The Liz Christy Garden never seems to be open. And the very grumpy older woman inside could not…read morehave been less welcoming.

We'd passed by this garden countless times on the bus, and yesterday we finally had time to visit…read moreit when getting off the bus right by there.  Although it's unsurprisingly not very large, it's lovely - and the fact that it's in such a heavily-trafficked area is rather remarkable.  The garden has very narrow pathways, but meanwhile a welcome aspect is that it has some benches.  There are rock gardens & a koi pond, and everything is very well-maintained (it's staffed by volunteers and it's the oldest community garden in NYC).  It's a lovely place for (somewhat) quiet reflection. Note that the garden is only open on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays - and the hours are also very restricted.

What a gem. $5 admission to a place that is relaxing and beautiful with the bamboo, ponds, rivers,…read moretemple, and more. It's nice to just take it all in. It could use a little freshening up, but highly recommended!l for peacefulness.

The Chinese Scholar's Garden is as picturesque as it is serene. The architectural forms and beauty…read moreof the garden are a work of art. Definitely worth taking a trip to Staten Island! I particularly like how the wandering paths lead me back to the towering bamboo which is the entry point to the garden. The natural elements and the architecture built in the garden is a peaceful place fit for the scholar's meditation and study. There is a circular portal that leads to a courtyard with rocks that form a geometric pattern on the ground, guiding the eye to the organic shapes of the plants and trees. One element guides the eye to another element through contrast and even through repetition of shapes as can be seen in how there is a scallop edged wall behind this courtyard with the circular doorway. The circle motif is echoed in the design of the scallop edged wall beyond which flows another pond and yet more plants of different sizes. The landscape design also includes the waterfalls, pavilions and a rock-carved walkway with steps on it as well as a walkway that is zig-zagged! A great backdrop for picture taking with interesting rock formations along the pond in the courtyards. Also, when you pass by the koi fish pond, you could hear the splashing sounds they make as they swim around in the water. It brings an inner calm, tranquility and peacefulness to the viewers when they see the koi fish swim in the still water. I highly recommend a visit to the Chinese Scholar's Garden!

Free entry on Sunday morning from 9-11am! Beautiful Garden!…read moreI couldn't wait to get barefoot and walk in the grass and hug a tree! Clean restrooms in several spots in the garden! Gift shop also has the information desk, as well as restrooms and water bottle filling station!

Had an amazing time here. I was a little confused and did get off the wrong bus here. Thankfully it…read morewas only a block or two away. The grounds were so beautiful. I appreciate the shaded areas because it was super hot outside. I came here for a wine festival. It was a cute little event. I was a little shocked that my allergies didn't act up because everhtime I go to a park i am sneezing my head off. I found it cool that some of the trees had some plaques on them for remembrance. I loved the cute little ponds. I should have walked to other areas to check out the other grounds. I'm not sure if I would come back for a day visit. It was a little far for me to get too on a hot day.

Visited back in April -- the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House Museum is a true hidden gem. Nestled right…read moreon the Queens-Brooklyn county line, in the far northwest corner of Ridgewood and well off the typical tourist path, this historic house museum offers a quiet, intimate escape with a fascinating story to tell. The collection inside is thoughtfully curated, showcasing artifacts that illuminate both the house's past and the surrounding neighborhood's rich history. The staff is warm and welcoming, and one guide in full period attire was not only gracious but impressively knowledgeable a wonderful touch that really brings the space to life. This is a must-visit for history buffs, preservation professionals, Ridgewood locals, or anyone exploring NYC who's craving an "out-of-the-way" spot to slow down, reflect, and soak in some Queens-centric history. Don't miss the "Arbitration Rock" on the grounds tucked inside a picket-fenced enclosure, it's an intriguing remnant of the historic boundary dispute that once defined the Ridgewood (Queens)-Bushwick (Brooklyn) border. A peaceful, educational, and surprisingly charming experience.

