Viewing Guide
This page is designed to help you find the best way to experience the waterfalls. Now that the waterfalls are under contstruction, it's possible to get a feel for how you'll be able to see them - once they're complete and the various tours are up and runing, we'll review the tours in more detail.If you have any suggestions for this page, please let us know at info@newyorkcitywaterfalls.com.
By Land
The Waterfalls are deliberately located so that all four are visible from one location - the South Street Seaport. By standing at the end of the Seaport's Pier 17, it's possible to get a good glimpse of the installations. The effect of seeing all four waterfalls rising from New York Harbor is sure to be impressive, but from this vantage point none of the falls are close enough to really get a feel for their scale.
Another interesting view will be from the Brooklyn Promenade. Although you won't see the Brooklyn Bridge or Pier 35 waterfalls, you'll be very close to the Brooklyn installation at Pier 6. Not only that, but you'll get a great view of the Governors Island waterfall with the Statue of Liberty almost directly behind it - although somewhat distant, this is sure to produce some great photos. The Brooklyn Promenade can be reached from High St. station on the A or C subway lines. From there head west toward the river a few blocks until you hit the Promenade.
For those visiting the city, another option is provided by Bike and Roll. You can rent a bike from their location at the South Street Seaport, and they'll provide a guided cycling tour of the Waterfalls, including a ride over the Brooklyn Bridge. Also available as a package with New York Water Taxi's Waterfalls Cruise (see below).
By Boat
By far the best way to experience the waterfalls is going to be from the water. The creators of the installation recognized this early on and commissioned an "official" boat tour. It remains to be seen whether this tour will be the best option, and we'll keep you posted as we find out more. The following reviews are based solely on the companies' respective websites.
Circle Line Downtown provides the "official" boat tour of the waterfalls, which basically means they'll be playing a pre-recorded audio tour with statements from the artist. At $10 for adults and $5 for kids, the tour is affordable, but it is only 30 minutes long and only shows you the waterfalls - it won't be sailing past the Statue of Liberty. The audio tour was a joint production of the City of New York and The Public Art Fund, so it may turn out to be rather dry - we'll let you know when we've had a chance to take it.
New York Water Taxi's tour seems to benefit from not being "official" - they employ colorful live guides native to New York, and their waterfalls tour will be an hour long with a photo opportunity just feet from the Statue of Liberty (their website also says they'll get you so close to the waterfalls "you'll feel the spray"). It's $25 for adults and $15 for kids, but the added value of seeing the Statue of Liberty (sparing tourists a second boat trip) and a live guide seems to make it worthwhile.
The Staten Island Ferry offers a free way to see some of the falls, with a particularly good view of the Governors Island waterfall. It provides a time-honored way for tourists and New Yorkers alike to see the Statue of Liberty and commune with New York harbor, but its route doesn't pass close to the waterfalls and it's not the ideal way to see them.