Spring Awakening: A Visit To Snug Harbor In New York City
After a gruelingly long but otherwise uneventful winter, spring is finally in the air. Green shoots are muscling their way to the front row. Flowers are taking center stage. The hibernating inhabitants of the city are slowly emerging from their slumber, eager and ready to shed their winter layers and expend all that pent up energy. All the usual suspects come to mind: picnics in Central Park, visits to the Brooklyn Botanic and New York Botanical Gardens, and trips to Governors Island. Patio seats and access to rooftop bars become hot commodities. But we thought we’d offer another, oft-forgotten option to add to your list: Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in Staten Island.
Why You Should Visit Snug Harbor CCBG
Its Charming History Is Better Than You Could Imagine
Snug Harbor has such a quaint history that it hardly seems believable. When a shipping magnate’s son passed away in 1801, he bequeathed his fortune to a singular cause: to build and operate a refuge for retired sailors. Specifically, “aged, decrepit, and worn-out sailors.”
Sailors’ Snug Harbor, as it was originally called, grew to a community of 900 residents. At its height, the self-sustaining haven boasted its own farms, power plant, and hospital. But necessary upkeep eventually outpaced the available funds, and buildings fell into disrepair. Things didn’t turn around until the 1970s, when the city purchased the property for public use.
You can learn more about Snug Harbor’s fascinating history, including in-depth features on some of its past residents, through exhibits at its Noble Maritime Collection. With some advance planning, you could also join their next History & Mysteries of Snug Harbor Tour.
It is Accessible and Community-Driven
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden occupies a whopping 83 acres, and yet most of it is accessible to the public at no cost. There are modest fees to access some of its amenities, but Snug Harbor is still, by and large, a bargain. For the art enthusiasts, there are museums and galleries to explore like the Staten Island Museum and the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art. Live performances, film screenings as well as a variety of talk, tours and workshops offer myriad opportunities to feed one’s curiosity and creativity. Visiting with kids in tow? The Staten Island Children’s Museum conducts story time sessions and other fun activities to keep the little ones distracted.
Snug Harbor’s Heritage Farm is another stellar example of its commitment to community. The 2.5-acre sustainable farm contributes fresh fruit and vegetables to soup kitchens and food pantries, while also educating children on sustainable farming, food sources, and plant biology.
Its Botanical Garden is an Undervalued Gem
The Staten Island Botanical Garden managed the grounds of this massive property until it merged with the Snug Harbor Cultural Center in 2008. And under its stewardship, the curated outdoor offerings now include a Healing Garden, a Rose Garden and even Wetlands. The shining jewel, in our humble opinion, is the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, which opened in 1999. Inspired by the Ming Dynasty, 40 Chinese artists worked on its components in China then spent 6 months in Staten Island completing the garden through an artist residency program.
The Chinese Scholar’s Garden includes eight pavilions, a bamboo forest path, waterfalls and a koi pond. Each aspect of the garden holds a deeper meaning, from the architectural details to the plant selection. Bamboo is a symbol of longevity and vitality because it can survive the hardest natural conditions and remains green all year round. It is also the symbol of the scholar as it is both flexible and strong.
Circles are highly symbolic in many cultures, signifying totality, infinity, an unbroken line. The Moon Gate in the Chinese Scholar’s Garden represents the completeness of the universe, but it also offers visitors different perspectives of the garden. As you move through the space, the gate highlights changing views.
It Offers an Unbeatable Way to Enjoy The Seasons
While we’re specifically writing about ushering the spring season in at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, it’s really an enjoyable destination all year round. You’ll find magnificent cherry blossom and magnolia trees blooming in the spring, and gorgeous fall foliage once there’s a slight chill in the air. The expansive grounds make it the perfect place to enjoy seasonal events like Easter and Halloween, or special events like the Autumn Moon Festival and Earth Day.
The Winter Lantern Festival takes place from late November through early January, and is one of the location’s biggest draws. The event is a supersized version of the Chinese lantern festival celebrated in the first month of the Chinese calendar. Designers and artisans come together to create large, colorful lanterns made of steel frames and silk, which are then illuminated with LED lights. It’s a fun event for the whole family, and extremely popular with the Instagram crowd. The lantern displays go beyond the decorative, and truly represent luminescent art at its best.
Pro Tip: Due to its popularity, we recommend buying tickets in advance. And dress appropriately for the winter weather!
It Provides the Perfect Excuse to Sample Sri Lankan Food
Lamprais from Sri Lankan restaurant Lakruwana
String Hopper Kotu from Sri Lankan restaurant Lakruwana
Okay, so this isn’t part of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden per se, but it’s still a great reason to visit. Did you know that one of the largest populations of Sri Lankans living outside of their native homeland resides in Staten Island? Because of this, there are a number of authentic Sri Lankan restaurants that could provide a delicious break from your activities or end to your day. Once of those restaurants is Lakruwana, which offers an affordable, claypot-lined weekend buffet as well as à la carte offerings. We wholeheartedly recommend the Lamprais (an elaborate combination of spiced meats and vegetables on a bed of rice, steamed in a banana leaf wrap) and String Hopper Kotu (a molded pyramid of stir fried rice flower nets with a side of curry).
How to Get to Snug Harbor from Manhattan
Staten Island is easily accessible by way of a quick 25-minute ferry ride from Whitehall Terminal in lower Manhattan. The views on the ride over are nothing to scoff at either, make sure to wave hello to Lady Liberty! Once you arrive in Staten Island take the S40 bus at Gate D to travel along Richmond Terrace, and let the bus driver know that you want to get off at Snug Harbor. It's less than a 10-minute ride.
Pro Tip: The ferry is free but is largely used for commuting. Avoid weekday commuting rush hours for the most comfortable ride. Do not fall for scams involving strangers in uniforms trying to sell you tickets.
Conclusion
When people talk about escaping Manhattan, they almost always mention the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, or Long Island. Staten Island is often treated like the stepchild of the outer boroughs, and that’s really quite unfortunate because it has a lot to offer: a zoo, a park, a cultural center, architectural treasures, a 630-foot observation wheel, museums, beaches, and some really great dining options. It is also the least populated and greenest borough, boasting an incredible 12,300 acres of parkland. So visit Snug Harbor CCBG and discover everything this borough has to offer!
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