The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is a lovely section of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I was quite…read moresurprised to see a red torii suddenly while walking around this garden. The pond was also frozen over creating a gorgeous natural scene classic of Japan. "The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is one of the oldest and most visited Japanese-inspired gardens outside Japan. It is a blend of the ancient hill-and-pond style and the more recent stroll-garden style, in which various landscape features are gradually revealed along winding paths. The garden features artificial hills contoured around a pond, a waterfall, and an island while carefully placed rocks also play a leading role. Among the major architectural elements of the garden are wooden bridges, stone lanterns, a viewing pavilion, the torii or gateway, and a Shinto shrine." Source: http://www.bbg.org/discover/gardens/japanese_garden

One of my favorite places in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Elegant and painstaking design. You can…read moreamble around the perimeter, or stand at a covered platform in the middle and watch the fish swim by. Also worth it to visit the adjoining shrine, semi-covered in moss. A tranquil, serene installation.

My first time going to the Cloisters. I went with family last week- they went at their pace then…read moresat in the courtyards which had some seating, while I went around at my pace. Good thing I didn't take my boys when they were younger, wouldn't have been for them. A smaller museum compared to the Met but there were still many items to look at. What caught my attention were the details - in the paintings, written books, carved pieces/sculptures (esp the really small ones), tapestries, etc. There were groups having an activity in some areas which blocked us from seeing some of the works of art up close though, like the Unicorn tapestry. I think visits in the spring and summer are better so can enjoy the outdoors. The open courtyards/gardens were lush with greenery and it's nice to spend time out there. The museum has 2 floors. Be ready for going up/down via stairs. It is wheelchair-accessible though I read it is limited. There are a few wheelchairs - free to use, first come-first served. Best to contact them re: the accessible entrance, a shuttle, etc. I learned from another visitor that a staff member has to accompany when taking the elevator. Restrooms are in the lower level, with a wheelchair-accessible one. Took the A train - Dyckman St. station. Entered Fort Tryon Park, then walked uphill a bit then took the stairs (towards the left from the path, steep in some areas). If you have difficulty with stairs, continue on the path or ask about the shuttle.

4/24/26: The Met Cloisters is a must see when in NYC!…read more It's been ages since my last visit. The Cloisters overlooks the Hudson River. It officially opened in 1938. The museum is dedicated to medieval art and architecture. The Cloisters itself is a stunning building. Our first Tour Guide took us around the wonderful medieval statues and gardens. She explained thoroughly about all the herbs and plants that are culinary and for their medicinal purposes. Our second tour guide Valerie was excellent for the "Highlights of the Met Cloisters. A major museum highlight is the Unicorn Tapestry Room (Permanent Display). These 7 tapestries were created approximately 500 years ago. (The Narrative: The Unicorn series tells a story ranging from the hunt's start and the unicorn at a fountain to its defense, capture, and, finally, the famous "Unicorn in Captivity" image). The museum does have a café (The Trie Cafe) on the premises. It's very good for a quick bite along with garden view seating. Museum times as follows: Sunday through Tuesday 10 AM - 5 PM Wednesday- Closed Thursday-Saturday 10 AM- 5 AM. It's best to arrive at the Cloisters upon opening. During the first tour, it wasn't too crowded, but the second tour was extremely crowded. The Met Cloisters is located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive Fort Tryon Park, New York City, NY 10040. Highly recommend visiting the stunning Met Cloisters.

House and grounds were really nice to explore; it's a very serene atmosphere and hidden tucked away…read morefrom all the madness. Just make sure you bring your own snacks and drinks because nothing was available for purchase there.

Used a Culture Pass to visit the Bartow-Pell Mansion in the Bronx. It was a perfect day for it!…read moreWarmish & sunny. The home is open Sundays 12-4p. Tours are given and I highly recommend taking one. There are QR codes in the rooms, and a guide on the Bloomberg Connects App, but Angelique gave an excellent tour! She kindly answered all my questions after each room's description and made this 3 story historical gem come to life. Only thing that would've made the tour better would be to come back in Spring when the garden is in bloom.

