The Bronx is a pretty far trip for most of us, but the home of hip hop and the Yankees is definitely worth a visit. Here’s our guide to some of the best things to do up in the borough called “The Boogie Down.”
Tats Cru, Halloween | Garrett Ziegler via Flickr
Hunts Point Murals
The murals on Hunts Point (on Drake Street) feature some of the best graffiti and street art the city has to offer. The building’s owners gave their permission for the wall to be painted, their only rule being that the curators — the world famous TATS CRU — select professional artists to do the painting. The Hunts Points murals have added color and style to this part of the Bronx for over a decade now.
Abraham Lincoln statue | via UntappedCities
Hall of Fame for Great Americans
Inside the Bronx Community College campus, in the University Heights neighborhood, is a beautiful and hidden memorial to those who have made this country great. The Hall of Fame for Great Americans is a 630-foot, open-air monument designed by famed architect Stanford White for what was then the University Heights campus of New York University. Famous teachers, politicians, scientists, authors, inventors, and more are all enshrined inside the memorial, the first hall of fame in the U.S.
Van Cortlandt Park | via Yelp
Van Cortlandt Park
The third largest park in NYC, Van Cortlandt Park has a deep history in NY. The park is named after the city’s first Mayor, Stephanus Van Cortlandt. Head up on a weekend to have a picnic, bike, or go on a hike. Throughout the year, the park is used for a variety of sports including baseball, cricket, football and track.
Pugsley Pizza | via Facebook
Pugsley Pizza
One of the Bronx’s best kept secrets is this lovely, traditional, mom-and-pop shop hidden behind a gas station near Fordham University. Pugsley Pizza is a family-owned pizza joint where the owner, Sal, bangs on a gong when your pie is ready, has lovely decor including photos of generations of Fordham students, and serves up such creatively titled menu items as the Love Pie and Sicilian Kisses.
Yankee Stadium | via Wikipedia
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium is home to the 27-time World Series champion New York Yankees. The new stadium, which opened in 2009, is a state-of-the-art sporting arena with gift shops, restaurants, and a museum dedicated to the New York Yankees history.
One of the new baby gorillas at the Bronx Zoo | Julie Larsen Maher via BronxZoo.com
The Bronx Zoo
It’s the largest metropolitan zoo on the planet, with more than 4,000 beasts over 265 acres. Explore immersive habitats like the African Plains, grazed by lions, giraffes and zebras, or the Himalayan Highlands, featuring red pandas, snow leopards and white-naped cranes. Hitch a ride on the Wild Asia Monorail to see antelope, rhinos and elephants along the Bronx River. Latest additions to the zoo include a trio of prehistoric-looking Komodo dragons and two baby gorillas.
New York Botanical Garden in August | NYBG.org
New York Botanical Garden
Created in 1891 and inspired by London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, the NYBG includes a 50-acre forest made up of some of the last original-growth trees in New York City. For decidedly less local flora, stroll through the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — it’s the largest Victorian glass house in America and contains a tropical rainforest. Through September 7, you can also check out “Mrs. Rockefeller’s Garden,” which features plants inspired by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller’s plantings in Maine.
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