We all know the bridges are great. With five boroughs, we've got to have an aboveground way to get from Staten Island to Queens, from Brooklyn to Manhattan, and from Manhattan to Queens.
They also give us radiant ways to interact with the rivers. Just staring at the rivers from their banks would be way more boring than the panoramic views of city we're afforded from the center of its bridges.
The point is, the views from New York City's bridges are only topped by the views of those bridges.
Now, however, we're going to do something extremely shallow. That's right: we're going to talk about the bridge's looks. We can't help it. They're just all so pretty.
Whether you're spending a Sunday afternoon strolling over the Brooklyn Bridge, or marveling at the George Washington Bridge at sunset through the kitchen window of your Washington Heights apartment, swooning over New York City's bridges is something we can all share.
Now read on to discover just how pretty they really are.
Or better yet, get outside and look at them with your own eyes.
1. Brooklyn Bridge
As the most famous, the Brooklyn Bridge is obviously also the prettiest. Isn't that how it works, most popular is always prettiest?
It was built in 1883, and was the first bridge made it so people could travel between Brooklyn and Manhattan without riding a ferry. When it was built, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
It was so long for its time, people doubted whether it was safe. To prove its safety, a circus promoter led a herd of 21 elephants across the bridge. When none of the elephants fell to their death, the bridge was deemed safe.
It's got gorgeous brick towers and Gothic arches, and standing on the middle of the bridge on a pretty fall afternoon yields some of the most gorgeous views of Manhattan and Brooklyn there are out there.
There's also a longstanding tradition of couples bringing a love lock to attach to the bridge, proclaiming unending love. Plenty of people cycle the Brooklyn Bridge, and stroll it on weekends.
It's a great place to bring a date for a post-dinner make out session at sunset, in our opinions.
2. Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
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The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, formerly known as the Triborough Bridge, is a gorgeous sight to behold at nighttime.
Why at nighttime? Well, that's when they switch on the lightbulbs topping the bridge, and it sparkles and gleams over the East River in a way that'll make your heart swoon. Actually, it's pretty dazzling during the day too.
There are concrete stairs that lead up to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, but people rarely walk because of the physical strain involved. Biking across the bridge is prohibited, as signs on the bridge read "walk bikes across the bridge."
If you're wondering why it's no longer called the Triborough Bridge, it's because Governor David A. Paterson renamed it in 2008 to honor the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968.
3. Manhattan Bridge
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The Manhattan Bridge, built in 1909, is a relatively modern suspension bridge. It was the last of the three bridges that stretch over the East River to be built, after the Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bridges.
The Manhattan entrance to the Manhattan Bridge lies in Chinatown, marked by a stunning arch. On the Brooklyn end, it ends up in Dumbo (an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass).
It's got a separate bikeway, which makes things much more organized in terms of bikers not toppling over pedestrians. Standing on the bridge also affords the stroller stunning views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, and if you squint hard you'll also be able to see the Statue of Liberty.
If you're looking for a very pretty afternoon stroll between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and you want to avoid the swarm that surges on Brooklyn Bridge every weekend, the Manhattan Bridge is probably your move.
4. Williamsburg Bridge
This is the second suspension bridge that was built over the East River, and connects the Lower East Side of Manhattan with Williamsburg.
It was built in 1903, and it's super long. Like, 7,308 feet long. As a result, walking over the Williamsburg Bridge is strenuous, but it can be done. Both pedestrians and cyclists enter at Clinton Street and Delancey on the Lower East Side,
There are two separate lanes for walking and biking on the Williamsburg Bridge, and mixing them up is a mistake.
,5. Queensboro Bridge
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The Queensboro Bridge connects, as you may have already guessed, Manhattan with Queens. Its entrance is at East 59th Street, and it stretches over the East River, making a stop off on Roosevelt Island.
So if you want an afternoon bridge stroll with a park picnic in between, the Queensboro Bridge is your move.
There's also an aerial tramway that runs beside the bridge, carrying passengers to Roosevelt Island. Whether you walk the bridge or ride the tram to get to Roosevelt Island, you'll have a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline regardless.
People who live in Murray Hill know what it's like to while away their afternoons sipping PBRs, smoking cigarettes (sure, we're typecasting) and staring at the Queensboro Bridge. At the end of the day, it is a stunning bridge.
6. The George Washington Bridge
This George Washington Bridge is stunning, and it's also topped with unbelievably pretty lights which shout out into the night when it's dark out.
Don't even get us started about the sunset over the G.W. Bridge. It opened in 1931, and we're pretty sure it's been stunning Washington Heights and New Jersey residents with its beauty ever since.
If what you want is to walk over the Hudson River you can start off in Washington Heights and Stroll to Fort Lee New Jersey. Warning: this walk is not suitable for anyone afraid of heights. If heights thrill you, though, this walk is perfect.
You can only walk on the south side of the bridge, and it closes at midnight and opens again at 6 p.m. Bikers and pedestrians share one lane.
7. Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
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This bridge connects from Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn to Staten Island. It's the starting point of the New York Marathon, and it's also a very, very pretty bridge.
The thing that astounds us most about this bridge though, is its functionality. It's undoubtedly the bridge leading from NYC with the least possible traffic. If you need to drive from Brooklyn to anywhere south, drive over the Verranzano Bridge.
The same is true if you're driving from Long Island.
Returning to the topic at hand, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge stretches atop the Narrows. The bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge, and has the longest bridge span in the United States.
The only real bummer about this bridge is that it has no pedestrian path.
Check out 5 Underrated NYC Landmarks You've Never Actually Been to.
[via NY Habitat]
[Feature Image Courtesy of Let's Get Garried]