5 Awesome Secret Places to See in Brooklyn, New York

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade offers a beautiful view over to Manhattan.

Away from all that glitters and rises into the sky, visitors can embrace a more serene part of New York.

Welcome to Brooklyn.

Here, at the western part of Long Island, you'll find peace and quiet and plenty to see and do, all just a 10-minute subway ride from Midtown Manhattan. I like taking day trips to Brooklyn to try the restaurants and visit the parks on the less-crowded side of the East River. No squeezing through the masses on crammed sidewalks around Times Square or dodging bikers and bladers in Central Park.

If you want a quick getaway during your visit to New York City, try a side trip to Brooklyn, where you can stroll brownstone-lined streets and casually mix in with residents going about their days walking pooches, pushing strollers and getting in a jog.

Try these five unique and under-visited secret locations to visit when you're in Brooklyn.

1. The Mosaic House

Artist Susan Gardner's stunning mosaic home will grab your attention.

The Mosaic House of artist Susan Gardner is located in a normal neighborhood. The home, at 108 Wyckoff Street, stands out from all the rest, though. Just after 9/11, Gardner began decorating the exterior of her Boerum Hill home with a fantastic array of mosaics.

2. The Greek Revival Subway Townhouse

The subway ventilator is cleverly hidden as a townhouse at 58 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn.

A "Greek Revival subway ventilator" is hidden behind a facade of a townhouse at 58 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights. This is a fake townhouse operated by the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The property was built in 1847 and served as a residence until 1908 when it was bought by a transit company and converted into a ventilator. It's also an emergency exit for the subway's No. 4 and No. 5 trains. The facade blends in well with the neighboring red-brick townhouses, but look closely and you'll spot it. You can peek through the crack in the doors and see the bend of a track.

3. Brooklyn Heights Promenade

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade (pictured at top) looks across the East River toward Manhattan's skyline. This park is the place to be to talk a walk or jog along the river. Scan the horizon and you'll spot all sorts of icons, from the Freedom Tower to the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.

4. Love Lane

Love Lane is a cute little lane with an interesting history in Brooklyn.

Love Lane, a tiny mews in Brooklyn Heights, owns a fairly rich history. The one-block street that had been part of an Indian trail that led to the East River became a popular stretch for romantic strolls by the Dutch settlers. Today, you can take a walk with your sweetheart on the charming little alley that runs between Hicks Street and Henry Street.

5. The DUMBO Neighborhood

The DUMBO neighborhood sits in the shadow of the Manhattan Bridge.

Head to the DUMBO neighborhood to grab coffee or a lunch and do some shopping. The quaint region Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass also is filled with shops, artist studios, bookstores, bakeries and clothing boutiques alongside luxe residences. All within shouting distance of the waterfront.

Enjoy your hidden treats around Brooklyn, which also is home to an NBA team, the Nets, and a bridge you might have heard about. Put it all together, and you can fill your visit with plenty to do before you head back to the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.

Thanks for reading,

JR