We were so happy to have our daughter's wedding at the Onderdonk house and gardens at the end of…read moreMay. The staff there could not have been better stewards for the space or kinder shepherds to us as we worked out way through the planning, execution, and enjoyment of a wonderful event with friends and family. We are big DIYers and the gracious guidance of Virginia and others at Vander Ende-Onderdonk took exceptional care of us. A joyous event (and huge success for us) and cannot sing my praises enough for this gem of a location.

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.

Very interesting park. Right on water and nice views. Very big green spaces. Also right by the…read moreNoguchi museum which I recommend checking out.

Discovered Socrates Sculpture Park on a visit to the Noguchi Museum down the block. Awesome to…read moreexplore this 5 acre riverside park that exhibits a range of eclectic larger size sculptures. Socrates also has some open space to also enjoy the view of Roosevelt Island and Manhattan on the other side of the East River. My favorite sculptures there are John Ahearn's painted bronze "Raymond and Toby," "Daleesha," and "Corey." Nearby, you'll also find a Free Store that perhaps has something to take home. (Full disclosure: I did not check out its actual contents.) "The Cubes," a new permanent building in the park, provides administrative offices as well as multi-use additional space. Socrates Sculpture Park was a nice surprise!

Such an amazing and beautiful museum! I absolutely loved it so much. I really liked the decor and…read moreaesthetic of this museum, it felt like a German story book house. I also liked the furniture and decor of the museum. I was also able to learn a lot about the history of the neighborhood and about the family that lived there who were German immigrants. I was able to learn how Flushing and the neighborhood that the house was in was apart of Long Island, before it came to be apart of Queens. The tour guide was really friendly and informative, and the tour of the house was around 45 minutes. The tour takes us through the rooms and ends with the backyard which has the garden, bird sanctuary, and little fish pond! I definitely recommend visiting this amazing museum, it's so pretty and filled with interesting history and facts about Queens. I also like how this house was about a middle class family. It's about a 10-15 minute walk from Main Street and open Wednesdays and Sundays from 1-4. The tickets for this are also suggested donation, so you can donate however much you like!

This is one of the historic landmarks in Queens that I'd been planning to visit for longtime and…read more happy that we were able to do so on today's summer outing with my girlfriends. This is a Historic house of German immigrants that has been donated to Queens town to turned into public museum, entrance is a suggested donation . Knowing the history behind the house and its exhibits after the tour made worthy of our side trip. It has a beautiful Victorian garden and bird sanctuary. We missed how beautiful these looked like if during springtime visit. Nevertheless, we found out that they schedule great Shakespeare shows during summertime. It is scheduled for this year to be on August 14th. Will we be returning ? If time permits, we are willing to. This is a recommended place to visit.

We visited The Gecko gallery right after The Bone Museum next door and got the $15 combo discount…read more Perfect pairing for a family afternoon in Bushwick! We were blown away by the variety of geckos and reptiles packed into this place. You can tell immediately how much passion and expertise goes into it: the terrariums are beautifully maintained with real thought put into each habitat, and the staff were incredibly knowledgeable, answering every question my kid and I threw at them (and there were a lot). Learning about their conservation work made it even more special: this isn't just a display, it's actual work to protect endangered species, and you can feel that mission in everything they do. We even got to hold a couple of the friendlier geckos, which was the highlight for our kid. Such a fun, unexpected gem! Highly recommend combining it with The Bone Museum for a perfect two-stop, bones-and-lizards day in Brooklyn!

Do you want to meet Tom the Lizard in real life?…read more Well, here's 300+ of his extended family. Seriously, the owners told us that this tiny gallery houses more than 300 geckos, lizards, and other reptiles of the adorable variety. You might have to play Magic Eye (popular '90s book series featuring optical illusions, for you 21st century-born young 'uns)s to find some of the geckos because they camouflage so well in their cases, but it's worth it for the unique sights, spectacular colors, and in some cases, unusual feels. Yes, you can touch, hold and pet some of the geckos--just ask the owners for help. I highly, highly recommend you make the trip out to Bushwick to check this place out and learn everything you ever wanted to know about the cutest reptiles on the planet. Lizard! Lizard! Lizard!