New York City is home to a number of attractions. While some gain more attention than others, that doesn’t make the other attractions any less spectacular. Here are a few attractions you might want to consider visiting when in NYC.
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge
Boasting eco-luxury lodgings, the 194-room 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is officially open for business. Features include an industrial-chic design, artwork sourced from Brooklyn-based artists and a rooftop bar with spectacular views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Featuring a grove of cherry blossom trees, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers free guided walking tours throughout the garden.
Coney Island
Coney Island is always a great place to visit, but it is even better this year as the historic Coney Island Cyclone celebrates its 90th birthday this summer. First debuted on June 26, 1927, the wooden rollercoaster is an iconic attraction. Meanwhile, the new 5,000-seat Ford Amphitheater will be hosting events throughout the summer
Governors Island
Accessible by ferry departing from Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge Park, Governors Island is a 172-acre oasis hosting artwork, events and attractions for free. Among these is The Hills, which offers scenic outlooks and slides, as well as the new picnic-style eatery near Soissons Landing. Formerly a military base, the island is open on weekends from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm and on weekdays from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm from now until October 1.
Gulliver’s Gate
Featuring miniature buildings and scenery from around the world that has been created by over 600 teams from across the globe, Gulliver’s Gate is a beautiful masterpiece display of items that are 87 times smaller than their original size. Some of the buildings on display include miniature versions of the New York Public Library, New York City’s Rockefeller Center, the Taj Mahal and Arc de Triomphe.
LeFrak Center at Lakeside
Offering public roller skating hours in the warmer months, LeFrak Center at Lakeside also offers figure skating lessons, curling sessions and hockey competitions in the colder months.
New York Botanical Garden
Located in the Bronx, the New York Botanical Garden boasts 250 acres of indoor and outdoor garden space. Features include walking trails and special exhibits. This year, the annual orchid show focused on the more than 1,200 native orchid species of Thailand. The exhibit has since been replaced by an exhibit of renowned sculptor Dale Chihuly’s work. Featuring 20 installations, the exhibit will remain open until late October.
Prospect Park
Referred to as Brooklyn’s Backyard by residents, Prospect Park hosts a number of concerts, tours and other events throughout the year. Opened 150 years ago, the park will be offering special celebrations this year to commemorate its anniversary. Brooklyn Brewery, for example, will offer a Long Meadow Gold brewed specifically to celebrate the anniversary. Smorgasborg ,which features dozens of vendors and food from across the world, will also return to the park on Sundays.
Van Cortlandt Park
One of the largest parks in the city, Van Cortlandt Park is home to the first public golf course in the country as well as the borough’s oldest house.