The top attractions in the Bronx and Staten Island

Clear Comfort, 19th-century photographer Alice Austen's family home, is also one of New York's oldest buildings, dating back to 1690. It now houses a large collection of her work, as well as frequent exhibitions of contemporary shutterbugs.

In this preserved village dating from the late 17th century, costumed interpreters demonstrate period skills and trades—blacksmiths, shoemakers and other types of craftsmanship. The area is the site of food festivals, performances and kid-friendly seasonal events.

In 1947, Tibetan Buddhist culture aficionado Jacques Marchais opened to the public two stone buildings on a Staten Island hillside, which house her collection of Tibetan art. The tiny museum is the only Himalayan-temple-style building in the United States and is surrounded by meditation gardens. It contains a striking Buddhist altar and the largest collection of Tibetan art in the West, including religious objects, bronzes and paintings. Every October, the museum hosts a Tibetan festival.

Formerly a home for retired sailors, this 19th-century structure houses exhibits, educational programs and an artist-in-residence program. It is surrounded by 83-acres of of blooming landscape.

The price of a harbor crossing between Staten Island and lower Manhattan may be the only activity in New York City that’s cheaper today than it was in 1817. Back then, it was 25 cents; today, it’s free. This 24-hour ferry is a lifeline for commuters making their way from NYC’s southernmost borough, but it’s also a boat trip affording some of the finest views in the world. Keep your eyes peeled for Governors Island to the east and Ellis Island and Lady Liberty to the west as the Manhattan skyline recedes in the vessel’s wake.

Among the inhabitants of this eight-acre haven, you'll find Amur leopards, the world's most endangered big cats, who will soon relocate to a new, 4500-square-foot outdoor habitat. Currently, they can be found in the African Savannah exhibit, along with meerkats and lemurs. Scores of cold-blooded critters slither in the Reptile Wing, including one of the country's largest collections of North American rattlesnakes, plus alligators, chameleons, fly river turtles and more. In the Tropical Forest, keep an eye out for Grandpa, a 40-year-old black-handed spider monkey who may be the oldest living member of his species. Other popular sights include Henry Ford, a bamboo-munching red panda; an American bald eagle named Liberty; and perhaps the zoo's most famous resident: Staten Island Chuck, New York's official groundhog.