Visiting Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is an island in the middle of New York City’s East River right between Manhattan to its west and Queens, on Long Island, to its east. In spite of that it is part of the borough of Manhattan. Running from the equivalent of Manhattan’s E 46th to 85th Streets, it is about 2 miles long, (i.e. 3.2 km) with a maximum width of about 800 feet (i.e. 240 m). The Island has a population of 11,661 (as of the 2010 United States Census).

Of course we’re taking the Roosevelt Island Tramway, a modern aerial passenger line, running every 7-15 minutes from 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan to Tramway Plaza on Roosevelt Island to reach the other side. During the drive you have an unique view to Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. You can pay the transfer easily with your MetroCard. But, if you intend to climb the roof of the cab to jump to the other one at the moment of encounter as Neil Caffrey did in a episode of USA Network television series “White Collar”: Be careful, it’s not so easy as it seems!

Underneath linden trees and blue skies we are walking around in Roosevelt Island Park, an amazing park on the western side of the island with a lot of breathtaking views to East River, Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. What a stunning and peaceful place to rest and forget the noise and busyness of the big city! I love it and I will return next time.