end of September. There are a lot of reasons to visit this island like abundant green space, outdoor activities and a privileged and wonderful views. You can click here and check out more photos of the place. From Governors Island, you can see the skyline of Manhattan, New Jersey, the Hudson River, Brooklyn Bridge and even the Statue of Liberty.
A few weeks ago, more precisely on July 19th, Governors Island opened a new area to the public: The Hills. I was there last week to check closely and I confess: I was delighted with the proposal of the new area. If the Governors Island was already one of my favorite places in New York, the opening of The Hills has only strengthened it.
Located in the south of the island, the area has artificial hills up to 20 meters high, providing a 360-degree view. One of the hills has a lookout, with a view overlooking the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty, and, of course, the view of the Manhattan skyline with the One World Trade Center and the other imposing buildings . The area of The Hills has paved lanes, where you can ride, as well as extensive grassy area to sit and relax. As the region is new, the vegetation is still developing and the trees are low. In some years, the growth of plants, the look will be even more amazing. I was impressed with the size of the area – it is certainly a must-see place to enjoy incredible views of the city.
And there’s fun for little ones! One of the artificial hills of The Hills area has slides – the island firm are the city’s largest slides. I was there on a Wednesday and the children had weight advantage of the new attraction.
Governors Island is open to the public until September 25th and access to the island is made by a ferry daily during the season and the ticket (round trip) costs only $2! On Saturdays and Sundays, the ferry is free until 11:30 am. The ferry departs from the Battery Maritime Building (10 South St.), next to the Staten Island Ferry station. The first ferry leaves at 10 am from Manhattan and the last return time is at 6pm on weekdays and 7pm on weekends. For more information, visit the official website. Below you can check out a video recorded on the island for two years.
Laura Peruchi is a Brazilian blogger, author, and entrepreneur. She has lived in Manhattan with her husband since 2014. Since then, she has shared on her blog varied content about the Big Apple. From travel tips, including unusual things to do, shopping tips, etiquette, restaurants, and a lot more, her blog has become a reference in Portuguese (also available in English) for anyone planning a trip to New York City.
