If you’re planning a trip to New York on a Sunday, I recommend scheduling a visit to the Brooklyn area, especially around the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge.
Brooklyn Flea Market in Dumbo
Why Sunday? Because on Sundays, in the Dumbo area, specifically under the Manhattan Bridge, there’s a local market called the Brooklyn Flea Market. This market runs every Sunday from April to October.
Why isn’t it open from November to March? My guess is because of the winter season. It’s not easy to sell goods outdoors in the cold, right? Haha.
The market offers a variety of items, from new and secondhand clothes, shoes, and bags, to handicrafts, collectibles, food, and drinks. If I were to compare, it’s somewhat similar to Sunday Morning (SunMor) at UGM, although SunMor is much larger.
If you have plenty of time, you can browse through each vendor, and when you start to get tired, there’s a seating area near the food vendors.
For Muslim friends who want to snack, don’t worry. There’s a food truck that offers halal food, mainly American dishes like hot dogs and burgers, as well as Middle Eastern options like kebabs.
Additionally, there’s an Indian food option called Dosa. The menu at the Dosa stall is entirely vegetarian, making it a safe choice for Muslims.
Environmental Education Center
Still in the Dumbo area, not far from the Brooklyn Flea Market, there’s a place called the Environmental Education Center. Inside, you’ll find various animals and information about them, along with educational exhibits that children can enjoy.
This spot is perfect for those interested in natural sciences, especially biology, and it’s a great place to visit if you’re traveling with kids. They’ll definitely enjoy stopping by here.
Oh, and by the way, there’s also a public restroom here. So, after snacking at the Brooklyn Flea Market, if you need a bathroom break, you can stop by this location.
Take it as a win-win situation, right? You can use the restroom and learn about nature at the same time. Haha.
Not far from the Environmental Education Center, there’s a spot between the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. It’s a perfect place for taking photos and capturing the moment between these two iconic bridges in New York.
Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge
Now, this is probably the most important thing to do when you’re in New York—cross the Brooklyn Bridge!
This bridge is very famous and has been featured in many films and TV series like Sex and the City, Spiderman, Fantastic Four, The Siege, and more. So, it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to cross this bridge.
The bridge is about 1.8 kilometers long, so it’s manageable to walk from one end to the other. No need to worry about competing with motor vehicles because the bridge has two levels: the lower one for motor vehicles and the upper one for pedestrians and cyclists.
In the summer, this bridge is usually crowded with visitors, especially on Sundays. But if you want to make the most of your visit by also exploring the Brooklyn Flea Market, then a summer Sunday is a great choice.
Don’t worry too much about the crowd because, even with many visitors, you’ll still have the chance to take plenty of photos. Haha.
From the bridge, you can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance and the Manhattan Bridge on the other side.
For comparison, about a year and a half ago, Mr. Jay and I visited the Brooklyn Bridge in winter. It was less crowded, but much colder too. Besides the cold air, there was also the added chill from the strong wind.
Crossing the Manhattan Bridge
If you still have the energy, you can also cross the Manhattan Bridge. Like the Brooklyn Bridge, this bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. The length is similar, but the Manhattan Bridge is slightly longer, around 2 kilometers.
But if you’re tired after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, don’t worry! You can still cross the Manhattan Bridge while sitting comfortably on a train for just $2.75. It’s a perfect solution to cross the bridge without getting exhausted.
While on the train, you can also see the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance. So, it’s a bit of a “wang-sinawang” moment—on the Brooklyn Bridge, you see the Manhattan Bridge, and on the Manhattan Bridge, you can see the Brooklyn Bridge.
All the locations I’ve mentioned above can be visited for free, except for shopping or eating at the Brooklyn Flea Market and taking the train to cross the Manhattan Bridge. But overall, it’s a budget-friendly outing.
In my next article, I’ll write about our visit to Ellis Island and Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. I hope to post it within the next few days.
Hope you find this helpful!