What To Do In Brooklyn

by

H.D. Bien

Brooklyn is the most populated borough in New York City. It’s also popular among tourists, offering amazing views of Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge Park and Brooklyn Heights Promenade. But there’s more to do than to just look at Manhattan! Brooklyn is full of culture and fun activities. Here’s my short guide on what to do in Brooklyn for tourists.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge opened its entrances on May 24, 1883. During its opening, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It’s 6,000 feet in total length and connects Brooklyn to Manhattan. Almost 2,000 vehicles pass every day along with over 150,000 pedestrians. There’s a reason so many pedestrians walk across the bridge everyday. It offers amazing views of both the Manhattan skyline and the East River.

Did you know that only six days after its opening, there was a stampede on the Brooklyn Bridge? A silly rumor had spread and people on the bridge believed it was going to collapse at any second. Whispers became confusion, confusion turned into panic, and the panicking pedestrians began to stampede. The crowd trampled and killed twelve people. Of course, there was no danger of the bridge collapsing.

Go for a spin on the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island

Coney Island saw its peak as a vacation spot between 1880 and 1945. Crowds would come on weekends, from busy Manhattan, to enjoy the amusement park rides and sandy beaches. The rides are still here, but sadly, the crowds have disappeared.

The Wonder Wheel is a 150 feet tall steel ferris wheel, weighing in at 4,000 tons. It holds 144 people. Opening in 1920, it was a fun ride for the attendees of Coney Island. It was declared a New York City Landmark. There are also other rides you can enjoy, such as the Cyclone Roller Coaster or the various haunted houses.

Take in the views at Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Perhaps the best spot in all of New York City to take in breathtaking views is at Brooklyn Heights Promenade. Just a quick glance at the Manhattan skyline is worth a trip to this 1/3 mile long platform. Remember to bring your camera to capture this memory.

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade’s construction was partially completed in 1950 when the southern half was open. The platform was simply added as an afterthought to the Brooklyn-Queens expressway. It quickly became popular among residents and tourists, offering gorgeous views of lower Manhattan.

Smell the flowers at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded in 1910. It’s very popular among tourists, brining in close to one million visitors every year. The entire garden includes the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden, the Cranford Rose Garden, the Shakespeare Garden, and the Fragrance Garden.

The Shakespeare Garden includes over 80 plants, every single one mentioned in at least one of William Shakespeare’s plays and poems. The Fragrance Garden was created for the vision impaired. It has flowers and plants with strong fragrances. Visitors are encouraged to rub the petals and leaves between their fingers to smell the fragrances.Looking for more things to do in Brooklyn?

Visitors to Brooklyn might enjoy my guide at What To Do In Brooklyn

that offers a list of things to do in Brooklyn mixed with a bit of history. If you’re also planning to visit Manhattan, be sure to check out

What To Do In Manhattan

.

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What To Do In Brooklyn

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