One of NYC’s most intriguing boroughs - It’s the Bronx
The northernmost and only mainland borough in New York City, the Bronx boasts attractions such as Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. A tough and crime-ridden past has long since given way to a vibrant arts and culture scene, gourmet dining, and fascinating neighbourhoods. The cost of hotels in the Bronx are often considerably lower than in nearby Manhattan which, along with the appeal of the area’s attractions, makes the borough an increasingly popular destination for visitors of all ages.
Arts and Culture
Fans of arts and cultural attractions typically fall in love with the Bronx. This borough is literally teeming with museums, galleries, iconic landmarks, and buildings of historical significance. Visitors to the area can enjoy free admission to the Bronx Museum of the Arts; established in 1971, the museum features a permanent collection of over 1000 pieces. Other notable cultural attractions include the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, and the Edgar Allan Poe Cottage. Although the Bronx Graffiti Wall of Fame has now been dismantled, street art plays an important part of the artistic landscape here. Visitors can enjoy guided street art tours or just head along to the Big Pun Memorial Mural in Rogers Place; the work of Tats Cru. The mural is a continually updated street art installation commemorating the life of hip hop artist Big Pun.
Green Spaces
You may not necessarily associate the Bronx with green spaces but the borough actually has an excellent selection of parks. Bronx Park in the centre of the area is perhaps best known as the site of the New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo but the space also features playgrounds, sports court, and the Rockefeller Fountain. Guests can also visit Pelham Bay Park; situated on Long Island Sound, it is New York City’s largest public park. This bayside park is home to the Bartow-Pell Mansion and Orchard Beach, the latter the sole public beach in the Bronx and once known as the Riviera of New York. The city’s third largest park, Van Cortlandt Park, can also be found in this borough. Along with a forested area and multiple playgrounds, this 1,146-acre park features the oldest building in the Bronx, the Georgian-style Frederick Van Cortlandt House, as well as America’s first public golf course.
Shopping and Dining
Visitors to the Bronx have a great deal to look forward to when it comes to shopping and dining in the Bronx. One of the most popular retail destinations in the area, and indeed one of NYC’s busiest shopping districts, is Fordham Road where you can pick up everything from comic books to antiques. Aside from Fordham Road, visitors to the area can explore diverse retail destinations such as the Bronx Mall and the African Center Mall. If you like to have easy access to refreshments during your shopping trip, your best bet would be to combine retail therapy with lunch by heading to Arthur Avenue, aka Little Italy of the Bronx. Pick up some bargains at the Arthur Avenue Retail Market then settle down to enjoy a meal at an authentic Italian-American eatery, many of which have been in the hands of the same family for generations.
Nightlife and Entertainment
The heydey of Hip Hop may be over but the Bronx still knows how to throw a party. Spend time cheering with the crowds at a local sports bar or enjoy a sophisticated drink at a cocktail lounge in an upmarket hotel. Dance the night away in a super club or catch a live band in the relaxed surroundings of one of the bars in the working class neighbourhood of Soundview. Fans of the performing arts needn’t miss out on an evening of entertainment; one of NYC’s leading venues, The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, can be found in the Bronx. Other destinations in the performing arts space include Lovinger Theatre, Paradise Theatre, and Pregones Theatre, the latter the only Hispanic theatre in the Bronx. Those guests who like a laugh can visit one of the borough’s many comedy clubs.
Further Afield
Exploring NYC couldn’t be more convenient than when you use the Bronx as a kicking off point. The Third Avenue elevated line may be a thing of the past but the area still boasts an excellent public transport system. Travel with ease to Manhattan, the heart of the ‘Big Apple’, where attractions include Times Square, Central Park, and the Empire State Building or head across the Hudson River to Jersey City where you can spend the day exploring the likes of the Liberty Science Center and Ellis Island. To the east lies the borough of Queens where visits to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the New York Hall of Science, and the Socrates Sculpture Park while budding historians will enjoy visiting Historic Richmond Town and Alice Austen House on Staten Island.
The Bronx: An attraction in its own right and gateway to the five boroughs.