Brooklyn Heights Esplanade

Address:New York, New York

New York City's finest view and a great place for a morning walk. Across the water, hundreds of tall buildings crowd lower Manhattan. When is the best time to visit the Brooklyn Esplanade (or as it is better know – the Brooklyn Promenade)? That's easy to answer and a bit harder to do. The answer is soon after sunrise, as the sun rising in the east lights up the buildings in the west. That said, sunset is pretty good too. And the middle of the day works, as well. Grab a sandwich at one of the cafes in Brooklyn heights and head to the esplanade in Brooklyn and enjoy the relaxing view of one of the most high-pressure spots in the world.

First time visitors to New York might consider making this their very first stop. Take in the view from the Brooklyn Heights Esplanade, then head to the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path for the absolute best entry into Manhattan and continue your visit to Lower Manhattan. Chinatown on your right, Wall Street on your left, the Woolworth Building and Ground Zero straight ahead and Frank Gehry's only New York building is at 11 o'clock as your cross the bridge. You can't miss it – it is 76 stories of glass, titanium and very expensive residences.

For some practical information – take the subway to High Street (A or C), Clark Street (2 or 3) or Court Street (N or R). Head to the water (and Manhattan). You need to get to Pierrepont Street, which is south of Clark and Pineapple Streets and north of Montague Street. The southern entrance to the promenade is at the end of Pierrepont. Walk the length of the promenade, which is a third of a mile and exit on Middagh Street on the north end. Continue 4 blocks on Middagh to Cadman Plaza. Cross the park to the pedestrian ramp of the Brooklyn Bridge.