The Best Attractions in Brooklyn

By Go City Expert

Aerial view of Brooklyn. Photo by Curbed NY
[spacer height="20px"] Manhattan is no longer the only borough on the radar of New York City visitors. Tourists as well as Manhattanites have been migrating to the hip borough for a few years for a good reason. Brooklyn offers many great attractions, some of New York City's best restaurants, tranquil greenery and the kind of views you can only see when you actually leave Manhattan. When in New York City, do not limit yourself to the tried-and-true island of Manhattan and venture out to its cooler cousin. [spacer height="20px"] Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo by Vince Young
[spacer height="20px"] The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a true NYC gem. It offers tranquil green paths, beautiful flowers, lakes, a fragrance garden, a place for children to learn about plants and flowers and about the most stunning cherry trees that blossom in the spring. Brooklyn Botanic Garden is located at 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225 Opening hours: Tuesday–Friday: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Closed Mondays (but open Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Columbus Day, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) Closed Labor Day [spacer height="20px"] Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photo by Robert Harding/Getty Images
[spacer height="20px"] After you make the mandatory walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, stop by the Brooklyn piers and the adjacent Brooklyn Bridge Park. This park offers the most amazing views of Downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. When you stop strolling or lounging in the plush grass, there are many activities to do at the piers, including beach volleyball, soccer, multiple playgrounds, food trucks, ice cream and many more. Finish your day at Brooklyn Bridge Park by visiting Fornino at Pier 6 for a wood-fire pizza, beers and a rooftop patio with stunning views. [spacer height="20px"] Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum. Photo by Mark Lennihan/AP
[spacer height="20px"] The third largest museum in New York City, the Brooklyn museum boasts with a great collection of classical and modern art. The museum is located right between Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on the edge of Prospect Park. Fun fact: The sculptures on the outside of the majestic structure were designed by Daniel Chester French, the creator of the famous Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. Brooklyn Museum is located at 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, New York 11238-6052 Opening hours: Monday: Closed Tuesday: Closed Wednesday - Sunday: 11am–6pm Coney Island
Luna Park at Coney Island
[spacer height="20px"] Coney Island is actually a peninsula, located at the South-East end of Brooklyn. The beach and boardwalk at Coney Island serve as a frequent setting in movies and offer some much needed r&r opportunities just a subway ride away. The beach tends to be crowded in the summer, but it's worth a visit, if you're looking for that old New York vibe. Located at Coney Island is also the famous Luna Park. The Luna Park offers awesome thrill rides and roller coasters, kiddie rides and tons of other fun attractions. While you're down there, don't forget to sample a hot dog from Nathan's. [spacer height="20px"] Bushwick Collective
Bushwick Collective
[spacer height="20px"] It's worth it to venture out off the beaten path into Bushwick. The industrial-looking neighborhood exudes a classic Brooklyn attitude and is full of some of the best street art in New York City. The Bushwick Collective is a non-profit outdoor gallery of graffiti and street art, preserving the cultural integrity of the neighborhood and its vibrant history of self-expression. You can wonder around Bushwick by yourself and then visit the trendy Williamsburg for a bite, or you can take a guided Alternative Street Art tour with Inside Out Tours (included in New York Pass). To see the street art in Bushwick walk around Troutman Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue. [spacer height="20px"] Prospect Park
Prospect Park Lake
[spacer height="20px"] Central Park's smaller sister is located in the heart of Brooklyn, surrounded by the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and lots of lovely residential neighborhoods. The 585 acre park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and includes spacious lawns, bushy walkways and refreshing lakes for the perfect afternoon getaway. When inside Prospect Park, you can get lost and feel like you're in the woods, fully escaping the busy nature of the city that surrounds it. In the Summer, Prospect Park hosts the famed food market, Smorgasburg every Sunday. In the Winter, the LeFrak Center in Prospect park serves as an outdoor ice-skating rink.

