snowing):

1. Take the East River Ferry from Wall Street to Roosevelt Island - incredible views up and down the East River, you pass under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges - it's best from up top so dress warmly this time of year.

2. If you take the Astoria line it will go to Roosevelt Island - the FDR park and memorial at the south tip of the island is really cool and provides amazing views downriver. Getting there you also walk through the new Cornell Tech campus which has some impressive architecture. Leaving R. Island you can take the gondola back into Manhattan which puts you at East 62nd and 2nd Ave.