The rattle of subway trains passing overhead is a constant reminder that Empire Fulton Ferry is city park. While the industrial sites to its East and West and incessant subway noise seal its identity as urban, the swathe of trees and shore of the Hudson River separate it from its surroundings, giving it the feel of a fishbowl at the foot of the city. On a warm breezy day in early September, no one picnicked or tossed Frisbees at the park. Instead, they sat and watched the real gem the park has to offer: an unobstructed view of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.
Tucked under the Manhattan Bridge in a corner of Dumbo, Empire Fulton Ferry is a 20-minute walk from the subway. On that same day, the park’s shoreline was packed with families, couples taking engagement photos and friends basking in the sun. Kids swarmed the playground and took a ride on the carousel before grabbing an ice cream cone.
One of Empire Fulton’s biggest assets is its close-knit relationship with Dumbo. The Empire Fulton area was once famed for being an incubator for artists in spaces such as the former Dumbo Art Center and Galapagos Art Space. Now, you’ll find a commercial center at the Empire Stores and Time Out Market. An option for theater still remains at the St Ann’s Warehouse and the buildings have also been recognized nationally as historic landmarks, dating back to Brooklyn’s seaport days.
A walk under the Manhattan Bridge and then back to the Brooklyn Bridge yielded a few interesting restaurants, shops, rock climbing and yarn-bombing, making it fair game for a riverside wandering destination in the city.
How to get there: Take the F train to York Street and take a right on Pearl Street. Turn left on Plymouth Street; you will find the park on your right. Better yet, walk or bike over the Brooklyn Bridge and then walk north on Washington Street.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published when the Empire Fulton Ferry park was managed by New York State. It has since been taken over by Brooklyn Bridge Park and the piece has been updated to reflect those changes.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram