Travel & Accommodations
Directions
From CT:
Take I-91 or I-95 Southbound towards N.Y. City to closest entrance for Merritt Parkway Route 15. Keep right to merge onto Wilbur Cross Pkwy. Take exit 8 towards George Washington Bridge to merge onto Cross County Pkway. Then take exit 6 toward Bronx Pkwy S. For Botanical Gardens Take exit 8W-8E toward Mosholu Pkwy Allerton Ave.
Turn left onto Bronx Park Rd and follow signs for the Mosholu gate entrance.
From JFK:
Keep right on the Van Wyck Expwy toward Whitestone Br. Bronx. Then keep left on Hutchinson River Pkwy N. Take Exit 1D onto Pelham Pkwy. Take a slight right turn onto Southern Blvd. Keep right and follow signs for Mosholu Gate Entrance.
From LaGuardia:
Keep right on Bruckner Expwy. Take exit 52 towards White Plains, Bronx River Pkwy N and take a slight right turn to merge. Then take exit 7W onto US-1 South toward Fordham Rd. Make a slight right turn onto Southern Blvd and keep right to follow signs for Mosholu Gate Entrance.
From New Jersey:
Take New Jersey Turnpike, I -95 towards N.Y. City. Take exit 15W-18W on the right to merge onto New Jersey Turnpike N toward Geo Washington Bridge, I-280. Keep left on New Jersey Turnpike N and then take the exit onto US-46 towards Palisades Park, The Ridgefields. Merge onto I-95 toward G Washington Bridge, US-1. Stay left to remain on New Jersey Turpike to take exit 4B toward Rosedale Ave, Bronx River Pkwy. Make a U-Turn and take a slight right to merge onto Bronx River Pkwy North toward White Plains. Then take exit 7W onto US-1 South toward Fordham Rd to take a slight right turn onto Southern Blvd to follow signs for Mosholu Gate Entrance.
Arrive at New York Botanical Gardens.
Valet parking is available.
via Public Transit
Take 4, 5 or 6 train to Grand Central Station to board the Metro North Harlem Line Train. Exit train at the Botanical Gardens train stop and walk to destination. Follow signs for Mosholu Gate Entrance.
** please be advised there is a very narrow walkway. If you decide to take public transportation, please exercise caution when walking. **
THE ARTHOUSE HOTEL
*reservation deadline 7/15*
2178 Broadway
New York, NY 10024
ph: (212) 362-1100
arthousehotelnyc.com
DOUBLE TREE FIFTH AVENUE
* reservation deadline 7/15*
25 W 51st St
New York, NY 10019
ph: (212) 262-3200
www.hilton.com
THE EMPIRE HOTEL
*reservation deadline EXTENDED 7/5*
44 W 63rd St
New York, NY 10024
ph: (212) 265-7400
www.empirehotel.com
HAMPTON INN & SUITES YONKERS
*reservation deadline 8/6*
559 Tuckahoe Road
Yonkers, NY 10710
ph: (914) 963-3200 ext 603
book here
Where to Stay
What to Do
Activities in the Greater New York City Area
For the last several years we have gone on many adventures but with Manhattan as our playground we have accrued some very interesting memories. Here's a small sampling of our favorites that are not listed in the guidebooks.
EAT & DRINK
Whether its trendy cocktails with a Japanese twist, sheer opulence, the most amazing Indian food you’ve ever tasted, a good old trusty dive bar or your Instagram needs a makeover, from top to bottom of Manhattan— here’s our list. Taste the amazing flavors of South India in a cozy intimate setting at the Drunken Munkey of the Upper East Side. A favorite go- to date spot and wine bar, Bin 71 is the place to go for a good glass of wine and delicious bites. This was our little hideaway for years to escape the bustle. For the one definite swanky venue that is worth it time and again, we recommend Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle. Still the best martini in Manhattan and hands down and our favorite hideaway close to home. Make sure to make a reservation! For music and Italian food that just won’t quit we recommend Mimi’s with their running roster of off-Broadway performers in Midtown east, you will not be disappointed! Say hi to Laurie for us! Also in midtown, the last real surviving punk bar in all of the 5 boroughs, Strangelove. Gotta love some good rock & roll. Heading for some interesting Japenese inspired cocktails? Please visit the Up & Up in West Village. Best pizza in the city? Arturo’s in the West Village. For the most gorgeous 360 views of Manhattan and the best cocktail roster, please visit Manhatta located in the Wall St area. 5 star restaurant Manhatta is tops! The best dive in NYC with a New Orleans flair we vote in 169 Bar. Located in the heart of Chinatown on East Broadway, this is one of our favorites to hear disco tunes and devour some oysters. Last but not least, Fish Market. A true dive with amazing authentic Chinese food located in the South Street Seaport, come hungry!
PLAY
Pool is something we both love to do with our friends and on our own. For some of the best pool tables to watch and play in town we recommend both Dark Bullet on the Upper West Side and Amsterdam Billiards in East Village. For the adventurous, check out the Disco Oasis roller skating park at Wollman Rink, a fun hobby we developed during the pandemic. A day at the beach is only a ferry ride away (please see above pictures). The ferry itself is worth the trip alone, at only $3.50 you can’t get any better sightseeing of New York and Lady Liberty. Take the ferry to Rockaway Beach from Wall St. Piers and stop off a The Rockaway Hotel for nightly live music and a disco night on Saturdays. For some traditional Irish music sessions, please visit Paddy Reilly’s in Kips Bay. Most of these musicians have been playing their whole lives and frequent this small pub to play with other musicians that miss the sounds of Ireland. A new favorite of ours to visit for immersive and interactive exhibits of light and sound, check out the Hall des Lumieres. Last but not least, if you haven’t gotten enough of the gardens, you should come back during their regular viewing hours to relax in the herb gardens.
Please reach out to Conall for a list of golf courses.
EXPLORE
Our favorite hang out, just a few steps from our home— the Metropolitan Museum of Art. With some of the best and most iconic Art Installations, this is a must see. Open late on the weekends, their constant roster of impromptu concerts and rooms covered top to bottom in art this is a must visit. To see avant garde movies in a relaxed setting, Angelika Film Center was our pick.
For both of our favorites open art installation home, Park Avenue Armory was another pick of ours. For large modern art installations, we highly recommend The Shed for both music and immersive art installations, check the calendar. Make sure to make reservations far in advance if there is something specific you want to see. If you have the time for a leisurely stroll in Central Park, this was a constant in our relationship from the beginning and it is definitely one of our most treasured areas of New York. Make sure to check out the Central Park Zoo with some Nuts-for-Nuts, and a classic New York pretzel. The cart outside has the best. Or, you can visit the Irish Arts Center website to see what installations or plays are in town.