Keep a day free to explore Brooklyn. We only touched the surface but it was great to get a feel for this trendy district of New York which was a total contrast to the high rises of Manhattan.
Start your day with a walk across Brooklyn Bridge for the most incredible views of the Manhattan skyline behind you. Once you reach the other side, venture down into Dumbo (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass). The Time Out Market is fantastic for morning coffee or lunch. We’d just tucked into breakfast so we didn’t stop but it has a fun vibe and lots of tempting eateries to choose from. Stop at Washington Street for the iconic view of Manhattan Bridge (and for Gossip Girl fans – The Humphreys’ apartment).
Brooklyn Bridge Park which is right on the waterfront is another lovely place to relax and enjoy the views of both the bridge and towering cityscape in the distance.
For excellent pizza, stop for lunch or grab a takeaway from Juliana’s. it’s so popular, the queues start from 11.30am when it opens. With a thin crisp base and fresh and simple toppings, we all said it was worth the hype.
The East River NYC Ferry (not included in the MetroCard) is a cheap and fun way to travel up to North Williamsburg and you can board at the Dumbo ferry terminal. The vibe here is very different again from Manhattan and also the area further south near Brooklyn Bridge. Still plenty of the well-known brands present on the main shopping road Bedford Avenue but with independent, trendy cafes and shops and vintage stores on every corner and a very young crowd. We read that Juliette French Bistro is good for both brunch and lunch but after pizza at Juliana’s we weren’t quite ready for more food. For a fruit fix, we did stop at Playa Bowls which serves up yummy acai bowls with huge portions, delicious fresh ingredients and a whole range of toppings to choose from.
Next up, hop on the subway to Jefferson Street Subway Station for The Bushwick Collective. Offering another completely different feel, the streets including Starr Street, Troutman Street and Jefferson Street between Irving Avenue and Cypress Avenue are home to some of the most amazing examples of street art, with whole streets transformed into an outdoor art gallery. We also found a fantastic vintage store here called L Train Vintage with hundreds of clothing items on sale. My daughter was delighted with her American football shirt for just $6.
Back over in Manhattan for the evening, we made our way up the 91 storeys of Summit One Vanderbilt. Paying a little extra for entry just before sunset is a must. Watching the skyline change from day to night and the city lights twinkling in the dark sky is just magical despite the crowds. The queues are long and once you’re up at the top, you are competing for the best spot but it didn’t take away from the incredible scenery. There are three rooms with different features and if you’re brave you can queue up for a photo on the glass platform. As you head back towards the lifts for the journey back down, there’s also a bar with an open-air terrace if you fancy a cocktail with a view.
We did the Empire State Building viewing platform on a trip years ago and although still very impressive, you really do want it in the skyline as it’s such an iconic New York landmark.
For a casual, reasonably priced (for New York) dinner, Yard House Times Square will appeal to sports fans and good for a few cocktails or beers and some huge appetisers to share.
Fam Full of Wanderlust 