DUMBO. Photo by _Imaji_

New York City’s most populous borough for almost a century, Brooklyn has also recently become, by many accounts, the hippest.

It’s not just artists and young people who are fleeing across the East River. New York’s preeminent publishers, bankers, and advertising executives, as well as numerous other professionals who could afford to live anywhere, are snatching up luxury condos and historic brownstones throughout the borough.

Photo by Jeky

There’s only one group of people who haven’t discovered Brooklyn yet: visitors.

Be ahead of the curve. On your next trip to New York, set aside some time to explore a few of Brooklyn’s interesting neighborhoods.

Williamsburg

Favored by artists and hipsters, Williamsburg is the place to go if you’re craving a cold beer and a live show. Popular venues include Pete’s Candy Store, the Music Hall of Williamsburg and Warsaw.

A stroll down Bedford Avenue will introduce you to the neighborhood’s flavor. If visiting on Friday night or Saturday afternoon, venture behind the ropes at the Brooklyn Brewery.

Or explore South Williamsburg, home to a large population of Hasidic Jews who migrated from the Lower East Side after the Williamsburg Bridge was built in 1903.

DUMBO

A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge lands you in this artsy area, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass.

Primarily industrial until the 1970s, and then home to artists who turned abandoned factories in studios and lofts, today’s DUMBO is home to Brooklyn’s most expensive real estate. Artists long ago fled to cheaper areas, but their influence remains. See the art galleries and theaters that inhabit old warehouses.

Photo by Josh Derr

Peek in at the Jacques Torres Chocolate factory before relaxing at the waterfront Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park, with unrivaled Manhattan views.

Brooklyn Heights

South of DUMBO is Brooklyn Heights, whose brownstones and churches, many of which date to the 19th century, give it a distinctive small town feel.

Walk along the Promenade for great city views, or past the regal residences of Columbia Heights to see where luminaries like Norman Mailer once lived. Stop in at the Brooklyn Historical Society to learn more about the borough’s past.

Montague Street offers many restaurants and shops, and a short walk takes you to the New York Transit Museum, where you can trace the history of New York’s subway system and step inside dozens of decommissioned train cars.

Red Hook

Recently settled by IKEA and MTV’s The Real World, Red Hook is on the rise. Get there via the free water taxi from Pier 11 in lower Manhattan, courtesy of IKEA, and then wander among the unique amalgamation of bland industrial buildings and hip restaurants and bars.

Explore the New York Harbor’s interesting history at the Waterfront Museum, housed on a retrofitted railroad barge.

The Waterfront Museum. Photo by Pro-zak

See works by up-and-coming artists at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition, located in an antebellum warehouse with a spectacular front-facing view of the Statue of Liberty.

Park Slope

A neighborhood of tree-lined streets and townhouses, Park Slope is popular with young families. Prepare to dodge strollers as you browse the trendy boutiques along Seventh and Fifth Avenues.

Park Slope Brownstones. Photo by David Berkowitz

Meander through Prospect Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted after he completed Central Park in Manhattan. It boasts a zoo, ice skating rink, boathouse, and band shell. Also check out the impressive botanical gardens and art museum on the park’s northern edge.

Prospect Park in Autumn. Photo by ajagendorf25

Coney Island

Located at the southern tip of the borough, Coney Island is an hour’s subway ride from midtown Manhattan, but it’s worth the trip. Once home to a major resort and amusement parks, Coney Island takes you back to another era.

Coney Island. Photo by blhphotography

Sunbathe at the small beach (summer only!) or learn about the history of the neighborhood at the Coney Island Museum. Stroll down the boardwalk to the New York Aquarium. There are always events happening like the annual Mermaid Parade and Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The New York Aquarium. Photo by je_roen

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

What’s your favorite NYC borough and why? Share your neighborhood secrets in the comments below!

The country produces more varieties than there are days in a year, and many come with personalized glasses in which only that type may be served.

But beer isn’t all the country has to offer. On your next trip to Brussels, Belgium’s capital, sober up with some of these other activities.

1. Ascend the Atomium.

Built in 1958 when Brussels hosted the World’s Fair, the Atomium is a cross between sculpture and architecture.

It’s modeled after a crystallized molecule of iron magnified 150 thousand million times.

