It’s easy, it’s free, and it’s a sight to see! The Brooklyn Bridge makes travel easier for Brooklynites who don’t want to pay the high toll of traveling through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel into Manhattan.
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. The Bridge was completed in 1883. For well over a hundred years the Brooklyn Bridge has connected the two largest boroughs in New York: Brooklyn and Manhattan. As the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903, it is the first steel-wired suspension bridge. It is quite fascinating to drive over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan and look up at its amazing structure.
Getting closer to Manhattan side, the skyscrapers are at your fingertips. A quick right turn off the bridge into lower Manhattan is the site of the Federal Courthouse on Foley Square, where many an episode of Law and Order is filmed. The steep concrete steps going up to the courthouse adds to the drama that takes place inside.
A left turn off the bridge takes you to Canal Street, the home of Tribeca Film, China Town, and Mulberry Street (Little Italy) where there are plenty of good inexpensive restaurants to choose from. The famous Italian pastry store, Ferrara’s, is know for its cannoli and other tempting dolci (sweets) always festive at Christmastime.
On a daily basis, people drive, walk, or ride a bike over the Brooklyn Bridge to get into Manhattan or vice versa, to get back into Brooklyn. Then there are some people who just admire its structure.
Going over the Brooklyn Bridge by car into Manhattan
The Brooklyn Bridge has a dedicated pedestrian walkway above the roaring car traffic. It’s a great walk, and good exercise, if you’re wearing a comfortable pair of shoes. The Brooklyn Bridge soars over the East River and is one of New York City’s most famous routes, both for tourists and born-and-bred New Yorkers, between the boroughs. Being connected to New York City opens up a whole wide world of sight-seeing, entertainment, and more, especially during the Christmas holidays.
The Brooklyn Bridge connects visitors to the South Street Seaport, a prominent spot for seafood restaurants and taking boat rides from the East River up the Hudson. The South Street Seaport will host a bevy of holiday happenings all month long, including performances by the Mistletones Carolers, a professional acappella group who will tour the historic Seaport District and Pier 17 from 1pm to 3pm, singing holiday classics.
Dancing at the Seaport under the lights of the Brooklyn Bridge
Rink at Rockefeller Center
