Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is fun, almost festive, and if you decide to go you’ll definitely never be lonely. My husband and I made the trek one cool Monday morning last fall and were both surprised to find the bridge trail buzzing with other travelers, busy locals, people out for a run, and a few pretty brave bikers. It’s the perfect activity for travelers who like to be outdoors and on the move. And there is no where else in the city where you can take in the beautiful NYC skyline as well as the borough of Brooklyn, the New York harbor and even run into a celebrity or two, all from the unique vantage point of a raised walkway on the top of an iconic suspension bridge.
“The great appeal of the Brooklyn Bridge
is that the view is all around you”
If you’re in New York and interested in walking across the bridge to Brooklyn, head for lower Manhattan and look for the small park next to the Manhattan Municipal Building, a beautiful Beaux-Arts building and subway station. You can take a cab, Uber or ride the subway to get there, and easily get your bearings by joining the parade of bikers and walkers headed toward the bridge trail, or keep an eye out for signage. The exit off the bridge on the Brooklyn side is a little confusing, but we followed the path on the right which deposited us directly in front of a detailed map of the area. I highly recommend spending some time here! There are so many interesting neighborhoods, each with a unique history to absorb. We found the Dumbo section of Brooklyn enticing for its amazing views of the city, art galleries, restaurants, and interesting shops in repurposed warehouses. Lunch at the famous pizzeria Grimaldi’s almost seems mandatory (it was delicious) before the hike back to Manhattan. If you’re as curious as I was, the acronym for this wonderful neighborhood, “Dumbo” actually stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.
If you happen to arrive or depart lower Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall/Chambers Street subway station, make sure to look up and enjoy the views of the lovely vaulted ceiling of white Guastavino* ceiling tiles in the south arcade. The white columns and tile detail is truly stunning. (*Spanish architect who patented the tile arch system in 1885.)
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