New York City Has Some New Secrets To Me That Everyone Should Check Out On This Week's Fast Five!

 I love to find new things to investigate in New York, and I recently found some great stuff that I will be covering on my YouTube Channel, Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon in the near future.  If you like Central Europe, I'm doing a series on my visit to Slovakia right now.  https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026   

1.    The Dyckman Farmhouse and Park, The Bronx, New York.  Gotta love this one!  It's an 18th century farmhouse turned park and museum right in the city!  Is it a thrill a minute?  No.  However, this is a gem.  It's at the end of the blue A line on the subway and it's one of the oldest houses in the entire city.  Besides, it's a farmhouse.  It was built in 1784 and rebuilt in 1793.  The family used to farm there on a couple hundred acres.  Over the years, things changed and eventually the house was gifted to the city and made into a museum and park.  It's only open Wednesday through Saturday 12 to 4, but it also only costs $3.  There's a little half acre park around it as well.  If you want a little side trip to the Bronx before or after your Yankees game; this could be for you.

I like it because it's unique.  What makes me visit some of the places I go to?  Just that.  Have I ever heard of an existing farmhouse in the Bronx?  No.  Now I want to go.

https://dyckmanfarmhouse.org/   

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/dyckman-house-museum   

https://dyckmanfarmhouse.org/visit/tickets-tours/   

https://historichousetrust.org/houses/dyckman-farmhouse-museum/   

https://www.nyctourism.com/museums-galleries/dyckman-farmhouse-museum/   

2.    Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City.  What exactly is Rockaway, or Far Rockaway?  Interesting question.  I've been spending some time out there lately and when I figure it all out, there will be a video and maybe a whole other blog post.

It's a peninsula in Queens.  You can get there by Long Island Railroad (LIRR).  You can get there across the water in Jamaica Bay by the blue A Line on the Subway.  Yes, this is the other end.  The Bronx end is close to the Dyckman Farmhouse.  There's also another shuttle out there that separates from the A Line to go to the west part of the peninsula and the rest of the beaches.

There are beaches out there.  Miles of them on the ocean side of the peninsula.  You can walk for miles along the Atlantic shore.  It's beautiful.  It's also beach land for beach people.  It's also the only place in the city where it's legal to surf.  In the summer, you can even take surfing classes.

If you don't want to spend an hour and a half coming from the train station on the subway, you can go to Pier 11 and catch a ferry that will get you there in an hour.  It's a bit out there.  You can see JFK Airport from Far Rockaway.  There are bridges.  They are connected to Queens.  You can drive there if you like.  I don't drive in the city and certainly wouldn't drive out there.

There are 85,000 residents in Rockaway/Far Rockaway.  There are high rise apartments.  There are schools.  There are industrial businesses, and a complete city out there.  It is truly unique.  It's busy, bustling, with people running to get where they're going.  Then, you can hop off the train in another area and just walk along a boardwalk right on the ocean and feel like the city part is a million miles away instead of a block.

This place needs to be investigated and I'm going to do that.

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/rockaway-beach-and-boardwalk/   

https://www.cityneighborhoods.nyc/far-rockaway   

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g47702-Far_Rockaway_Queens_New_York-Vacations.html   

https://www.ferry.nyc/routes-and-schedules/rockaway-soundview/   

https://www.mta.info/stations/far-rockaway   

3.    The Frying Pan Restaurant and Cafe, Pier 66a, Chelsea, Manhattan in Hudson River Park.  What on Earth is this?  Well, once I figured out what a historic lighthouse boat was, I had a better clue.  They used to use them in the Carolinas as they needed them to be movable; why I don't know.  I stumbled right onto this one and plan to have a meal there soon, just to check this out.

It was built in 1929 and was used as a floating lighthouse in Cape Fear.  It's name was the Frying Pan Shoals.  When it was retired in 1965, it warranted a second chapter.  It was eventually brought to NYC in the 1980's and was docked at Pier 63 and turned into a restaurant.  It was declared a historic site in 1991, moved to Pier 66a in 2007 and the rest is history.  They serve pub fare and some seafood.  They also have another site in Brooklyn.

However, this is not the only vessel used at this site.  There's also a floating bridge from the B & O Railroad to enter the property on, a Lackawanna RR Barge, and a retired fire boat.  This looks to be a venue that would be as much fun as a party boat, but it's just a scenic Hudson River restaurant in Chelsea with what appears to be really good food.  

