Parade of Ships

The U.S. Navy is hardly known for its subtlety—and every year they make an entrance that's hard to miss. Fleet Week kicks off with a "parade of ships," during which massive aircraft carriers, giant warships, historic vessels and fighter jets cruise down the Hudson River. Take a picnic lunch and watch the impressive show from any of the parks along the water. After the parade, the ships will dock in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island where they’ll be open for public tours from 8am until 5pm for the rest of the week.