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Beat The Heat in NYC This Summer

Summer is well and truly upon us, at once awesome and yet unbearable in its glory. There’s still a few months of sun left (fingers crossed) to explore all the wondrous delights that New York has on offer. But it’s also hot. Very, very hot. All those tall, glass, sky-scraping behemoths and streets paved with tarmac mean that NYC scorches like no other. Still, you’ll want to make the most of the sunshine before it skedaddles for another half year, so here are some of the best ways beat the heat in NYC this summer. Water is your friend, human Water is brilliant, isn’t it? Not only does it make up 70-odd percent of your flesh body, it’s also pretty neat to drink too. You should be drinking 2-3 liters a day, and that’s never truer than when the sun’s beating down. Your best bet is to carry a reusable bottle around with you. Not only can you fill it up at one of the many water fountains around, but you’ll also be super environmentally friendly. If only people had been as conscientious as you over the past century. Maybe things wouldn’t be so hot. Of course, if you’re already out with no water bottle of your own, you can pick one up from any number of shops and stands around town. Remember to stay hydrated on the subway too. Not all of them are air-conditioned, and the ones that aren’t can become a humid kind of hell. Dress to impress (your body's temperature) Dare to get those pasty legs out in a sundress or a pair of shorts. Freedom is key – anything tight or heavy is only going to make you sweat buckets. That’s not pleasant for you. Or for anyone else who might be within smell-shot. Are you brave enough to don a pair of sandals or flip flops too? O’ courageous one, we salute you. Or just run away from the sun Of course, if it all gets a bit much and you want to seek the safety of a beautifully air-conditioned building, there’s plenty of inside hilarity to be had too. Fancy a little culture to go with the cold air? There are museums aplenty. Looking for a little summer spending spree? Try the innumerable shops. Or if you’re starving, stop by a local restaurant and pray they have air-con. Ice cream, you scream, everybody screams As if you needed an excuse. What better way to beat the heat in NYC this summer than with the ice-cold, sugary delights of ice cream? You’re sure to find ice cream vans on most street corners, so go exploring. Vegans can even have their chilly tastebuds sated at one of the renowned Van Leeuwen shops around town. Just cruisin' Miss all of the hustle, bustle and blazing microclimate of the city by backflipping on to a boat. Sweet moves. If you’ve never seen the city by sea, then you haven’t even lived. There are plenty of options too. Take a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise, and catch a glimpse of NYC’s iconic skyline with the glorious breeze running over you. Close your eyes and imagine it. Excellent. Or go say hi to Lady Liberty on the retro Shearwater Classic Schooner. Either way, you’re bound to beat the heat in style. Them’s just some of the ways to beat the heat in NYC this summer. If you're ready to take o New York armed with all of our tips, here are some of the best things to do this summer.
Dom Bewley
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Cab Etiquette In NYC: All You Need to Know

We’ve all been there. You stayed out a little later than you planned, and you’re a little worse for wear. You need to go to bed, but the city’s unfamiliar to you. The public transport maps might as well be Jackson Pollock paintings. So you do what every single person does in films and TV shows based in New York. You raise your hand, and within seconds a yellow cab’s pulled up beside you. Hopefully you’re on your way in seconds and home safe and sound, but if anything seems off or you need help and advice, read on. Here’s what you need to know about cab etiquette in NYC. Can a cab driver ever refuse me service? Yes, but only if the trip is more than 12 hours long, or if their ‘taxi’ light is off. 12 hour+ journeys are against the law in the US, and only taxis with their lights on are currently working. If you’re staying far out of the city centre, perhaps get in the cab before telling them where you’re going. It might seem sneaky, but once you’re in their cab they are legally obligated to take you to your destination. Crazy, right? My taxi is loud and uncomfortable. What can I do? A lot, thankfully. Riders have rights too, after all. If your driver is on a call or using their phone, they’re being super illegal. Feel free to remind them. If the cab is too hot or cold, depending on the time of year, you can also request they put the air con/heating on. And if their music is too loud, by all means, politely ask them to turn it down or off. Just don’t berate their choice of genre. However, if the driver refuses these, or any reasonable requests, you have the right to get out at any time. And remember to take down their medallion number if you want to make a complaint. It’s on their licence plate, the hood of the taxi, and on your receipt if you request one. What if I’m being loud, and making the driver uncomfortable? Firstly, why...would you... do that? Secondly, while drivers have no legal grounds to ask you to keep it down, have some respect for them. And for yourself. Driving a taxi all day is exhausting, and navigating the hectic streets that never sleep requires concentration. Cab etiquette in NYC, or anywhere works both ways. Be respectful, and you’ll likely earn their respect. And a safer and quicker journey home, too. Should I stare at them creepily through the rear-view mirror? No. No, don’t. Why would you even...? How much should I tip? Tips are big business in New York, as they are in the rest of the US. But sadly you’ll be expected to pay over the odds in the Big Apple. 20% of the fee is the recommended amount. If you’re paying with card instead of cold hard cash, the amount of gratuity will automatically be added to the charge. It could go as high as 30%, so keep that in mind if you’re squeezing pennies. Of course, if you’re an out-of-towner and they’ve been helpful with info or recommendations, why not be a nice little human and show them your gratitude with money? Tipping’s the best way to thank them, but if you want to go above and beyond because they did, hop on the nyc.gov website and leave a glowing review, you selfless beauty. If the driver asks for cash, is it OK to use my card instead? Yes. Every taxi in NYC is required by law to take card, so if your driver says they don’t have a machine or that it’s broken, it’s a ruse. Persist, and victory will be yours. Drivers may also mention they’ve selected ‘Cash’ instead of ‘Card’ and that they can’t reverse the decision. This, too, is a ruse. Stay strong, and wait for the card machine. It’s simply a case of them pressing a single button to make it happen. Also get your receipt - it contains lots of vital information like their medallion number which you’ll need if you lose something in the cab, or want to make a complaint. That’s what you need to know about taxi etiquette in NYC. We hope these tips help. Of course, we’re always open to suggestions, so if you have any other top tips you’d like to add, let us know in the comments below! Stay safe, travelers. Has this cab etiquette in NYC blog satisfied your itch for all things New York? No? Still prefer public transportation? Sure thing, here's more about the metro system in NYC.
Dom Bewley
ride nyc
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A Guide to The RIDE & Tips for your Trip

