The Chinese Scholar's Garden at Snug Harbor

Hidden behind a wall on the grounds of Snug Harbor is one of the most unexpected places in the five boroughs: a classical Chinese garden, modeled on the scholar's gardens of the Ming dynasty. Everything in it was crafted in Suzhou, China, from the roof tiles and carved beams to the paving stones, and a team of 40 artisans spent a year making the pieces and six months assembling them on site with traditional joinery, no nails or glue. It opened in 1999.

The one-acre garden is designed to be walked slowly: a bamboo-lined path, pavilions and courtyards, waterfalls, a koi pond and weathered scholar's rocks, each window framing a different picture. There is a modest admission fee, and the garden keeps reduced hours off-season; this fall it is open on weekends through December 6, 2026. The rest of the Snug Harbor campus and its gardens are free to wander from dawn to dusk. Take the Staten Island Ferry and a short bus ride along Richmond Terrace, and pair it with lunch in St. George.