Pretty cool, small gallery of history from the last 40 years in the LES. Cool to see an ex squat…read morebuilding too

It's so rare that a museum's built and run by the very people it's about. MoRUS is one of the few…read more For many tourists, the history of the Lower East Side ended with the great immigration of Eastern Europeans during the Pogroms. The Lower East Side Tenement museum does a great job of bringing that history to life. But, what else is there to learn about this vibrant and exciting neighborhood? There's a rich history of reclaimed gardens, squats and community activism in the LES. Through a well narrated photographic exhibit, and through walking tours, the staff and volunteers of MoRUS can walk you through a living history. I was lucky enough to catch "UnrealEstate!"- A lecture, slide show and concert built around an oral history of Lower East Side squats....in the belly of C-Squat. Fly's story, illustrations and photos really brought home the challenges of building C-squat (and other reclaimed spaces); a living space Giuliani once called, "The most dangerous venue in New York". Nico De Gallo kept things light with a hilarious Shel Silverstein reading, while Seth Tobocman and Eric Drooker rounded things out with their own graphic histories of their LES experience. I'll have to visit again and take the walking tour!

The Edge and City Climb combo was such a good experience. The Edge itself has amazing views, but…read moreadding the City Climb made it feel way more memorable. Climbing up the side of the building was a little nerve wracking at first, but the staff made me feel safe and talked me through everything. Once I got to the top, the view was unbelievable and worth every bit of it. You can check out my full review and everything I did on Instagram and TikTok: @travelnistaonthemove

I was very disappointed with Edge. Originally, I had wanted to do the City Climb experience, but…read morethey were doing renovations to it, and it wasn't available. In hindsight, it was for the best. As it was, I paid extra for priority access, which allows you to skip the lines. But there was no line to get in, and no line for the elevator up. There was a line for the elevator down that I got to skip, but it was only about 10 people, so I basically saved 5 minutes. The whole experience took me about 15-20 minutes. With Top of Rock, you've got the beam, the lift, and the short fun little movie at the beginning, with Empire, you have the historical aspect of it, and with Summit 1, you have the ballroom. There's nothing special or drawing to Edge. The views are ok, but the deck is on the smaller side of the ones I've been to. Security was a little rude and off-putting. The first security guard said I set the alarm off and sends me over to the side. That guy waves me through, then the original guy starts freaking out for me to stop. I go back to the 2nd, and I'm like you waived me through, and he just keeps saying it's ok. And pawing at my stuff, mind I had a clear bag so you see everything in case I set an alarm off. Anyway, It better be ok, I went to stop, and YOU waived me through. Overall, of the observation decks I've done, Edge has been the worst. 1. Top of the Rock 2. Summit 1 3. One Times Square 4. Empire State 5. Edge

29th March 2026 Belmont section of…read more the Bronx, NY My Hubby's birthday! This year's Orchid Show at the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory titled, 'Mr Flower Fantastic's Concrete Jungle' transforms the magnificent space into a vibrant vision of the City of New York overflowing with beautiful orchids. Lo and Behold, Mr. Flower Fantastic, who was featured on CBS Sunday Morning, is an anonymous creative Artist who brings a glorious vision of over 40,000 orchids to the various quintessential New York places, such as: a Car Wash, a dumpster, a Laundromat, NYC stoop, Bus Stop, Subway station, a Pizzeria, etc. Everywhere is stunning, the current installation is so worth the visit and a few returns. The NYBG Orchid Show is on view until April 26th. Please make a date to see the work of Mr. Flower Fantastic. You can Thank me later. Thank you!!

The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is a huge greenhouse and the centerpiece of the New York Botanical…read moreGarden. Opened in 1902 and stretching over 500' in the NW corner of the garden, it houses some of NYBG's most exotic and rare plants, including the unique Corpse Flower, which blooms every few years. Sections of the building are separated into different biomes from around the world, including humid rain forests and arid high deserts. You can make a complete circuit of the building starting in the main dome and through the multi-level rainforest canopy biome. Around the back, there is an underground tunnel that brings you up into the desert biome, where you will see some very odd shaped cacti and strange prickly plants. Look, but do not touch! The Conservatory is also the venue to host special events during the year, like the Annual Orchid Show in the Spring and the Holiday Train Show in the Winter. Tickets to the train show sell out fast so look for them on sale as early as September. The highlight of the train show is that electric model trains are set up to run around scale models of New York landmarks, such as Grand Central Station & Macy's that are all made from organic plant material. The kids love it at this time of year and you cannot miss this experience if you're in New York!

