New York City has so much to offer, and not just in Manhattan. The city’s northernmost borough, The Bronx, is filled with interesting sites and a rich culture that every visiting tourist should experience at some point in their lives. Plus, the 1993 film classic A Bronx Tale, based on the life of Chazz Palminteri, is finally coming to Broadway this fall, co-directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Saks. From the beloved Yankee Stadium to the breathtaking New York Botanical Garden, don’t miss out on all that the Bronx has to share!
Best of the Bronx: Bronx Zoo (Belmont)
Image: Jeffery DelViscio/Flickr
The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United Sates, and it’s considered among the largest in the world. Not too shabby for the concrete jungle! Take a camel ride, watch the sea lion feedings, or hop aboard the Zoo Shuttle while you’re exploring this 265-acre animal playground. From American bison and giraffes to red pandas and snow leopards, you can easily spend an entire day taking in the sights and sounds that make up the Bronx Zoo. 2300 Southern Blvd., 718-220-5100, bronxzoo.com
Best of the Bronx: Arthur Avenue Retail Market (Belmont)
Image: Arthur Avenue Market.
Arthur Avenue makes up the heart of the Bronx’s “Little Italy,” and the food here is dynamite. The Arthur Avenue Retail Market houses top-quality meats, cheeses, olive oils, pasta sauces, and more. Craving a slice? Head over to Café al Mercato in the market for a pan-baked, Sicilian slice of pizza or order one of their extravagant specialty pies. Wrap things up at the The Bronx Beer Hall, where there’s a focus on local brews and award-winning Bronx beers. 2344 Arthur Ave., 718-295-5033, arthuravenue.com
Best of the Bronx: New York Botanical Garden (Belmont)
Image: Barry Solow/Flickr
The New York Botanical Garden refers to itself as an “iconic living museum”, and we couldn’t agree more. Founded in 1891, this 250-acre site has a wide array of tropical, temperate, and desert flora, as well as a rock garden and conservatory. Even if you show up during the winter, a visit to New York Botanical Garden is still a must, with the Holiday Train Show occurring between late November and mid-January each year. 2900 Southern Blvd., 718-817-8700, nybg.org
Best of the Bronx: The Bronx Museum of the Arts (Concourse)
Image: Jules Antonio/Flickr
A vast array of contemporary art exhibitions find their way to The Bronx Museum of the Arts, as well as innovative education programs and cross-cultural dialogues and discussions. Interested in connecting its audience to “the urban experience,” this museum is a reflection of the borough’s inhabits, as well as the artists, local residents, and frequent visitors that support it. A chance to look at art is never a wasted opportunity. 1040 Grand Concourse, 718-681-6000, bronxmuseum.org
Best of the Bronx: Yankee Stadium (Concourse)
Image: m01229/Flickr
No matter the season (baseball or not), it’s never a bad time to visit Yankee Stadium. If no games are being played, tours are offered almost daily at the famed ballpark, taking visitors through the New York Yankees Museum, Monument Park, Press Box, and the Legends Outdoor Seating. This $2.3-billion-dollar stadium that was opened in 2009 stands adjacent to Heritage Field, where the original Yankee Stadium was demolished in 2010. 1 E. 161st St., 718-293-4300, newyork.yankees.mlb.com
