Visiting Brooklyn? A one day tourist guide.

***This post was edited in July 2011 to include an updated guide.***

Lately I've been getting quite a few emails from readers who are planning a trip to Brooklyn and want some suggestions on what to do/see/eat/buy here.

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I know when I travel, I really love to get tips from friends who live in that location. If you are visiting my fine borough, consider me that friend!

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So, written entirely for the curious traveler (you!) by moi. My own subjective opinions about what to see, savor and spend on . To get it, download my******* Pocket Guide to Brooklyn *******
\Directions: Save file, print double sided on legal paper, fold like a map, carry in your pocket.

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You'll notice I've boiled it down to one jam packed day. You may also notice (since I say right up front) that I'm leaving loads out. Brooklyn really is way too varied and large to see in a single day. But I hope my suggestions help you enjoy a bit of my home town and leave you wanting more.

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Happy Travels! If you make use of the guide, I'd love to hear how you liked my picks and the borough at large.

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If you can't make the trip but like the view, you can buy some of these photos right here.

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34 comments:

  1. I've only been to Brooklyn once, for a Caribbean (I think) festival a few years back. I had a blast. Thought Brooklyn was beautiful. I would love to stop by and really get a good look at the place the next time I'm in New York.

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  2. Anonymous9:45 AM

    Thank you very much. What a sweet gesture. I'm from Alabama, and I dream of visiting New York one day! Your blog does make me feel like I have been there! :) Love, love everything you do!

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  3. You 100% nailed it with your guide! You included ALL of my favorite spots (Brooklyn Bridge, Grimaldis, Ice Cream Factory, Flea Market!)

    Awesome job!

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  4. Wow, that's so thoughtful of you! I love, love, love guiding people about my little slice of the country (The 'other', western side of NYS).

    ...If only I could see through my eyes, the way you see through a camera lens {sigh}.

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  5. STUNNING photos. i've only spent time in new york once, over new year's 2006. my sister was in an off broadway production and it was the neatest thing eva!

    these pictures make me want to go back!

    kelly

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  6. Thanks you! Its so timely for me! I will hopefully spend some quality time in Brklyn in January! I will have atlaest a week there, so fun!

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  7. thank you - my husband is taking me to NY on New Years Day for 3 days. I've never been and am so excited. I don't think we will make it as far as Brooklyn on this trip but I'll bring your guide just in case!
    ~Tara

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  8. One of my favorite things to do in Brooklyn is fly over at STREB. I took a group of friends who were visiting for a trapeze lesson there once and they loved it.

    Your photos are ~ as always ~ beautiful.

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  9. i will definitely be using this guide next time i am in brooklyn. thanks for putting this together.

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  10. my good friend from college just moved to Brooklyn and I cant wait to come visit her!

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  11. Thanks so much for putting this together! My husband and I are considering moving to Park Slope this summer so this definitely makes me super excited about Brooklyn!

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  12. You know how much I love Brooklyn - and it always looks better through your lens

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  13. Beautiful photos! Congrats on making the UK Times Online of 50 Best Design Blogs!! Just saw the list online today - very exciting!

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  14. Ahhh Brooklyn, how I love you! Great photos and great guide! The one thing you left out that is super neat in the summer is Coney Island. Who can visit Brooklyn without getting a hot dog from the original Nathans?

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  15. Beautiful pictures!!! I grew up in Park Slope (1st St between 8th & PPW).
    Such a beautiful area.. Really. miss it some days.

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  16. Just in the nick of time! Thanks so much. We are leaving next week and when it came to Brooklyn I had no idea what to do. Yay!

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  17. i cant wait to get to ny...

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  18. I couldn't be more impressed than if you were the Mayor. Great pictures.

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  19. Mrs. L-
    This is so fun! You named so many amazing places...SCALINO!!! YUM! Love that little spot!
    I can't wait to come back to Brooklyn. And while I typically have the best personal tour guides a girl could ever want, your guide is truly special. Thanks for sharing!

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  20. great blog and congratulations on your award! have a wonderful holiday... x pam

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  21. What about all the amazing things going on in Red Hook, Fort Greene, and Williamsburg?

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  22. Anonymous12:23 PM

    I think this should be called "One Day in Gentrified Brooklyn". Brooklyn is a huge place, comprised of so many neighborhoods that did not make it on your list. Brooklyn is far, far more than Park Slope, Dumbo, and Brooklyn Heights.

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  23. Cameitak and Anon - I mention right on the first page that brooklyn is far too large and varied to do properly in one day so I was limiting my suggestions to a few basics for a new comer. I also note there are other great areas to explore. There is only so much that would fit into one day. Where you got the impression that Im saying this is all there is, Im not sure. I say the exact opposite.

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  24. Really great images :) I'm going to be visiting NYC in April, but not sure if we're going to have a chance to visit Brooklyn.

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  25. I was there this past weekend for the snow! It was funny to see so many people out on Sunday morning shoveling.

    Loved the area and will certainly visit again.

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  26. What a great idea and gift to all of us. Thanks for taking the time to do this. I now feel I need to add a trip to Brooklyn on my short travel list. Thanks again!

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  27. what beautiful pictures!

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  28. This is such a great, thoughtful idea! Amazing photos.

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  29. These are some amazing photos and some great suggestions about a visit to Brooklyn.

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  30. The Picky Girl12:22 PM

    I spent quite a bit of time last week in Brooklyn, in Williamsburg and Cobble Hill. I absolutely loved it. My brother and his beau are looking at places there, and I even got to check out a brownstone with them. So fun! Thanks for tweeting about the Brooklyn Flea. After seeing all your posts, I knew I had to make it there.

    Love your neighborhood!

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  31. julesTO6:39 PM

    Hi there - just got back from NY where we spent a day in Brooklyn and followed many of your suggestions throughout the day. I just wanted to give you some feedback:

    - Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge was definitely the highlight and I never would have considered it prior to reading your guide. THANK YOU!
    - Grimaldi's pizza was definitely an experience but the wait took up a major portion of our day (probably almost 2 hours). If you only have 1 day, I'm not sure this is the best choice for lunch.
    - In terms of getting to the Promenade, your guide mentions going up Old Fulton and taking a left on Cadmen West. Should this say "right" on Cadmen, because the Promenade we found was to the right of Old Fulton...?? We actually found getting to the Promenade very frustrating as it wasn't easy to find - I didn't see any signs at all. We must have really missed something here. 
    - City Foundry sounded great but we went on a Tuesday and discovered it's only open to the public on weekends; Mon to Fri is by appointment only.

    Hope you don't mind the feedback, and thank you again for taking the time to put this guide together!

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  32. MrsLimestone7:57 PM

    Thanks so much for letting me know. I'll definitelly make those edits. Agree on the pizza - nothing is worth a 2 hour wait! Ive eaten there many times without a long wait so for that reason I recommend it but its still just food :)

    I'm so sorry I steered you wrong in terms of getting to the next stop.  I hope I didn't put you too far out of your way.  Maybe they have taken the signs down since I wrote this?  But thanks for letting me know so I can make those changes.  Hope you enjoyed Brooklyn.

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  33. Kim @ See Kim Decorate11:06 AM

    Thanks for this! I'm going to be there in March and look forward to checking out your picks.

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