Queens For The Day

While Manhattan may seemingly have every single thing you are looking to enjoy during your vacation, some of the other boroughs have so much culture that they simply cannot be missed. Queens is one of the most ethnically diverse boroughs in New York. There is so much to see, do and, of course, eat!

The Sites

The waterfront of Queens has some of the most beautiful views of the NYC skyline. One of my favorite places to see Manhattan from is Astoria Park. The park sits on the shore of the East River nestled between the Tri-borough Bridge and the Hellgate Bridge. From Midtown, it is a 20-minute train ride on the N or Q train and then a short walk from there.

Another one of my favorite views of the city is from the Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City. This is a 15-minute trip on the 7 Train from Times Square and has an amazing view of the Midtown Skyline, including the Empire State and the Chrysler buildings. It is also home to an original Pepsi Cola billboard that lights up the park in the evening. Whether you come to take a few pictures for your NYC Album on Facebook or decide just to have a nice walk in either of these parks, it is worth the trip!

The Food & Drink

The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in the Astoria-Ditmars area has some of the best food I’ve ever had. Whether you are looking for traditional eastern European food or more American dishes they have the best. My favorite dish is a Slovak staple, Halusky, which is spaetzels with sheep cheese. They also have a very large variety of beers that can please the most earnest beer enthusiast.

Courtesy of the Strand Smokehouse

The Strand BBQ is one of my favorite places to go for good barbecue, an excellent variety of scotch and whiskey and also live music on the weekends. The atmosphere is very casual, your meal is served on butcher’s paper and drinks are served in mason jars.  It is located just a few blocks from the Broadway stop on the N or Q train.

Off of the 7 train in Jackson Heights you can find plenty of amazing Spanish and South American restaurants but, the best is a Peruvian spot called Pio Pio. They have the best ceviche I’ve ever had. It is perfect for a family outing or even a date night. Also, every Wednesday evening they offer live Peruvian music!

The Culture

The Museum of the Moving Image is located just blocks from the R Train at Steinway Street and is one of the most entertaining museums I’ve been too. It shows us the history and the importance of videography and television has on our society. The museum often holds workshops for children.

The Queens Botanical Garden is located in Flushing Meadow Park in Flushing, Queens. They are open year round and offer beautiful gardens for the public to experience. The garden is closed on Mondays through the winter and opened the remainder of the days from 8:00 pm to 4:30 pm. They also offer many different types of horticulture classes ranging from purely informative classes to hands on floral design classes. Just hop on the 7 train to the last stop Main Street Flushing and the gardens is a short walk away. It will take about 45 minutes to an hour.

Interested in visiting Brooklyn as well? Check out our #TipsforTravelers that on everything to do in Brooklyn. If you have any questions on any of these great attractions or how to get to and from them please contact our concierge at the Casablanca Hotel in Times Square, the Library Hotel, the Hotel Giraffe, and the Hotel Elysee they would all be delighted to help you with any arrangements you may need to make your stay memorable.