They're open seasonally, weather permitting, from 11:30 am to 10 pm daily.  To get there, I would take the purple 7 Line to Hudson Yards and enjoy the walk along the river.

https://www.fryingpan.com/   

https://hudsonriverpark.org/activities/pier-66-bar-grill/   

https://www.nyctourism.com/restaurants/the-frying-pan/   

https://loving-newyork.com/frying-pan-restaurant/?ltad=gads_LNYus_newyork_PMAX&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23737172802&gbraid=0AAAAADNqAdE3nqAX7HFjNwOnOapvG6_Hr&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrs7RBhDuARIsAIVfBD39Sxnr0nCy1SN8KhshnKh8vWdoLqNU_hA6vkiRTIjajZH1_0m9uvgaAhgREALw_wcB   

https://www.fryingpanbrooklyn.com/   

4.    Bowling at Chelsea Piers, Chelsea, Manhattan.  Chelsea Piers is one of those locations.  There's so much to do there, it's crazy.  This is where a lot of people get their sports on.  They have golf; figure that out.  They have health clubs, various sports groups for kids in particular, ice skating, swimming, and all kinds of stuff.  I went to Arte Museum there a bit ago for immersive art.  They have cool restaurants.  This is where you'll catch a lot of local cruises in Manhattan.  There's a lot going on.

It sits on the Hudson River at Piers 59, 60, and 61.  The complex is huge.  It's part of the Hudson River Park and there's a walkway right through it.  Therefore, I was walking along after I went to Arte Museum and discovered that there's also a bowling alley and arcade.

Lucky Strike Arcade and Bowling.  They're a chain of entertainment venues.  They also have laser tag.  It's a truly cool looking venue and face it; how many bowling alleys do you find in Manhattan?  I know, there's one in Port Authority Bus Terminal, but how many others?

This is the kind of place where you can game, tag, bowl, eat and drink.  On those rainy days, this is a winner.  Their hours vary throughout the week, so check before you go.  You can also book ahead online and make sure you have a spot.  They have all kinds of specials and special events, so make sure you check their website.

Just to put it out there, I went to Arte Museum, and it was a great time.  It's worth the $50 price tag any day.

To visit Chelsea Piers I would just take the blue A Line to 14th Street and walk from there toward the Hudson River.  Yes, there is an A Line theme today.

https://www.luckystrikeent.com/?nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ag%3A23087449821%3A189957319107%3A779030195660&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23087449821&gbraid=0AAAAADPFdQSOJ_VNA3aEjU35jgT67nBdy&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrs7RBhDuARIsAIVfBD23HW_RyL3A2xSCMU2bZuzAoMQOpC51AGuQy6WGqjI8Bxa1LFQsDkoaAjF6EALw_wcB   

https://www.luckystrikeent.com/location/lucky-strike-chelsea-piers   

https://hudsonriverpark.org/activities/bowling/   

https://www.chelseapiers.com/   

https://www.nyctourism.com/attractions-tours/chelsea-piers-sports-entertainment-complex/   

5.    Centre 360 or the observation deck on top of City Hall, Manhattan.  This is a 100 year in the making experience.  The original 36 story high deck was closed about 100 years ago and just opened for the first time since then this month.  It delivers its promised 360 degree views over the city and does it for free.

What's the catch?  Well, there are a lot of them.  It's only open Monday Through Friday 9 to 5.  Office hours baby.  You also can only go up in groups of five.  It's a small elevator, and its a cupola on top.  Those are the catches.  It is free and it is a great view.  You have to book in advance on their website to get a spot and they aren't easy to get as this is new for this generation, free and popular.  The best time to try and make a reservation is first thing on the first of the month.  Spots will fill up quick.  First come, first serve.  There's a limited number available.

