West 4th Street (Positively): This street runs east/west (more or less) through the heart of Greenwich Village. It skirts the southern end of Washington Square Park and then plunges into the heart of the West Village. To my mind, this street, on the stretch between Seventh Avenue and West 12th Street (yes, W. 4th St. runs into W. 12th St.) is the most beautiful in New York. If you’re lucky enough to walk it on a snowy evening with the lamplights illuminating the falling flakes or at dusk on a warm summer evening with leafy shadows everywhere, you’ll be transported.
Prince Street: This SoHo street has a brief run of just 10 blocks, from Bowery to MacDougal, but it’s an exquisite walk. It’s chock-full of atmosphere and history. The walk will take you by the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral—the city’s first cathedral—and its gorgeous old brick wall. Just a few steps west is McNally Jackson, a marvelous independent bookstore where you can pause and browse.
Irving Place: This is another small gem, running a mere 6 blocks between 14th Street and Gramercy Park, not terribly far from Union Square. It takes you by Pete’s Tavern, a grand old dive that’s been around for 150 years. When you reach the street’s apex, you can finish off this lovely little walk off with a stroll around Gramercy Park, a tiny green gem that, alas, is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence and can only be entered by those who live in the neighborhood.
Fifth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn: The train ride from Manhattan is a small price to pay to enjoy the still-undiscovered-by-tourists vibe on this Brooklyn thoroughfare. The Park Slope neighborhood in general is full of hidden gems, but it’s easy to spend a whole day checking out the cool shops, clubs, brownstones, and restaurants lining Fifth Avenue between Bergen and 9th streets. Streets like this are the reason people move to Brooklyn.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
