Sunset Sunday – Walking the Brooklyn Bridge, New York

As a native New Yorker, I am often asked for recommendations, the “what to do, what to see” regarding my city. It’s not hard to rattle of a list of ‘to-dos’ about arguably one of the world’s most dynamic and exciting destinations so I oblige. Yet I don’t often write about them. I don’t want to keep them secret, in fact, the opposite, I look to encourage. I want visitors leaving the city seeing more than the guide-book top ten lists.

A sunset doesn’t often make any of those lists for New York City, but walking the Brooklyn Bridge does. And just like good restaurants are better when you know what to order, walking the Brooklyn Bridge is better when you know how and when to walk it.

My advice is to take the subway from Manhattan to Brooklyn. You exit on the first stop in Brooklyn. (I select the A,C to High Street) Once in Brooklyn, you want to walk towards the view of the Manhattan skyline. You’d be surprised how man tourists do this backwards.

DUMBO, Brooklyn

And once in Brooklyn, you can really enjoy the resurgent DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood. Here a coffee or cocktail in the many cafes can be just what you need before taking the walk at the proper time. A chance to fuel up and pass time before you walk across at sunset. Recently, I planned a meeting in Brooklyn that enabled me to do just that.

On the walk back to Manhattan, the orange sky seemed to warm me on the cool, crisp autumn afternoon. The views of the New York skyline and harbor sparkled. The city seemed to come alive. Yes, I missed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, and still can’t believe it’s almost ten years since that day, but a lady warmed me up.

I looked in to see the Statue of Liberty. That made the moment. To see her torch and the bright sky behind her reminded how special and welcoming my city truly is. Yes, indeed – I love NY.

in the distance her torch lights the sky...

Happy Sunset Sunday. Stay Adventurous, Craig