I'll let you know when I manage to get a spot.  To get there, take the green 4, 5, 6, the brown J, Z, or the yellow R, W.  This is also the station that is at the end of the Brooklyn Bridge, so you can walk that.  It's also the station where you can ride the green 6 on its turnaround and see the abandoned subway station.  It's a really cool neighborhood, close to South Street Seaport and Pier 17.  It has great views along the East River.  So plan a day of it when you get your ticket.  There's a lot in a confined space worth seeing.

https://a856-centre360.nyc.gov/   

https://newyorkyimby.com/2026/06/centre-360-public-observatory-opens-atop-david-n-dinkins-municipal-building-at-1-centre-street-in-lower-manhattan.html   

https://www.nyc.gov/site/dcas/news/015-26/dcas-officially-opens-centre-360-the-public-city-s-new-only-municipal-observation   

https://medium.com/compoundclassroom/why-this-neighborhood-is-an-undiscovered-manhattan-gem-21d063e0e070   

https://www.mta.info/   

There are some of my latest finds.  Will I be looking into it personally?  Absolutely! You'll be able to check it all out on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026   

There are many hidden gems in the city.  I find new ones all the time. There's always something new and different in New York.  Most of the time I don't even have to look for it; I just stumble across it.  Just remember, when you visit a city; check ahead and see if you can find some hidden gems where you're visiting.  They are always some of the most memorable activities you'll have.  I like the hidden gems because they aren't normally overrun with tourists.  It gives me unique stories to tell and memories that not everyone has.

Check back here for more travel information on New York City, the world, and the do's and don'ts of travel.  Enjoy!

Here Are Five Amazing Things I Learned in Bratislava, Slovakia on This Week's Fast Five!

 Central Europe is one of my favorite regions.  I've been visiting it since it was the Soviet Bloc.  I've been to Czechoslovakia, but modern Slovakia was a new one for me.  I loved it even more!  Why?  I've broken it down into five categories, not including the main one; the people!  I don't always say it, because sometimes the people aren't the best part, but in Bratislava they really were the best part.

1.    I love food.  I'm more of a foodie than anyone you've ever seen on CNN, the Food Network, or the Travel Channel.  I love to eat, and it shows unfortunately, and one of my favorite areas of the world to eat is Central and Northern Europe.  They love root vegetables, paprika based spice, meat, dumplings, sauce and more.  It's not the healthiest for a bunch of Americans, but it tastes amazing.  

In Bratislava I learned about a few things and there were some things I already knew.  The hearty dishes I knew about.  I also knew of what we here in the USA would call a difference.  I was always raised to have a meat, a vegetable and a starch for a dinner meal.  It was standard.  In Slovakia this is also standard...with a twist.  You may find yourself in a traditional restaurant where the potato is the vegetable and rice or dumplings are the starch.  It's delicious, but it can feel a bit heavy in the gut if you aren't used to it.  

I think everyone should visit a grocery store when they travel.  I try to visit a pharmacy, a grocery store, a city market and a coffee shop in every location I visit.  It tells you a lot about the culture.  There are some things that you might find different in the grocery store in Slovakia and Central Europe.  They don't refrigerate as many things as we do.  You might find eggs in a box or milk on a shelf.  Beer and wine are never in a cooler.  It's a way of life.  it doesn't mean any of these things are spoiled.  It's cultural.

Drinks.  What can I say?  If you get water, be aware.  All over Europe.  Gas or no gas?  Still is a term that's used.  The Europeans love sparkling mineral water.  They are acutely aware that Americans don't tend to drink it.  The minute a waitress spots you as American and you order a water, they'll ask if you want gas or no gas or still or not.  If you don't want that carbonation, say no gas or still.  However, in the grocery store things can get more confusing.  That's where the locals shop.  Most waters will be with gas.  I just get out my Google Translate when necessary and make sure I find the ones with no gas.  

Soda is another one, especially colas.  Don't go buying a six pack of cola for your hotel or apartment thinking it tastes like Coke or Pepsi.  If it doesn't say Coke or Pepsi it probably doesn't taste like it.  I recommend trying one and see if you like it.  Then think about getting a supply for your trip.

What is a bagel?  When I was in Slovakia, it was a crescent shaped item.  It did taste like a bagel, but it didn't look like one.  Once again, try one at a market and see if you like it before you buy a bag.

Overall, I say jump right into the food scene.  It's always fun to try new things.  These are some of the things that I've either found in Europe or I recently discovered in Slovakia.

https://www.farawayworlds.com/food/traditional-food-of-slovakia   

https://www.tasteatlas.com/slovakia   

https://shop.billa.at/anmelden   

https://www.kofola.cz/en/about-us   

https://www.globalslovakia.com/post/the-drinking-guide-to-slovakia-part-2-spirits

2.    One of the main things I always look for in a destination is the view.  If you don't travel to see the view I can't help you.  That should always be a reason.

