Explore New York City's islands, from City Island to Ellis Island

Summertime is island time. Maybe you won't be able to swim in Caribbean waters, but no worries; there's another kind of island fun closer to home.

Make your way to New York City where there are dozens of islands. Here are four to explore:

City Island

The Bronx is a little over an hour’s drive from Long Island. It’s there you’ll find City Island. You might think you landed in New England since it’s got a similar charm. The action is on City Island Avenue, a 1.5-mile strip with food of all sorts, though for sure seafood reigns supreme here. A tried and true tradition is The Lobster House (691 Bridge St., 718-885-1459, cilobsterhouse.com). Load up on lobster mac ‘n cheese, the baked baby lobster tail platter, fish and chips, prime rib and lobster tail. The cocktails will do their job, too. Make yourself comfy at the Hemmingway Room or the outdoor  bar before your meal.

Sammy’s Fish Box is another go-to (41 City Island Ave., 718-885-0920, sammysfishbox.com). Feast on oysters Rockefeller, Bang-Bang shrimp, Sammy’s chowders and other goodies.

City Island Avenue isn’t just food. There are also shops and art galleries like Focal Point Gallery, featuring works by local artists (321 City Island Ave., 718-885-1403).

The City Island Nautical Museum is where to go to explore the island’s maritime and boat-building history (190 Fordham St., 718-885-0008, cityislandmuseum.org; $10 ages 13 and up; weekends only). 

Marvel at the many historic homes. King Avenue has waterfront mansions, Belden and Horton streets' historic cottages and Minnieford Avenue bungalows.

Roosevelt Island

Who hasn’t wanted to ride that bright red tram to Roosevelt Island? The Roosevelt Island Tramway leaves from East 60th Street and Second Avenue (rioc.ny.gov).

You’ll get the best scenery of the island if you make your way to the front of the tram. Fret not though if you’re on the right side — you can peep the Queensboro Bridge. If you’re in the back on the left, ooh and ahh at upper Manhattan and the East River ($3 each way).

Take in the history at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park (1 FDR Four Freedoms Park Roosevelt Island, 212-308-3350, fdrfourfreedomspark.org; free). From the bronze bust of him to his legendary Four Freedoms speech engraved in granite, celebrate all things FDR.

Southpoint Park is another ideal spot, seven acres of tranquility, awash in greenery and waterfront views (S. Loop Road/East Road, 212-832-4540). You’ll find the ruins of what was the Smallpox Hospital and Strecker Memorial Laboratory. If you’re in a mood for reflection, the tiered Meditation Steps awaits you. It’s a quiet space along the western riverfront in the park with views of the East River and Manhattan.

What’s an island adventure without a lighthouse? The Roosevelt Lighthouse Park (910 Main St., nyctourism.com) is home to a 50-foot tower built in 1872. While there take in The Girl Puzzle, five 7-foot bronze faces and three stainless steel spheres that honors journalist Nellie Bly, who shook things up with her writings detailing the conditions at the nearby asylum.

For retail therapy, head to Main Street, where the action is with its shops and restaurants. One favorite is Granny Annie’s Bar & Kitchen (425 Main St., 646-596-8582, grannyanniesnyc.com). Delight yourself on fare like bangers and mash, Irish chicken curry or Granny’s Irish ale battered fish and chips. Also popular is Piccolo Trattoria (455 Main St., 212-753-2300, piccolopizza.online), where you can feast on shrimp Francese, chicken cacciatore and veal parmigiana.

While on Main Street, explore the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association (RIVAA), an art gallery and cultural center (527 Main St., 212-308-6630, rivaagallery.org).

Ellis Island and Liberty Island

It’s hard to match the historical significance of Ellis Island. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is full of exhibits telling the immigrants’ stories. Take a self-guided audio tour or inquire at the information desk about a guided tour (statueofliberty.org).

Inside the museum is the American Family Immigration History Center, where you can trace your ancestral roots and search original passenger records of ships that arrived at the port. You'll likely be moved by the American Immigrant Wall of Honor outside the main building. It has the names of hundreds of thousands of immigrants etched into the monument.

Through Save Ellis Island, (saveellisisland.org) you can take a tour of the abandoned, unrestored 22-building hospital complex. The Hard Hat Tour is $55, as is the Healthcare of Immigrants Tour. 

If you get hungry, Ellis Café offers salads, sandwiches, paninis, fruit, chips, ice cream, Starbucks coffee and cold beverages.

You’ll also want to take in Lady Liberty up close. If you plan to do so, arrive early to give yourself plenty of time to see both. The Statue of Liberty Museum has the original 1886 torch, immersive, interactive galleries and an outside sculpture garden.

To get to Ellis and Liberty Islands know that Statue City Cruises (statuecitycruises.com) is the only vendor authorized to provide tickets and transportation to the islands (Board Statue City Cruises at Castle Clinton at Battery Park). General admission is $26, $17 for ages 4-12 and includes round-trip ferry service, general admission to the grounds of Liberty Island and Ellis Island, Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, audio tours. If you want to climb to the Statue of Liberty’s Pedestal Observation Deck, the ticket is $26.30.

Governors Island

Get ready for a good time on Governors Island. Get there in a less than 10-minute, $9 round-trip, ferry ride from Wall Street/Pier 11 (Gouverneur Lane at South St., FDR Dr., ferry.nyc). Welcome to the sanctuary that is Governors Island – 120 acres of open space and no cars. The buzz is about The Oyster, an outdoor sculptural installation by Mohawk artist Alan Michel­son that runs from July 30-Nov. 30. You’ll find it on the western shore of Governors Island, facing New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty. The installation reflects on the parallel erasures of Indigenous per­spec­tives and oyster ecologies in the harbor and hints at the possibilities of their rejuvenation and return. There’s more public art like the Bird MMXXIII, a huge bird made of stainless steel created by artist Sheila Berg­er.

You might want to time your visit to coincide with the new dinner series, Theodora Beach Club, Presented by Resy (Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 29). Fort Greene’s popular seafood restaurant Theodora is having pop-up dinners this summer, featuring live-fire cooking, DJs and cocktails (124 Carder Rd., resy.com).

With no cars on the island, biking is the way to go. Decide between pedal cars, surreys for two to six riders, an electric bike with a baby seat and duo coaster Go car at Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals (19 Hay Rd., 917-440-9094, blazingsaddles.com/new-york).

Do set your sights on Slide Hill in the southern part of the island. There are several slides, including one built for two people to ride down together and, for the brave, a 57-foot-long, three-story-high one.

When you’ve tuckered yourself out, relax. Hammock Grove awaits. Swing in those red hammocks. Another good chill spot is Nolan Park where you can picnic ($30 reservation is required; govisland.com).

One of the newer eateries worth a visit is Six Coasts by Smorgasburg. Enjoy everything from tamarind wings, duck chicharron, double smash burger or crab croquettes. This waterfront restaurant features the coastal flavors of the Americas (146 Carder Rd., on Soissons Landing, next to the Manhattan ferry dock; sixcoasts.com).

If you’re on island for a long weekend, consider a stay at Collective Retreats. Wake up with a waterfront morning yoga class, play games like Jenga and cornhole on the Great Lawn and for sunset, the outdoor lounge is the place to be with views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York City skyline. Room rates start around $425 a night in summer (825 Gresham Rd., 970-445-2033, collectiveretreats.com).