If you are thinking about the best things to do in New york city but going through Manhattan-fatigue, look no further than Cobble Hill. Cobble Hill is among Brooklyn's eldest communities, originally settled by the Dutch during the 1600s, and taking its name from the cobblestones that used to cover its thoroughfares. Unfortunately for pedestrians, those cobblestones are no longer there. Happily for drivers, those cobblestones are no longer there. (Spend an afternoon driving through Red Hook to grasp what I'm saying.)
At any rate, here's why you ought to care: Brooklyn boasts a range of these "postcard" neighborhoods - Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, and even Bedford Stuyvesant to a degree - each having its own quality. Strolling the tree lined thoroughfares of Cobble Hill (we propose Bergen or Pacific between Smith and Hoyt streets to help get the idea - see map underneath) instills a comparable zenlike serenity to that of Park Slope's rows of brownstones, but architecture devotees will notice slight stylistic differences between the two neighborhoods' houses and lots. Begin with the Carroll Gardens side (F to Carroll), and you will see the neighborhood's special element - real front yards. Saunter down President Street from Smith to Bond to get the archetypal Carroll Gardens sightseeing experience.
The beauty of these neighborhoods is far more than skin deep. The stores, bars and restaurants that populate Court, Smith, and Henry Streets will definitely impress you. Should you be feeling bold, try what's arguably Brooklyn's best Sushi dining (among tough competitors), Ki Sushi. On the other side of the spectrum, both geographically and stylistically, is just one of Brooklyn's best New American (yelp's term for "chef-driven, artisanal") dinning establishments, Buttermilk Channel. In between is an diverse mix of stores that has anything from family-owned-generations-old salami merchants to upstart cheese outlets, and plenty of craft and clothing. If you're searching for boutiques, you'll find several on Smith Street, though hardly the density you'd see in Williamsburg or next door along Atlantic Avenue. Here, it's unique food oddities (often tinged with Carroll Gardens' Italian American heritage) and kitsch that rules the day.
A ride on the F train to 7th Ave puts you within the thick of postcard Park Slope. Why would you worry about this area? If you're looking at this website it's probably because you're either completely disinterested in Times Square and the Empire State Building or have experienced them before.
Know what makes The Big Apple different from Shanghai or Desmoines?
Its hundred-plus-year-old walkable areas. I could write all day long, but once you hop off the train at 7th ave and 9th Street you'll understand it. The slope adjoins Prospect Park on its west side, and drops smoothly in height down to 3rd Avenue. For this excursion, we've stuck to between 6th ave and Propect Park West, and between Grand Army Plaza and Park Circle.
At any rate, here's why you ought to care: Brooklyn boasts a range of these "postcard" neighborhoods - Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, and even Bedford Stuyvesant to a degree - each having its own quality. Strolling the tree lined thoroughfares of Cobble Hill (we propose Bergen or Pacific between Smith and Hoyt streets to help get the idea - see map underneath) instills a comparable zenlike serenity to that of Park Slope's rows of brownstones, but architecture devotees will notice slight stylistic differences between the two neighborhoods' houses and lots. Begin with the Carroll Gardens side (F to Carroll), and you will see the neighborhood's special element - real front yards. Saunter down President Street from Smith to Bond to get the archetypal Carroll Gardens sightseeing experience.
The beauty of these neighborhoods is far more than skin deep. The stores, bars and restaurants that populate Court, Smith, and Henry Streets will definitely impress you. Should you be feeling bold, try what's arguably Brooklyn's best Sushi dining (among tough competitors), Ki Sushi. On the other side of the spectrum, both geographically and stylistically, is just one of Brooklyn's best New American (yelp's term for "chef-driven, artisanal") dinning establishments, Buttermilk Channel. In between is an diverse mix of stores that has anything from family-owned-generations-old salami merchants to upstart cheese outlets, and plenty of craft and clothing. If you're searching for boutiques, you'll find several on Smith Street, though hardly the density you'd see in Williamsburg or next door along Atlantic Avenue. Here, it's unique food oddities (often tinged with Carroll Gardens' Italian American heritage) and kitsch that rules the day.
A ride on the F train to 7th Ave puts you within the thick of postcard Park Slope. Why would you worry about this area? If you're looking at this website it's probably because you're either completely disinterested in Times Square and the Empire State Building or have experienced them before.
Know what makes The Big Apple different from Shanghai or Desmoines?
Its hundred-plus-year-old walkable areas. I could write all day long, but once you hop off the train at 7th ave and 9th Street you'll understand it. The slope adjoins Prospect Park on its west side, and drops smoothly in height down to 3rd Avenue. For this excursion, we've stuck to between 6th ave and Propect Park West, and between Grand Army Plaza and Park Circle.
About the Author:
Vacationing in the Big Apple?? You owe it to yourself to investigate Cobble Hill and Park Slope, two of America's oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods. With fewer crowds and more authehticity than Manhattan, these spots have New York's finest restaurants, best shopping, and prettiest views.
