As a native New Yorker, and someone who frequents the five boroughs, I am often asked by friends, and first-time visitors, what they should do during their short stay in the City. Sure, you can hit all the tourist spots, or tourist traps as they are often called, and follow the throngs of people who are visiting from other countries and being led around by guides and group tours. But you can’t say that you have been to New York City if you haven’t stepped foot in each of the five boroughs. Just like the New York City Marathon, right?
So with that being said, I gave thought to what I would say to my friend who wanted to experience something in each of the five boroughs of New York City during a short visit to the Big Apple.
Well, you can’t say you’ve experienced New York City if you haven’t taken a ride on the subway. While other cities might have trains, and they might have a mass transit system, the New York City Transit System is unlike any that exists on the planet. That alone sets NYC apart from every other city in the world. So you can get anywhere in New York City via the subway.
Oh no, you can’t. You can’t get to the Borough of Staten Island. It seems whoever designed and built the NYC subway system didn’t like that borough, so they decided not to include it.
In order to get to Staten Island, without driving, you can utilize another famous mode of New York City transportation, the Staten Island Ferry.
In choosing my one favorite thing to do in each of the five boroughs, the Ferry would be the one thing to do “in” Staten Island. Well, you would be “in” Staten Island when you are in the terminal. But that would be it.
There is not much you can do in Staten Island without somehow getting a ride from the ferry terminal. There is a mall and a Minor League Baseball stadium, that of the Staten Island FerryHawks in the vicinity, but nothing else much to see. The focus would be on the great views that you get from your ride on the Staten Island Ferry - New York Harbor, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and up the East River where you can get a view of the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges all lined up in a row. Some great picture moments.
If you’re hungry, and you are willing to take a short ride with your favorite car service…head over to Osteria Santina at 502 Jewett Street. It’s a family-owned and operated Italian eatery that provides old-fashioned service.
When you get back over the Hudson River, then you can finally jump on the subway and navigate the system like a pro. Or simply get flustered with the many lines with the numbers, the letters, and the colors, thankfully they have an app that you can load onto your phone. Just know that it pretty much all starts somewhere in the Borough of Manhattan. So wherever you want to go, pick a station and start from there.
There are a number of famous places in "the" Bronx
Only one borough is famous enough for having "the" in front of it. THE Bronx. The most famous place IN the Bronx is probably Yankee Stadium. You can get there via the 4 train (green). Or you can visit the beautiful New York Botanical Gardens. That would be on the B or D line (orange). There are botanical gardens in the other boroughs, but the one in the Bronx is spectacular, especially during the holidays. Oh, how could I forget, the Bronx Zoo which is right by the New York Botanical Gardens. You can’t go wrong with any of those places, just to say you’ve been there.
When it comes to food, well, the Bronx has its own “Little Italy” on and around Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section. There are plenty of places to choose from there. I prefer to choose something off the beaten path, but in this case, it is wiser to stay on that path and on Arthur Street. As such, Mario’s Restaurant is a classic and has a family atmosphere with all of the classic offerings.
Queens is one of the most diverse boroughs in the United States
Queens is a quirky borough. Very diverse, diverse population, diverse architecture, and diverse food. It is famous for the Mets and tennis, right next to Corona Park. You can take the 7 train (purple) from any station along 42nd Street in Manhattan.
For all of you youngsters out there, Corona Park was actually quite the place in its heyday. It was the site of the World’s Fair in 1964. And that is why you will find the Unisphere in the middle of it all. The 120-foot sculpture was built by U.S. Steel specifically for the World’s Fair was earmarked as the centerpiece of the event, and has remained as an iconic image ever since.
There are a vast number of eateries in Queens, as diverse as the population. If you want a cuisine, you will undoubtedly find it in this borough. I have to be honest, there is way too much to choose from for me to even put something out there. Choose a cuisine and go for it. And then let ME know.
Brooklyn is known for its many churches and steeples that rise above the landscape
Brooklyn is my favorite of the boroughs. The neighborhoods are amazing. There are the old brownstones, the classic row houses, some large estate homes, and then the modern structures, a real menagerie of architecture.
I think anyone who travels to Brooklyn has to see Coney Island via the Q (yellow) or D (orange). The classic iconic boardwalk is not exactly like the storied past, but you can still ride the Cyclone…and get a Nathan’s hot dog. I’m actually partial to the French fries but that’s me. The New York Aquarium is also a short walk from the Cyclone.
And a short distance away is one of my all-time favorite eating establishments – L&B Spumoni Gardens. Any visit to Brooklyn without getting a square slice of pizza and squeeze cup of spumoni as a chaser would be a huge mistake. The place has been around forever and remains a favorite of locals and visitors alike.
Manhattan…well…even the NYC Marathon finishes there.
You can take any subway line from any station to get just about anywhere in Manhattan. The hubs are Grand Central Station and Fulton Street downtown. But where to go? Well, of course, there’s Grand Central Station because you just may be right there. Explore the station and look for the spot where you can whisper and hear the person on the other side of the room – the Whispering Gallery – a nice phenomenon to experience.
But there are so many experiences IN Manhattan and how do you know what to do? Do you go to a museum…take in a Broadway show…visit the Empire State Building? Sure, but how about just taking a gander at some of the places that nobody else would notice? Like 6 ½ Avenue in Midtown. There really is a place that is between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue and actually cuts through buildings. What about some of the places that look like time forgot about them, like Gay Street in the Village? Or Sniffen Court in Murray Hill? There are a number of places that provide a look back into what NYC, specifically Manhattan, used to look like before it became a skyline of skyscrapers.
Of course, there are throwbacks in the old sections of Little Italy and Chinatown as well…if you are looking for something to eat. Most of Little Italy is now relegated to Mulberry Street. But there is one place that remains outside of Mulberry, on Hester Street, Vincent’s Clam House. It’s been there for over 100 years. It’s not open every day, but when it is, there is no better tomato sauce around.
Oh, the 6 train (green) will get you there.
Of course, it’s not ALL about the NYC subway, but it certainly is a great way to get around. And you will experience something like no place else in the world.