Escalators take visitors to expositions in the various spheres, and the upper sphere houses a restaurant, Chez Adrienne.

2. Experience Mini Europe.

At the foot of the Atomium is Mini Europe, the only place where touring the continent takes just a few hours. Roughly 80 cities and 350 buildings are represented.

Marvel at impressive reproductions of Europe’s most attractive monuments, watch Mount Vesuvius erupt, and see a Finnish girl dive into icy waters.

3. Discover Old Town.

The crown jewel of Brussels’ Old Town is the Grand Place, built as a merchants’ market in the 13th century. Tour the striking Gothic town hall or people watch from a café. Then, wander the surrounding cobblestone streets.

Stroll through the Galeries St. Hubert, a glass roofed arcade lined with cafes, theaters, and luxury shops. Also be sure to see the Manneken Pis, the famous bronze sculpture of a boy peeing in a fountain.

4. Sample world-famous chocolate.

Learn about Belgian chocolate at the Chocolate Museum, then visit some of the Brussels’ most celebrated chocolate shops.

Wittamer, in the heart of the city, is a family-owned chocolatier that’s been in business since 1910. It’s the official chocolate supplier to the Belgian Court.

Pierre Marcolini, whose flagship store is located near the Grand Place, is a newer but welcome addition to the Belgian chocolate scene.

Marcolini opened his first store in 1995, the same year he was named the World Champion of Pastry.

5. Revisit the comic strips of your youth.

Did you know that Tintin was created by a Belgian artist? You would if you visited Brussels’ Comic Strip Museum. See original pages of comic artwork, sketches and memorabilia.

Learn how the Smurfs, also of Belgian origin, got their start. (Hint: They’re a spin-off!)

6. Savor moules frites.

When Bruxellois devour this unofficial national dish, they eat the first mussel with their fingers and then scoop up the rest using the empty shell as a utensil.

And what about the fries? They dip those in mayonnaise.

Moules frites can be found at most restaurants, but if you’re near the Grand Place, try the mid-range and delicious L’Estaminet du Kelderke.

7. See a puppet performance.

Nestled at the end of a cobblestone alley in Old Town is Café Toone, whose cozy building dates from 1696.

Enjoy a drink with locals downstairs, then head up to the attic for a show like no other: marionettes perform Shakespeare and other classics.

8. Take a tour.

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Hop-on, hop-off bus tours, offered by Brussels City Tours, give a good overview of the city’s most famous sights. Catch the bus outside Central Station.

For do-it-yourselfers, take a walking tour of Brussels’ most upscale designers, explore the city’s antique and flea markets, or experience its beautiful green spaces.

9. Visit the EU.

As the European capital, Brussels is home to the European Union headquarters. Take an audio-guided tour of the European Parliament, the elected body of the EU.

During sessions, you can even attend a parliamentary sitting. Check for session dates here.

10. Okay, a little bit of beer…

Near the South train station, which connects Brussels to other cities in Europe, is one of the last traditional breweries, Cantillon.

Almost nothing has changed since the brewery opened in 1900.

See the open vats where their signature Lambic beer is cooled, and the oak wood barrels where it’s aged for up to three years.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If Brussels is but one stop on your trip around Europe and you’re on a budget, check out Matador’s list of Top 10 Free Things to Do in Europe.

All photos by author.

Looking out to the Mediterranean from the hill city of Haifa, on a peninsula jutting out from Israel’s northwestern coast, you just may see a sliver of land in the distance: Lebanon.

It was barely visible one gray afternoon in the spring, as was a lone naval ship, presumably protecting Israel’s shores.

Together, these two images served as a subtle reminder of the summer two years before, when missiles shot by Hezbollah rained down on the city. Incoming missile alarms sounded multiple times a day, and Haifa effectively shut down for the month of July as residents holed up in underground shelters.

The shuttered Haifa still dominates the world’s perception of the city, but it is not the only Haifa its residents know.

Photo by david55king

The Treasure Chest

Haifa, often likened to San Francisco or Naples, seems to rise magically from the sea. Flowing for a half mile down the side of the tiered city are the varied colors of 19 terraces. Collectively, they look like a rainbow punctuated in the middle by its treasure chest: the golden-domed shrine of the Baha’i prophet, Bab.

