Hang our with real New Yorkers at the Brooklyn Smorgasbord
Great City & Great View
Come here if you crave good food, great views, and unique goods
When people come to New York, they almost always flock to Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. These are iconic sites that every traveler should see.
Once you've checked those off your bucket list and you're ready to get away from the tourists and hang out with true New Yorkers, the Brooklyn Smorgasburg may be for you.
I has the honor or traveling to New York and experiencing the Smorgasgurg with my friends, Sawyer and Rod. The first thing I noticed was all the vibrant energy in the place.
As soon as you walk in to the market you see people of all ages eating, talking, and shopping for the unique goods sold by local vendors. I was starving when I got there so I immediately patronized one of the food booths.
As the term Smorgasbord suggests, you have a wide variety of food choices here. I saw everything from a pizza cupcake to Thai noodles. I chose some Brazilian Bilinho de Balchau. These are golf ball sized pieces of cod and vegetables deep fried for a sweet crispy outside and creamy delicious inside. I washed in down with some guava juice.
After I get my food I decided to browse the vendor booths to look for a gift for my 5 year old.
At the Smorgasburg you will find no shortage of unique accoutrements to suit your fancy. You won't find your souvenir Statue of Liberty's or I Love New York T-shirts here.
Items here are found in few places in the city. I browsed by one booth sold vintage clothing and toys. Another had magnets made from old bottle caps while yet another (my favorite) sold vintage records.
My friends and I were all tired so we eventually stopped for a cup of coffee and the only coffee stand in the whole Smorgasburg. The coffee was rather generic tasting and a disappointment. If you come here I definitely recommend visiting one of the local Brooklyn coffee shops for your java needs.
After coffee we proceeded outside where I have admire the incredible view of the Manhattan Skyline. One of the greatest reasons to visit Brooklyn is the one a kind experience of an unobstructed view of one of the most beautiful cities on earth.
Finished with the Smorgasburg we proceeded to the subway to catch a ride back to Manhattan. Another fun and unique experience in the books.
When Visiting New York Should You Stay in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or New Jersey?
When I traveled to New York City I had to decide whether I wanted to stay in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or New Jersey. Each location has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Manhattan is in the center of everything. If you get a place in mid-town Manhattan you're just a short walk or subway ride to Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, almost all the other iconic New York attractions.
The major drawbacks include not being able to easily drive and park your car on the island. To bring your car into Manhattan you not only need to pay heavy tolls and face heavy traffic, but you'll also need to find a place to park in one of the most expensive parking locations in the world. If you are coming to New York by any other method than driving your own car, Manhattan is a great place to lodge. If you're driving in, there are better options.
Brooklyn is a very neat place to stay. Over the last 10 years Brooklyn has gone from the less popular cousin of Manhattan to a hip destination.
Brooklynites tend to live in larger townhouses compared to small apartments. If you lodge in Brooklyn you are more likely to get your own bedroom rather than be relegated to a couch in the living room. The main drawback is also parking but at least in Brooklyn the rates are manageable.
That leaves New Jersey. New Jersey is the easiest are to drive your car into. I chose to stay in Wayne, NJ just across the Hudson from Manhattan.
I had my own room in a nice neighborhood and free parking for $75. You can catch a bus from the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne to the New York Port Authority for $8.
