Walking Across an Iconic Landmark-the Brooklyn Bridge

This iconic bridge is a landmark, a symbol, and a piece of history. This is a bridge that you add “walking across it” to your bucket list. To top it off, the destinations at either end are filled with culture and entertainment. We made a real conscientious effort to fill this bucket list item and can’t wait to do it again.

If you don’t already know, the Brooklyn Bridge connects two awesome New York City boroughs, Brooklyn and Manhattan, across the East River. Many people commute across it by car, but you can walk, bike, and stand just the same. Don’t worry about the traffic, there’s a dedicated pedestrian walkway above the cars (bikes use it too). Believe it or not, it’s a pretty peaceful stroll with terrific views and some history along the way. The walk across is about one mile (1.3 miles). Allow yourself at least sixty minutes to take a tourist’s stroll across. There’s lots to see and great views of the city skyline. You’ll notice the typical “locks” on a bridge, graffiti, some vendors selling drinks and fun items, and historical plaques with some interesting information. Our favorite vendor was “mango on a stick.” They peeled and cut slices of full mangoes and put them on sticks so you could bite off the pieces.  Yum!

To Access the Pedestrian Walkway:

From Brooklyn- 2 Options…

1. The walkway begins at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place. This entrance is what you would see from a car when crossing the Brooklyn Bridge.
2. You can also access it via an underpass on Washington Street. The underpass is about two blocks from Front Street in Brooklyn. This underpass leads up a stairway to a ramp that brings you onto the Walkway.

From Manhattan…

1. You can access the walkway from City Hall on the Manhattan side of the East River.

Tips

• Access to the Brooklyn Bridge is 24 hours per day
• Sunrise and Sunset are wonderful times to go. You can take in the views of Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty during daylight hours and then watch the city light up for the evening or vice versa.
• Be warned –whatever time of day you go, it can get chilly on the bridge being higher up and over the water.  Plan ahead and bring layers so that you can enjoy your time!
• No worries, it’s safe to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at night. There are many tourists and commuters using the bridge until about 11 pm at night. (This is the city that never sleeps!)
• You can find public restrooms at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Brooklyn Bridge Park

“Brooklyn Bridge Park is a world-class waterfront park with rolling hills, riverfront promenades, lush gardens, and spectacular city views. Our list of amenities continues to grow as we work each day to revitalize this previously deteriorated industrial space and build a park that allows New Yorkers to rediscover the waterfront.”–visit their website for details about each section of the park.

The sections of the park directly next to the bridge are convenient to access:

• Empire Fulton Ferry (Jane’s Carousel, Picnic Grove, St. Anne’s Warehouse, Empire Fulton Ferry Lawn, BHS Dumbo, and Max Family Garden)
• Main Street (Pebble Beach, Main Street Playground, Main Street Dog Run, Environmental Education Center, DUMBO Boulders)
• Fulton Ferry Landing –first ferry service between Brooklyn and Manhattan in 1642 (Bargemusic, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Luke’s Lobster)
  

Jane’s Carousel

“Jane’s Carousel is a classic 3-row machine with 48 exquisitely carved horses and two superb chariots. It was created in 1922, the heyday of the American Carousel, by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (P.T.C.) Designated as PTC. No. 61, it was originally installed in Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio, then a prosperous steel-making city.”

• Lovingly restored and donated to the park by Jane and David Walentas
• Located in the Empire Fulton Ferry section of Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Housed in a glass pavilion, designed by Pritzker-prize winning architect Jean Nouvel
• Summer (5/13-9/16/19) Open 6 days- closed Tues, 11am-7pm
• Winter (9/17/18-5/12/19)open Thurs-Sunday, 11am-6pm
• $2 rides, 12 tickets $20 (Multi-pack), Children under 42″ free with paying adult

Family Adventure Rating ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Cost- This adventure is a day in the park. Costs should be low, but food and transportation can easily bring the cost for a family of five up to $150-200 for the day depending on where you’re coming from and how much you spend on a meal. If you’re a city resident and can pack a lunch for the lawn, then it’s a super low cost adventure.
Parking & Transportation- Parking is scarce anywhere in NYC’s five boroughs. Mass transit is the way to go whether you start your adventure in Brooklyn or Manhattan. You can find subways, buses, trains, taxis, and ride-shares all nearby.
Location- This location is a rarity in the world which makes it a must-see in our book. The iconic Brooklyn Bridge, city skyline, historic cobble stone streets, city art and culture, and even a beautiful carousel makes this trip really worthwhile.
Day Trip or Overnight- Staying overnight in the city is a treat, but expensive. There’s plenty to do if you want to plan a stay. You can also just have a terrific day trip enjoying the Brooklyn Bridge and immediate surrounding areas. There’s often festivals, shows, markets and more in or around Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Experience- This is a terrific way to spend time in the city with family and friends. There’s outdoor fun, new experiences, and even history. We loved walking across the bridge and connecting with our family heritage. (Our ancestors took root in Brooklyn after immigrating to America from Europe.)
Combination- There are endless possibilities to combine this adventure with other stops in the area. It just depends on how much time and energy you have. Our suggestion is to stay in the immediate area and explore the park for a relaxing fun-filled time. You will probably come across some type of festival, show, or outdoor market you can add to the fun in Brooklyn Bridge Park. If you have more time, you can take a quick subway ride over to Chinatown in lower Manhattan or walk over to the memorials, One World Trade Center.  Another great stop, if you have the time or a sweet tooth, is Economy Candy