Exploring The Bronx

The borough, The Bronx, is coextensive with Bronx County in the US state of New York. The borough is situated south of Westchester County, north and east of the borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River, and north of the borough of Queens across the East River. The Bronx is divided by the Bronx River.

The Bronx Zoo is the country's biggest urban zoo. It has become a popular tourist attraction and has the tagline “Wildest Place in the City.” Visitors enjoy exhibits like the Congo Gorilla Forest, a Children's Zoo, and the Wild Asia Monorail.

The Congo Gorilla Forest offers visitors the opportunity to see the Western lowland gorilla, mandrill, and okapi up close.

The Asian Monorail takes you past Asian habitats with tigers, elephants, pandas, and other endangered species.

Both adults and kids enjoy the Treetop Adventure for a chance to climb or zipline from the tree tops.

Across from the zoo is the amazing New York Botanical Garden with numerous gardens. Take a walk through an old-growth forest at the Thain Family Forest, enjoy the blooms at the Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden and the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden. At the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, you can enjoy a tropical paradise.

The LuEsther T Mertz Library is located on the ground of the Botanical Garden. The library houses the largest collection of books and materials on botany.

No matter if you are a baseball fan or not, a trip to the famous Yankee Stadium will be a memorable experience. The stadium has comfortable seating on the lower level and plenty of food concessions. You'll enjoy the excitement of watching the New York Yankees in action.

At the Yankee Museum, you can learn about the history of the Yankees and see memorabilia. Outdoors at Monument Park, you can see plaques of famous Yankees like Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle. Baseball season lasts from April to October. If you like, you can sign up for a stadium tour.

Pelham Bay Park is the largest park in New York City. Here you can enjoy oak forests, marshes, and miles of shoreline. On the park's eastern shore, you'll find the only public beach in The Bronx, Orchard Beach. Visitors to the park enjoy horseback riding, tennis, bocce ball, football, and golf.

Orchard Beach is considered the “Riviera of New York” and sees plenty of action in the summertime. The beach faces the Long Island Sound and overlooks City Island. Visitors can enjoy the Orchard Beach Snack Bar, picnic areas, BBQ areas, playgrounds, basketball, volleyball, and handball courts. Changing rooms and showers are available.

Bartow-Pell Mansion is a historic house and museum located in the northern part of the park. It is an impressive example of the Greek-Revival style and is surrounded by landscaped lawns and gardens.

City Island is a small community that is connected to The Bronx by a bridge from the edge of Pelham Bay Park. It is a former ship-building enclave. It is a nice place to visit with antique stores, galleries, and old Victorian homes. To learn about the island's maritime history, visit the City Island Historical Society and Nautical Museum. If you like to fish, you can rent a boat from Jack's Bait & Tackle and head out fishing.

Van Cortland Park is the third largest park in New York City. It is located in the northwestern part of The Bronx. The park has lush valleys and woodlands.

The highlight is the boroughs's largest freshwater lake, the Van Cortlandt Lake. There are playing fields, playgrounds, and a public golf course.

Take the time to see the Van Cortlandt House Museum, which is the oldest surviving building in The Bronx, it was built in 1748.

The Bronx River is the only freshwater river in New York City. Visitors enjoy canoeing and paddling trips. The river runs for 23 miles and flows through southeast New York, and empties into the East River.

Wave Hill is partly a park and partly a horticultural garden.

The 28-acre once-private estate belongs to New York City. It is located in the Hudson Hill section of Riverdale. The house has a cafe.

Glyndor House Gallery offers exhibitions on contemporary topics. The gallery offers art-incubator programs, the Sunroom Project Space, and Winter Workshop residency. It is nice to stroll in the public parkland with manicured lawns and gardens, lily ponds, and benches at scenic overlooks.

Wave Hill offers guided walks, yoga classes, art workshops, exhibitions tied to nature, environmental programs, and concerts.

Edgar Allan Poe Cottage dates from the 19th century. The writer and poet spent the last years of his life with his sick wife and mother-in-law in the cottage in the mid-1800s, hoping that the fresh country air would cure his wife. This charming cottage is located within Fordham University. In the cottage, you can see some of Poe's personal items and reproductions of furniture from his time. The cottage served as inspiration for his poem, Annabel Lee.

Little Italy in The Bronx is the second Little Italy in New York City since there is one in Manhattan. There are authentic Italian markets and restaurants. It is located in the Belmont section of The Bronx and centers around Arthur Avenue. Shops sell imported cheeses, antipasto, and dried pasta.

Woodlawn Cemetery dates from 1863 and is a National Historic Landmark. The cemetery features classical architecture and monuments, as well as a large community of birds and other wildlife. It is home to five of the “Great Trees” in New York City, which are trees of unusual size, species, form, or historical association. At the cemetery, you can explore the arboretum with over 140 varieties of trees.

Museums

The Bronx Museum of the Arts is housed in a former synagogue. The museum showcases contemporary art that reflects the diverse cultures of the borough and focuses on political and social themes relevant to the communities. It is located in the Grand Concourse Cultural District. The museum features a permanent collection of over 2000 artworks by artists of African, Latin American, and Asian backgrounds. It also offers events, educational programs, and group visits for students.

Things to do and see in Manhattan

Things to do and see in Brooklyn