We had a GREAT experience at One World Observatory, from bottom to top. We were there on a midweek…read morevisit so not crowded at all. The staff is exceptional and everyone we interacted with was incredibly kind and helpful including security. People, this is a touristy activity so go into it with that mindset. If you are military you get a 50% discount and those in your party get 20% so worth going down to the human manned ticket office. Once atop the views are gorgeous (even when cloudy) and exhibit information interesting. We decided to have a drink in the bar as we were celebrating my husband's birthday which was a milestone one. The bar staff was amazing , mixing up some delish drinks and buying my husband his. We absolutely LOVED Nicole who was helpful, fun, and had a magical personality. Yup the drink prices are up there (pardon the pun) but it's no different than any other view type establishment and I've done a few in fact I found them less than some places. Highlights of the day- drinks at the top and hanging with Nicole.

A mixed bag. I sprung for the VIP tour, which I usually try and do with things like this, since it…read moregets me through the lines quicker. And our guide, Phillip was great. Personable and knowledgeable I can only say good things about me. But the Observatory as a whole was disappointing. There's no outdoor part to it, and the views are pretty standard compared to the other observation towers. I would say its also simple compared to the other decks, where they have other draws like Top of the Rock having the lift and beam, Summit 1 having the ballroom and glass floors, etc. There's nothing like that here. Overall, I rank it 5/6 of the observation decks I've done. 1. Top of the Rock 2. Summit 1 3. One Times Square 4. Empire State 5. One World 6. Edge

The National Jazz Museum of Harlem (NJMH) is located on W. 129th Street in Harlem. It is blocks…read moreaway from Corner Social, Sylvia's & other popular establishments / stores that are on 125th Street. NJMH is a beautfully cozy, intimate & casual museum. Merch is available for purchase alongside the front desk by the museum's front entrance. NJMH has "Sounds of Harlem" - 1932 Night Club Map of Harlem that guided people to Harlem's most popular night spots at that time. Duke Ellington's original handwritten manuscript for song entitled "Harlem Air Shaft." & Duke Ellington's Baby Grand Piano have been upon display at National Jazz Museum of Harlem. Jazz is one of my favorite genres of music, and I look forward to always visiting this museum where Jazz ic celebrated. Fantastic events / exhibits have been held throughout the years & include the following: 1.) Performances by Jazz Power Initiative & Virgin Island Jazz Collective. 2.) The Intergenerational Jazz Power Jam w/ Nikara Warren & Saxophonist Craig along w/ Dr. E & Jazzpower. Nikara Warren performed selections from her debut album, "Black Wall Street." 3.) "The Soul of Jazz in American Adventure" Exhibit - based on Disney / Pixar's "Soul". 4.) During the height of the pandemic, virtual events included DJ Tony Touch's Afro- Latin Roots Dance Party & the Crib Collective Concert. 5.) Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz's "Jazz In The Vortex: Poetry, Healing & Self-Archaeology" Exhibit. 6.) Live Jam Sessions are held throughout the year. The "Eately Uptown Jazz Session" was one of my favorites. 7.). Special tap dancing performance recently held in honor of Jazz Tap Dancer "Baby" Laurence Jackson to celebrate his 103rd Birthday! Website - jmih.org / jazzmuseuminharlem.org Instagram - natljazzmuseum Hours of Operation - Thurs. - Sat. 12pm- 5pm When one Checks-In to unlock their special offer, one can get a free NJMH mug w/ a $15 donation.

I organized a field trip for two of my kindergarten classes to take a trip to the museum for Black…read moreHistory Month and we all loved it. The kids were very engaged thanks to our host who had the kids be in their own band. The kids learned and were enthusiastic to participate. The programs they provide for kids are great and everyone left in smiles