Subway ridership in New York City topped 1.7 billion in 2013, and it’s many New Yorkers’ main way
of getting around. New York has one of the world’s great public transport systems—but that means that for many riders, any place far from the subway may as well not exist. It also means, however, that New York is full of hidden gems that require a little determination to reach. Here are just a few.
#1 Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn
Floyd Bennett Field was New York City’s first airport, opening in 1930, and you can still see the old airport terminal and airplane hangars there. The city sold the airport to the Navy after the opening of LaGuardia, and the airfield was used as a naval air station during World War II.
Nowadays, it’s part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and it’s a paradise for practically every wholesome outdoor pastime—sports, canoeing, birdwatching, camping, and even gardening workshops. It’s also the home of the Historic Aircraft Restoration Project in Hangar B of the old airport, where a team of volunteers reconstructs historic aeroplanes.
#2 Queens County Farm Museum, Queens
Near the edge of New York City limits between the Cross Island and Grand Central Parkways, and far from any rail line, the Queens County Farm Museum sits on the longest continuously farmed land in New York State, having first been plowed in 1697. There are historic buildings and guided tours on weekends, livestock, and hayrides over the summer. It’s a working farm, growing sustainable food which is sold at the Union Square Greenmarket. And if you can get all the way out there, general admission is free.
#3 Red Hook, Brooklyn
Red Hook takes its character from its industrial buildings and its remoteness. No subway runs to Red Hook, and the neighborhood is cut off from the rest of Brooklyn by the Gowanus Expressway. For the intrepid—or those going to IKEA—a trip to Red Hook usually involves the F or the G plus a bus ride (or a water taxi adventure).
The area has a colorful history—it was once the busiest freight port in the world, before falling into decline. Battered by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Red Hook has come back stronger than ever—there are all kinds of summer festivals, and the local food and drink scene offers a rich array of independent options. There’s a winery, a bakery specializing in key lime pies, three distilleries, and restaurants catering for every taste, from seafood to Korean fusion.
#4 Fort Totten Park, Queens
On a tiny peninsula in Little Neck Bay just off the Cross Island Expressway, Fort Totten Park is a long way from the LIRR, and even further from the 7 train. But it’s worth the journey—it boasts an abandoned Civil War-era fort that may have been designed by Robert E. Lee, as well as the beautiful Fort Totten Officers’ Club, an outdoor swimming pool, canoeing, and numerous special events.
#5 City Island, Bronx
On the east side of Eastchester Bay, and accessible by bridge from the Bronx, City Island is a fishing village within the boundaries of New York City. It’s best known for sailing, its shipbuilding traditions and history, and as a location for movie and TV filming—parts of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums were filmed there, as was the movie City Island. Above all, though, it’s an excellent place to eat vast amounts of seafood at one of the many restaurants lining City Island Avenue.
#6 LaGuardia Airport, Queens
No surprises here. LaGuardia, which finished dead last in a survey of amenities for passengers, is a nightmare to get to by public transport, which usually requires some combination of bus, subway, and prayer. Improvements in the bus service have helped, but not by much.
#7 10 Gracie Square Penthouse, Manhattan
Admittedly, it’s a stretch to say there’s anywhere in Manhattan you can’t get to by subway. But this analysis by I Quant NY is cool. By merging MTA subway entrance locations with New York lot data, it’s possible to work out the apartment farthest from the subway.
It turns out the farthest address from any subway is 10 Gracie Square, at the end of 84th Street near FDR Drive on the Upper East Side. And since the penthouse is at the top of the building, logically, it’s the farthest address from the subway on Manhattan. Even then, of course, the building is only a 0.8 mile walk from the 84th Street 6 train.
If you can put up with that walk, and you have a spare $16.95 million, the penthouse is on the market. While it might seem expensive at that price, it’s a bargain compared to the $23 million the sellers were originally seeking.
If getting on the subway doesn’t appeal to you, or won’t take you where you want to go, let us help get you to your next adventure!