We already established growing up in the Bronx is awesome, for a multitude of reasons.
You already know you can treat your tastebuds to a trip around the world without even exiting the borough.
The High Bridge, New York City's oldest bridge, recently reopened after a 45-year, $61.8 million renovation and aside from the fact that it's completely gorgeous, it makes it much easier for Bronx residents to walk back and forth from Manhattan.
So, we get it. You've been to the Yankee Stadium.
But that is not all this amazing, gritty borough has to offer. Far from it.
Read on to find out 12 reasons why you absolutely should take the ride up to the Bronx this summer.
1. City Island
We recommend avoiding this glorious island on major holidays, as it only has one lane in and out, and traffic is no fun.
When it comes to day-trips and low key opportunities to eat out, though, City Island seriously brings the heat.
With some of the best casual seafood restaurants in the galaxy (Seashore, Crab Shanty, and Lobster House), and very excellent top notch, fine dining at the likes of Don Coqui, you'll eat well this summer in City Island.
Also, plane lovers, be sure to stop by The Nautical Museum, and history lovers, check out the antique stores lining City Island's main avenue.
2. The Floating Pool (Tiffany Street and Viele Avenue)
nycparks The Floating Pool at Barretto Point Park is a seven-lane free pool anchored in the East River. Open through Labor Day. 🏊(Photo by @daniel.avila) #floatingpool #barrettopintpark #Bronx #pool #summer #summerinthecity
Summertime pools are essential in NYC. This particular pool is situated atop a boat permanently moored to the East River. Have you ever wanted to swim on a boat? This may be your moment. You own it. You better never let it go.
Barretto Point Park is dope enough on its own without having a pool on a boat. It's encapsulated by an amphitheater, a handball court, a basketball court, and a playground.
Oh, and it has completely stunning views of the East River. It's the perfect place to spend the day chilling, reading, and picnicking.
And, you know, swimming in a pool on a boat.
3. Wave Hill (West 249th Street)
Do you love nature? Then you absolutely need to get to this 28-acre public garden and cultural center, which boasts flower gardens, an alpine house, a multitude of green houses, and a cultural center.
The view in this garden will steal your breath, while the sun drapes its sheen over the hundreds of flowers.
Wave Hill's mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscapes, and to explore human connections to the natural world. All in all, it's a pretty incredible place.
Their summer events include chair yoga, a gallery tour, and outdoor music with Katie Mullins.
4. Orchard Beach
Sitting placidly upon the Long Island Sound, Orchard Beach, and Promenade is the Bronx's only public beach. And going to the beach is a mandatory summer activity, so this is sort of essential.
Orchard Beach is 1.1 beautiful miles long, and has a ton to do. By that, we mean it has food carts, playgrounds, picnic areas, and 26 courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball.
It also has a giant parking lot if you're planning on driving. Though, beware of the $7 parking fee.
Lifeguards are on duty here 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and we can't think of a better way to end your beach day than with a stroll down the promenade.
5. Van Cortlandt Park (Broadway and Vancortlandt Park South)
ivonnempeace Afternoon jogging around here 🏃 #vancortlandtpark #outdoors #springsummer #trees #nature #water #river #lake #pretty #latergram #vsco #vscocam #vscophile #vscostyle #vscofeature #afterlight #addandimep
This giant, 1,146-acre park is the third largest park in NYC.
It contains a huge, beautiful lake, the last of NYC's native woodlands, and the Van Cortlandt Golf Course, which was the nation's first municipal golf course when it opened in 1895.
Visiting this park also offers you the opportunity to tour the Van Cortlandt House Museum, the Van Cortlandt Nature Center to get your wildlife groove on, sports fields, running trails, and the Van Cortlandt Pool (242nd Street and Broadway) for your swimming delight.
This summer at Van Cortlandt Park, there will also be free zumba classes, barefoot dancing, and a number of free concerts. Check the park's full schedule here.
6. Arthur Avenue
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If you didn't know by now, the real "Little Italy of New York City" is not on Mulberry Street, but way uptown in the Bronx.
From an indoor food market to bakeries to fish and meat markets, Arthur Avenue will have you thinking you stepped back into an age of bygone memories.
An age where specialty stores were the only way anyone ever shopped for food, and the corner store was the closest thing anyone ever got to Fairway or Trader Joe's.
,7. Bronx Terminal Market (610 Exterior Street)
With stores like Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Marshall's, and restaurants like Applebee's, it's easy to lose a whole day eating and shopping at Bronx Terminal Market.