It is a beautiful sight, but also a perplexing one. Why are the headquarters of the Baha’i faith located in Haifa, a city in the Jewish state, a country in the Muslim Middle East?

The simple answer is that Bahá’u'lláh, founder of the Baha’i faith, lived and died here after being exiled from a number of other places — but a more poetic explanation is offered by many Haifa residents.

“The shrine symbolizes the tolerance of citizens here,” said Ayala Klingman, a retired musician and piano teacher who has lived in Haifa for 20 years.

Haifa may be the only place in the region where members of five faiths — Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Druze and Baha’i — live and work peacefully side by side.

In 1902, Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism, dubbed Haifa “the city of the future,” and it is well on its way to fulfilling that prophecy. Israelis describe Tel Aviv as wild and cosmopolitan, Jerusalem as ancient and mysterious, and Haifa as an awakening beauty.

Since Herzl’s proclamation, the city’s population has swelled from less than 20,000 to over a quarter million.

Yet somehow Haifa is largely undiscovered by foreign travelers. A stop on many whirlwind tours of Israel and a transit hub for visits to places further north such as the Golan Heights, it is a main destination for few. This is a shame, as there is so much to see.

Photo by Bossplot

The Three-Tiered City

Haifa is divided into three tiers. The lowest of these offers miles upon miles of sandy Mediterranean beaches, beloved by locals but free from tourist crowds, as well as Israel’s largest port and a number of industrial areas.

“Tel Aviv plays while Jerusalem prays, but Haifa works,” goes the common saying. While Haifa’s port and oil refinery still employ many residents, the city, home to Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, has also recently attracted a number of high-tech corporations.

The main attraction of the middle tier, made up of residential areas and the business district, is Ben Gurion Boulevard, the lively heart of the German colony, with its trendy shops and restaurants.

Photo by vad_levin

The top tier, the Carmel District, has green parks and lovely homes. Yefe Nof Street, appropriately nicknamed Panorama Street, has a spectacular view of the sea both by day and by night. It is also the starting point of numerous nature trails that wind down Mount Carmel to the Haifa Bay.

The city’s extensive public transportation system makes it easy for visitors to explore. The various levels are connected by the Carmelit, Israel’s only underground subway, a futuristic-looking aerial cable car, and numerous long flights of stairs. The city also has a reliable public bus system.

“The beauty of the city,” marvels tour guide Yair Herdan, who has lived all of his life in Haifa, is “mountains and sea together with forests and a port – an awakening beauty indeed.”

Visitor Info

HOW TO GET THERE

Travelers coming from Greece and Turkey can land in Haifa’s small regional airport, but those coming from the U.S. must fly into Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv (El Al offers direct flights from New York for approximately $1,500), and then take a train (about $12), or private taxi (about $100) the 55 miles to Haifa.

WHERE TO STAY

Located in Central Carmel, the bustling district atop Mount Carmel, is the five-star Holiday Inn Bay View (Yefe Nof Street, 04/835-0835, www.ichotelsgroup.com). Double rooms start at $170 and feature sweeping views of the Haifa Bay as well as the Galil Mountains. The comfortable Haifa Meridian Hotel (David Elazar Street, 04/850-8888, www.fattal.co.il) offers sea view rooms starting at $190 and easy access to the best of Haifa’s beaches.

Photo by david55king

WHERE TO EAT

The Renee Restaurant (Yefe Nof Street, 4/837-5602), located in a beautiful stone house overlooking the Haifa Bay, offers local meat, fish and pasta favorites and a good selection of wines. At Isabella (Ben Gurion Street, 4/855-2201), located in the German colony, enjoy Italian and Arab dishes as you look out at the Baha’i gardens.

WHERE TO SHOP

Watch local artists work at the Castra Art, Recreation and Shopping Center (Moshe Fliman Street, 04/859-0000), where you can buy their goods and oftentimes create your own alongside them. The Panorama Center (Ha Nassi Avenue, 4/837-5011) in Carmel Center is a good modern shopping mall, and Hertzl Street in the Hadar neighborhood is a bustling outdoor bazaar with plenty of reasonably priced goods.

community connection

Interested in more on Israel? Learn the 10 Customs You Should Know Before Studying Abroad in Israel or read this thoughtful essay on How Conflict Shapes the Culture of Israel.