Gray Line Double Decker Bus Tours

Take a three-hour tour of the downtown loop, with stops in Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, the East Village, and more.

http://www.graylinenewyork.com
777 Eighth Avenue (Between 47th and 48th Streets)
Phone: (800) 669-0051
Hours: Frequent departures from Times Square, at Broadway between 47th and 48th Streets, beginnning at 8 a.m.
Cost: Adults $44, children ages five to 11, $34

Circle Line Tours

One of the best ways to cover 35 miles of sightseeing and enjoy breathtaking views without becoming footsore, Circle Line Tours will take you on a three-hour tour around Manhattan, or on a shorter trip just around the lower tip of the island. Entertaining and informative narration is also provided.

http://www.circleline.com
Cruises depart from the South Street Seaport and the pier at 42nd Street and 12th Avenue.
Phone: (212) 563-3200
Hours: Departure times vary, check website for details.
Cost: Depending on the tour you select, costs range from $13 to $25 for adults, $7 to $12 for children, and $11 to $20 for seniors.

Manhattan Sailing Club

Founded by Michael Fortenbaugh in 1987, the Manhattan Sailing Club was created as a means of re-establishing recreational sailing in New York Harbor. Through the creation of new programs the popularity of the club has increased dramatically.

http://www.myc.org/
North Cove Marina in front of the World Financial Center
Phone:(212) 786-3323
Hours and pricing vary, check website for details.

New York Waterways

New York Waterways offers 90-minute harbor cruises by day or night, 50-minute lower harbor cruises, and two-hour cruises all the way around Manhattan. Whichever one you choose will afford breathtaking views of Lower Manhattan's world-famous sights.

http://www.newyorkwaterway.com/sightsee_harbor.html
Tours depart from South Street Seaport or Pier 78 at West 38th Street and 12th Avenue.
Phone: (800) 53-FERRY
Hours: Various departure times, check website for details.
Cost: Depending on the tour you select, costs range from $24 to $26 for adults, $10 to $12 for children, and $18 to $20 for seniors.

Helicopter Flight Services, Inc.

For those hoping to see the city with new eyes, Helicopter Flight Services has just the ticket. Their 12- to 21-minute tours give a breathtaking view from the sky of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, and the Financial District.

http://www.heliny.com
Flights depart from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport on weekdays, and from the West 30th Street Heliport on weekends.
Phone: (888) WE-FLY-NY or (212) 355-0801
Hours: Tours are available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost: $129 per person for 13- to 15-minute tours, $179 per person for 19- to 21-minute tours

Kayaking at the Downtown Boathouse

The Downtown Boathouse offers New Yorkers a chance to get out on the Hudson River in kayaks. Lessons, three-hour guided tours, or independent kayaking in a protected area are the most frequently attended programs. However, other programs, including a number of youth sailing programs, a kayak polo program, and a kayak rolling program, are also.

http://www.downtownboathouse.org/index.html
Pier 26 between Canal and Chambers Streets on the river side of the West Side Highway
Phone: (646) 623-0375
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends and holidays
Cost: Free

Liberty Helicopter Tours

Several tours, lasting from two to 17 minutes, depart from Liberty's VIP heliport each day. Take your pick, and climb aboard for a bird's eye view of Lower Manhattan.

http://www.libertyhelicopters.com
VIP Heliport, West 30th Street and 12th Avenue
Phone:(212) 967-2099, ext. 230
Hours: Tours are available seven days a week, January through February from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and March through December from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: $30 to $186 per person.

Staten Island Ferry

Take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to enjoy cool breezes and humbling views of downtown Manhattan. The 25-minute ferry ride traveling between Whitehall Street in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island is free for pedestrians and just $3.50 for cars. It leaves frequently (about every half hour) throughout the day from the Manhattan and Staten Island terminals.

http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dot/html/masstran/ferries/statfery.html
Whitehall Terminal, 1 Whitehall Street
Phone: (718) 815-BOAT
Cost: Free