The RIDE is a new way to see New York. This theatrical experience puts a twist on the age-old bus tour format thanks to the hilarious commentary of two comedic hosts, the stadium-style seating on the bus providing you with 360 degrees of amazing views, and even the chance for a spot of impromptu karaoke! And, of course, you'll have the chance to see all the biggest landmarks that New York has to offer, and with the unrivaled freedom courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows inside the vehicle, your phone better have enough memory for the countless snaps you'll be taking! How to get The RIDE discount tickets? We’ve got you covered – The RIDE admission is available with the below money-saving options, so you can choose the attraction pass that’s right for you: 1. All-Inclusive Pass – All you can do. Includes admission to dozens of attractions. 2. Explorer Pass – Choose as you go. Includes admission of up to 10 attractions. Tips for riding The RIDE As one of the newest, hottest attractions in New York, The RIDE is incredibly popular. As such, we recommend you book it far in advance of your trip - we wouldn't want you to miss out! You'll be spending around 75 minutes on your ride sitting down. So, be sure to wear something you're comfortable sitting in for that long! Perhaps leave those high-waisted jeans at home... Make sure to pack a camera with plenty of film, or make sure you've got enough space on your phone - you'll be taking lots and lots of photos, and you won't want to miss any of the surprising sights and sounds you'll see! When is the best time to experience The RIDE? Since you're in a sealed vehicle, really you can check out The RIDE at any time of year! However, you're likely to see more activity going on outside the bus when the weather's good, so think about hopping on from the beginning of spring to the end of summer. What is there to see and do on The RIDE? Take your seat on the three-tiered, stadium-like bus seats, and buckle up for a ride you'll never forget. Listen to the guides as they weave hilarious tales of Big Apple Hijinks, look on as you see street performers strutting their stuff, and snap pics of all the biggest highlights of New York's skyline. The RIDE highlights Be on the lookout for New York's most iconic landmarks, such as Times Square, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Carnegie Hall, and many more! Enjoy 360-degree views of the city thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows across the whole of the bus. Split your sides thanks to the hilarious running commentary provided by your two comedic guides. See all the city's hotspots in under 2 hours. What attractions are near The RIDE? The famous Times Square is right around the corner, if your RIDE by gave you the itch to see more. You'll also find Madame Tussauds and the MOMA a stone's throw from the pick up point. Where is there to eat nearby? If you're in the mood for an authentic New York slice, Pizza 42 is right across the street. For fast food lovers, there's an Applebee's, Dave & Busters, Chick-fil-A, and Mcdonald's a short walk from the pick up point. If you're in the market for something heartier, you're in New York! Go explore and see what you find! Need to Know For the full schedule of operation for The RIDE, visit their website here. Tours will be canceled for severe weather or mechanical issues. Directions and Address Departs from 259 West 42nd Street near 8th Avenue. New York, NY 10036 United States Closest Subway Stops A, C, E, or S trains to Port Authority/42nd Street; 1, 2, 3, N, R, Q, or 7 trains to Times Square/42nd Street. Save on Tickets with a pass Remember, Go City is the best choice for maximum savings and flexibility, which can include The RIDE tickets, plus admission to your choice of other top attractions. You'll make great savings on entry to top museums, tours, and activities vs. paying at the gate. Visit multiple attractions for one low price.
Dom Bewley

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