Getting everywhere from E 34th without a transfer

The ferry

NYC Ferry East 34th runs the Astoria, Soundview, and East routes. Astoria gets you to LIC (Gantry Plaza) and Astoria in 10–25 minutes. Soundview hits Stuy Cove, the Lower East Side, and Wall Street.

Crosstown buses

• M34 / M34A — the workhorse. Hudson Yards to the ferry in 20–25 minutes.
• M42 — crosstown one block north along 42nd.

North–south buses

• M15 / M15-SBS (1st & 2nd Avenues) — Battery to Harlem with limited stops.
• M101 / M102 / M103 (3rd & Lex) — straight up to East Harlem.
• M1 / M2 / M3 / M4 on Madison/5th — Midtown, Museum Mile, Upper Manhattan.

Subway, honestly

The closest subway is the 6 at 33rd & Park (about 8 minutes' walk). The 7 at Grand Central is a slightly longer walk but gets you to LIC, Hunters Point, Queens, and the Mets. The N/R/Q/W at Herald Square is about 12–15 minutes on foot.

Why this works

This block is one of the few in Manhattan that's *between* major subway lines, which sounds bad until you realize the buses and the ferry mostly fill the gap — and your kids never have to do a station transfer.