The Best of Brooklyn on a Budget
Updated: April 19, 2023
Written by
AAA Travel Editor Patricia Miller
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington Ave.
This AAA GEM® attraction in Crown Heights has earned its designation in spades. A nirvana for nature lovers, the garden’s 52 acres are replete with more than 18,000 types of plants. Just try not to ooh and ah over thousands of rambling roses, cheerful cherry blossoms, magnificent magnolias, dazzling daffodils and much more. Highlights include a fragrance garden with braille signs for the visually impaired; a lilac collection; and conservatories housing bonsais, orchids and a tropical rainforest. Admission is free daily for ages 0-11; for all before noon on Fri., Mar.- Nov.; and for all Tues.-Fri., Dec.-Feb.Read MoreBrooklyn Bridge Park
Old Fulton St. and Furman St.
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" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="10px" onload="javascript:(function(o){setTimeout(() => o.style.height=o.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+"px",500)}(this));" data-nx="true" data-nxid="558b745b-053c-4e97-a049-a31a87d427a9" data-nxtype="externalvideo"> After you’ve shot some Instagram-worthy pics of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, check out its park of the same name. What better way to mingle with city dwellers taking a time-out from their frenzied lives than to join in the fun at this 85-acre greenspace? Kids of all ages can saddle up a painted pony on a charming 1922 carousel sheltered from the elements by clear acrylic walls. Partake in umpteen sports from basketball to bocce, watch a free movie, launch a kayak from the beach or lie on the lawn and admire glorious views of New York City across the East River.Read More
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Brooklyn Flea
80 Pearl St.
Looking for some fun things to do with friends? It costs nothing to roam around at the Brooklyn Flea since admission is free, so get some fresh air and rummage through the goodies. Scour racks of vintage clothes for bargains and eyeball tables full of bric-a-brac, antiques and jewelry; it's a great way to while away a Sunday afternoon. About 80 vendors set up camp here on the waterfront underneath the Manhattan Bridge at Pearl Plaza on Sundays from 10-6, April through October.![]()
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French Louie
320 Atlantic Ave.
Named after an illustrious French Canadian lumberjack, this oh-so-trendy AAA Inspector Pick is popular with local office workers in downtown Brooklyn. It’s best to sample the Gallic menu for lunch or weekend brunch if money’s tight, but dinner won’t cost much more and it will be worth it, especially if you try the 28-day dry-aged steak. For brunch try buckwheat crepes with ricotta, peach and tarragon; for lunch, chicken paillard or avocado tartine are palate pleasers. Dine on the backyard patio for extra ambience.![]()
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Jordan's Lobster Dock
3165 Harkness Ave.
The décor here is nothing fancy, but this AAA Inspector Pick near Sheepshead Bay has one of the best lobster rolls in the city, according to a New York newspaper’s poll. In business since 1938, Jordan’s has a standard-issue menu with dishes like fish and chips, shrimp scampi and Long Island oysters. Each table has a roll of paper towels for those messy moments when you’re joyously cracking open crab or lobster and dipping it in butter. While you’re not exactly sitting on the dock of the bay when eating outside, it’s just a few steps away.![]()
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AAA Travel Editor Patricia Miller
Patricia Miller is a AAA Travel Expert.
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