(Especially when you need things like lightbulbs and toilet paper. You can never have too many lightbulbs or rolls of toilet paper.)
They also have a free rooftop film series at Bronx Terminal Market, where they're showing outdoor movies in July and August.
On July 14th, The Lego Movie will screen, and on August 11th Big Hero 6 will be playing on a rooftop screen.
8. Crotona Pool (1700 Fulton Avenue)
yosoypito This has been the best upgrade to Crotona Park since Indian Lake was fixed up #CrotonaPark #CrotonaPool #Bronx #BX #TheBronx
If the Floating Pool and the Van Cortlandt Pool weren't a good enough reason for you to visit the Bronx, could we interest you in another, larger, olympic sized pool?
Thought so.
The Crotona Pool is the largest pool in the Bronx. It's huge, and clean, and its bathhouse was designed like a French castle.
Cone fixtures extend out of the pool and animal sculptures sit on its interior. It's a pretty great place to go for the day and immerse yourself in the art of the 1930s. And, you know, go swimming.
The pool isn't the only thing that's huge around Crotona Pool. Its surrounding park has 20 tennis courts, 11 playgrounds, 4 handball courts, 5 baseball diamonds, a nature center, and a lake.
9. The New York Botanical Garden (2900 Southern Boulevard)
jessiewhchen My #sanctuary in the big, crowded, noisy, and crazy #NewYorkCity. #newyorkbotanicalgarden #garden #researchtrip #gradlife #peacefulcorner #nofilter
Bummed about the lack of nature in this city? Well, clearly you haven't been looking hard enough, but we get it. Being closed in by buildings and smog is taxing.
Which is probably why you should pay a visit to The New York Botanical Garden, which contains 250 acres of landscape bursting with trees, gardens, animals, and over 30,000 trees.
With hypnotizing nature, and art exhibits such as FRIDA KAHLO: Art, Garden, Life; the first solo presentation of Kahlo's work in NYC in over a decade, and Frida al Fresco, which includes Frida-inspired live musical performances, an outdoor tequila bar, and complimentary cerveza, it's going to be an incredible summer at the NYBG.
So yeah, we think you should visit.
10. The Bronx Brewery (856 East 136th Street)
crafteduk Beer in the sun with Bronx in Battersea #bronxbrewery #battersea #sunshine #london #beerlife
Do you love beer? Do you want to drink some of the most delicious beer manufactured right in the Bronx?
Then get to the The Bronx Brewery, the beer lover's dream. Sample their Bronx Pale Ale, the Bronx Belgian Pale Ale, the Bronx Rye Pale Ale, and the Bronx Session IPA.
You'll get buzzed, and you'll leave happier.
The Bronx Brewery tasting room opens Wednesday through Friday at 3 p.m. and at 12 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
This is the perfect activity for any beer enthusiasts out there, as each cask batch is made individually and available for a limited time only.
11. The Bronx Zoo (2300 Southern Boulevard)
Penguins, baboons, and butterflies, oh my! The Bronx Zoo is among the largest metropolitan zoos in the world, and the largest in North America. It's home to 6,000 animals with representations from 650 species.
Their attractions include a Congo Gorilla Forest, a Butterfly Garden, and a 4-D Theater. And it's a great day for all sorts of fun: family fun, relationship fun, solo fun or friendship fun.
Zoo admission is $30.55 online, but pay-what-you wish on Wednesdays, which is definitely the dopest way to go about having an amazing day at the Bronx Zoo.
12. Tosca Cafe (4038 East Tremont Avenue)
toscanyc Looks like a #ThirstyThursday to us! #regram @jrny_ #toscanyc #toscacafe #bronx #foodie #nyc #throggsneck #thebronx #boogiedown #eeeeeats #boozy #instayum #buzzfeedfood #forkyeah #igfood #instagood #foodporn #huffposteats #nomnomnom
At Tosca, you can get unlimited food and drinks for $30 until 3:30 p.m. on the weekends.
From unlimited mimosas to mozzarella sticks and eggplant rollatini, the brunch here is off the chain. Their brunch buffet offers a huge selection that ranges from pasta to cheesecakes.
This is a must-do brunch spot this summer in the Bronx. (By the way, you should definitely check out their rooftop next door, if it's open when you do take a ride there.)
Check out 13 Things You Definitely Gotta Do to Have the Best July Ever in NYC.
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