New York City (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [294]
The Mets unfortunately christened the stadium in 2009 with a terrible season, but even those who aren’t Mets fans and simply love baseball should come to see the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, a soaring multistory entrance and history exhibit dedicated to the Dodgers player who shattered baseball’s color barrier.
While here, don’t miss making a stop at the more-than-fabulous food court behind center field, Shake Shack burgers, surprisingly inexpensive beers such as Czechvar and Leffe, and even lobster rolls and tacos.
Though it seats fewer people than Shea by about 10,000, tickets are not hard to come by, especially later in the season. Still feeling nostalgic for the old Shea? Pay your respects at the plaque in the parking lot. | Roosevelt Ave. off Grand Central Pkwy. | 11368 | 718/507–8499 | www.mets.com | Subway: 7 to Mets/Willets Point.
Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.
Standing in the lush grass of this park, you’d never imagine that it was once a swamp and a dumping ground. But the gleaming Unisphere (an enormous 140-foot-high steel globe) might tip you off that this 1,255-acre park was also the site of two World’s Fairs.
Take advantage of the park’s barbecue pits and sports fields, but also don’t forget that there’s an art museum, a petting zoo, golf and minigolf, and even a model-plane field.
There’s way too much to see here to pack into a day, so aim to hit a few primary spots, noting that while several are clustered together on the northwest side of the park, visitors should be prepared for long peaceful walks in between. The flat grounds are ideal for family biking; rent bikes near the park entrance or Meadow Lake from March to October. TIP Although the park is great in daytime, avoid visiting once it gets dark; there has been some crime in this area.
At the northwestern edge of the park, the New York Hall of Science (718/699–0005 | www.nysci.org | $11; free Fri. 2–5 and Sun. 10–11 Sept.–June | Sept.–June, Mon.–Thurs. 9:30–2, Fri. 9:30–5, weekends 10–6; July and Aug., weekdays 9:30–5, weekends 10–6) has more than 400 hands-on exhibits that make science a playground for inquisitive minds of all ages. Climb aboard a replica of John Glenn’s space capsule, throw a fastball and investigate its speed, or explore Charles and Ray Eames’s classic Mathematica exhibition.
Behind the Hall of Science lies the intimate Queens Zoo (718/271–1500 | www.queenszoo.com | $8 | Early Apr.–late Oct., weekdays 10–5, weekends 10–5:30; late Oct.–early Apr., daily 10–4:30; last ticket sold 30 mins before closing), whose small scale is especially well suited to easily tired young visitors. In only 11 acres you’ll find North American animals such as bears, mountain lions, bald eagles, and pudu—the world’s smallest deer. Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome from the 1964 World’s Fair is now the aviary. Across the street is a petting zoo.
Between the zoo and the Unisphere, you’ll find the Queens Museum of Art (718/592–9700 | www.queensmuseum.org | $5 suggested donation | Sept.–June, Wed.–Sun. noon–6; call for extended hrs in July and Aug.). Don’t miss the astonishing Panorama, a nearly 900,000-building model of N.Y.C. made for the 1964 World’s Fair. Many unsuspecting park visitors looking for a bathroom instead find themselves spending hours checking out the intricate structures that replicate every block in the city. There are also rotating exhibitions of contemporary art and a permanent collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass. | Between 111th St./Grand Central Pkwy. and Van Wyck Expressway at 44th Ave., | Flushing | 11368 | Subway: 7 to 111th St. or Willets Point.
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Each August, 700,000 fans come here for the U.S. Open, which claims the title of highest-attended annual sporting event in the world. The rest of the year the 45 courts (33 outdoor and 12 indoor, all Deco Turf II) are open to the public for $20–$60 hourly. Make reservations up to two days in advance. | Flushing Meadows–Corona Park | 11368 | 718/760–6200 | www.usta.com | Subway: 7 to Willets Point.
Worth Noting
Louis Armstrong