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The Game Plan

What to do

On the northeastern edge of Staten Island, an iron fence encloses a campus of grand columned buildings, Victorian-style cottages and classical temples. At first glance, the grounds look like a remnant of the past, but if the flourishing gardens tell you anything, this place is very much full of life.

Sailors’ Snug Harbor was a community for retired seamen from the 19th to mid-20th centuries, but after falling into disuse and disrepair, the complex was acquired by New York City in the 1970s. Now, after decades of restoration (and with much more development to come), the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden cultivates nature and the arts on Staten Island while keeping history alive. And with 28 buildings and 14 gardens open to visitors, a visit makes for a seriously full day.