The magnificent Brooklyn Bridge joins Manhattan with Brooklyn and Long Island. If someone tries to sell it to you, as the saying goes, walk away. But if you hear that PT Barnum once led a parade of 21 elephants back and forth across the Brooklyn Bridge, you can believe it. Over 125 years old, and still one of New York City's great beauties, the bridge made a big, bold statement right from the start.
Day or night, the views of the bridge and from the bridge are spectacular. Its wooden walkway is elevated over the traffic, so you can walk or even bike across.
Take the subway to the Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall stop, and the bridge walkway entrance won't be far away. Once you're on the other side, don't walk back just yet. Just off the walkway on the Brooklyn side are the historic neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO (no connection to elephants), which has become a top destination for fine arts and galleries.