Manhattan and Brooklyn are the undisputed leaders among the boroughs of New York when it comes to interest from tourists. Still, we sincerely advise you to allocate at least one day to walk around the northernmost district of the city, the Bronx. Here, you can find exquisite restaurants, authentic architecture and incredible habitats of living nature in the middle of a bustling metropolis. It was the birthplace of cheeky street hip-hop and the home of a vivid representative of American romanticism, Edgar Allan Poe. The contrast and expression sometimes take your breath away. These emotions and impressions will remain in your memory forever. We offer the following route for a walk through the Bronx. Read also the article about industrial tourism in the Bronx. Read more on i-bronx.
Botanical Garden
We advise you to start from this wonderful, inspiring place. If favorable weather conditions are forecast for the day of your stay in the Bronx, be sure to visit the largest Botanical Garden in the United States. Just imagine, there are 1 million plants here and the area is 250 acres. One can get the most impressions in this place in the summer, when the park is full of colorful flowering locations. Magnolias, lilacs, daffodils, azaleas, peonies, cherries and roses grow here. This is just a small list of the blooms that can be observed here. At any time of the year, you will get a lot of pleasure from visiting the Botanical Garden. Enjoy a Victorian conservatory, an incredible collection of cacti and 48 gardens, including rock gardens, water gardens, compass gardens, conifer gardens, rhododendron gardens, family gardening and more.
The Botanical Garden is open every day, except Monday, from 10 AM. Come just before the opening and spend a couple of hours walking around this beauty. You will definitely get a charge of energy and inspiration for the whole day.
Address: 2900 Southern Blvd.
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
If your visit to the Bronx falls on a Saturday, consider yourself a lucky person. It is possible to visit this cottage museum only every Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. On other days, you can only see it from the outside, which is also a worthy option. To visit the place where the legendary writer created such masterpieces as Annabel Lee, The Bells and Eureka is a great luck. Although it is difficult to call a small white house a cottage. It was built in 1812 as a house for workers. There is a kitchen and two small rooms downstairs. In the attic, there is a bedroom and a small office. Edgar Poe lived here with his wife Virginia and her mother Maria from 1846 to 1849. The family lived quite poorly, but in harmony and love. Less than a year after the move, Virginia died. Two years later, Edgar also died. Scientists still argue about the cause of the writer’s death. It was really mysterious. The man was found in the middle of the street in a state of delirium. A few days later, Edgar Poe died in the hospital. It is believed that the tragedy could have happened for the following reasons: alcohol poisoning, cholera, influenza, suicide or cooping (a form of fraud that was widespread in the United States during elections). Virginia’s mother sold all the property and left town. In 1913, the building was moved 135 meters due to road repairs. Today, it is located in a small park named after the writer.
Address: 2640 Grand Concourse.
Trattoria Zero Otto Nove
After a long walk in the fresh air, you must be hungry. However, don’t be tempted by fast food and the first pizzeria you come across. Visit Roberto Paciullo’s iconic trattoria, which was even featured in Forbes and The New York Times. Here, you can try Sorrento-style pizza, an eight-course seafood appetizer, chef’s specialties and much more. The menu is very diverse, everyone will find something to their taste. The service is at the highest level and the refined Italian atmosphere will make your lunch perfect. The only advice is, don’t order dessert. You will find out the reason for this later.
Address: 2357 Arthur Ave.
Arthur Avenue Retail Market
It is not for nothing that we advised you to visit the restaurant first and go to this market next. If you come here hungry, it is dangerous for your wallet. Fresh traditional Italian products have been sold here since 1940. Sausages, cheeses, olives, bread, pasta, sauces, fresh vegetables and fruits can be found here. In addition to products, you can buy ceramics and various souvenirs. Inside the market, it is the famous shop Mike’s Deli and craft brewery Bronx Beer Hall. You definitely won’t be able to leave there empty-handed. Now, let’s discuss the dessert advice. Stop by Madonia Brothers Bakery. They make incredible cannoli, which will be the perfect end to a gastronomic tour of the Bronx. Thus, you can go further. A lot of interesting things are waiting ahead.
Address: 2344 Arthur Ave.
Yankee Stadium
Even if you are not a fan of baseball and American football, do not neglect the opportunity to visit this legendary sports venue. You will be able to immerse yourself in the history of the 27-time World Series champions, as well as the Major League Soccer team NYC FC. It is better to check in advance information about the schedule of games and the possibility of visiting an excursion on the official website of the stadium. There is a museum and a sculpture park of baseball players on the territory of the stadium. You will also be able to take part in the unique Hands On History excursion program, touch the bats, balls and equipment of famous baseball stars.
Address: 1 E 161st St.
Joyce Kilmer Park
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree…
This is how the famous poem Trees begins, written by Joyce Kilmer in 1913. Unfortunately, this promising American poet died at the age of 31. However, he left behind a legacy of wonderful romantic poems that are still popular among different generations. Thus, after a big noisy stadium, we suggest you take a break in this cozy green park named after the poet. In the southern part of the park, there is a very beautiful memorial fountain with the heroine of Heinrich Heine’s poem, the mythical maiden Lorelei.
Address: 955 Walton Ave.
Grand Concourse
Be sure to take a walk along the nearly 8.5 km long central street of the Bronx. It passes through several districts of the city and resembles the famous Champs-Élysées in Paris, with a combination of grand historic buildings and modern, fashionable boutiques and discreet office centers. A walk along this street is a kind of express tour of the city. Here, you will see: Andrew Freedman Home, the Bronx County Courthouse, the 10-story bank headquarters Dollar Dry Dock Savings Banks, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Loewʼs Paradise Theater, the Art Deco apartment building nicknamed The Fish Building and the Bronx General Post Office, in which the murals of Ben Shahn and Bernarda Bryson Shahn from the 1930s have been preserved.
Address: Grand Concourse.
Bronx Documentary Center
This is a large art space located in a historic building in the Melrose neighborhood. It hosts lectures, multimedia exhibitions, seminars and workshops for documentarians, as well as screenings of documentaries and various exhibitions. This center was opened by Michael Kamber, who worked as an international correspondent for 10 years. He traveled a lot, mostly in dangerous countries, photographing wars and conflicts for The New York Times. In 2011, he returned home and realized his long-time dream. He opened a space where people can get acquainted with high-quality documentary works, learn something new and think about many social, political and economic problems.
Address: 614 Courtlandt Ave.
There is another Bronx landmark missed on this list. This is the largest zoo in America, which is also located in this borough of New York. However, we advise you to allocate a whole day for its visit. Even one day will not be enough for you to get to know all its inhabitants. Read the article about the Bronx Zoo.