Bratislava and the area had amazing views.  They have what they call the UFO Tower right there on the SNP Bridge crossing the Danube River.  This is great for so many reasons.  Everyone who knows me knows how much I love to walk bridges.  The Danube while walking over it is beautiful.  It's also beautiful while taking a boat on it or walking along the waterfront.  It's hard to make that river look bad.

Bratislava sits on that river and has developed its waterfront to be very engaging.  You can walk dine, drink, catch a boat, or even stay in a hotel.  They have a Boatel.  Some of the trams run along the waterfront, so it's easy to get to.  Buses also.  One of the trams even runs across one of the bridges.  Great views in that neighborhood.  The UFO Tower on the bridge has a 95 meter high outdoor observation deck and just below it is a restaurant and bar.  It has amazing views and the food and drink aren't bad either.  If you have to pee, they also have the bathroom with the best view ever.

Soviets once ruled this land, and unlike most other cities in that situation with that past hanging around; the people of Bratislava kept all the stuff.  Some of the great places to visit in Bratislava were built by Soviets.  Slavin is the war memorial up on a hill.  It has magnificent views of the city and of the other Soviet monuments and is a real learning venue.  The castle is a museum.  The original castle was gone a while ago.  In the late 1950's they started to rebuild and remake.  It's a great venue that you can spend half a day at with amazing views.  The TV tower; also a Soviet creation.  You can eat at the restaurant in this as well and they also have an observation deck where you can see the entire city.  Always look for the views.  

One day we took a little trip up the river on a boat to some castle ruins called Devin Castle.  Beautiful views on the boat.  The castle ruins were on top of a hill and had amazing views of the river and all the villages and hills and lands around.  Amazing.

Views are a part of travel and the rolling hills at the foot of the Alps along the Danube provide amazing views.  If you don't take advantage of it, that's on you.

https://www.visitbratislava.com/top-10-views-bratislava/   

https://www.getyourguide.com/bratislava-l765/viewing-points-tc238/   

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g274924-Activities-c47-t166-Bratislava_Bratislava_Region.html   

https://aniolvisuals.com/bratislava-photography-spots-guide/   

https://www.visitbratislava.com/places/devin-castle/   

3.    I always visit a city market.  Even Boston has one.  However, with the modernity of Bratislava, there were more grocery stores and malls than what I would call a city market.  So, if you show up for a day trip on a Sunday; you missed it.  For the most part they only have one.  It's only on Saturdays, but it is in old town so the tourists can find it.

It's in the Old Market Hall in Old Town.  It's also a venue off and on, but on Saturdays it's a market.  This is where I discovered the local wine, beer and bagels.  You can buy a lot of things there.  Art, flea market type stuff and local food and produce.  There was a lot of local honey, sweet treats, cheese, and unique vegetables.  It was a great experience.  No matter where you go, you should check out a city market and to be fair, it's normally easier than it was in Bratislava.

Just one major note.  I found that malls were all over the place, but finding them wasn't that easy.  What I did find, being a traveler who uses public transportation was that if you take the #4 tram to what's called City Center.  It's a main bus hub and there is a nice mall there to check out.  There's also a more local market at that stop and you can see some more local stuff.

https://www.visitbratislava.com/places/old-market-hall/   

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/slovakia/bratislava/articles/the-best-markets-in-bratislava   

https://www.getyourguide.com/bratislava-l765/markets-bazaars-souks-tc260/   

https://www.visitbratislava.com/your-visit/shopping/   

https://nivy.com/en   

4.    Public transportation.  I use it.  I advocate everyone else using it.  It costs more and more all the time to rent a car.  In many countries, after age 65 you can't anyway.  When visiting a city in particular, and pretty much anywhere in Europe, just take the mass transit.

Bratislava was typical of Central European Countries.  While Vienna had a subway to go along with all the older stuff, Bratislava was the land of trams, trains, buses, and ferries.  You can also pay to take Taxis or Bolt (the European Uber).  Bolt also offers bike and scooter rentals on their app.  Just like Uber, they also have a food delivery service.  I also saw a food delivery service called Wolt.

I like trams.  There are places that you need to take a bus, but in the normal city fashion; if you get a transit pass, it will cover both tram and bus.  Sometimes the Subways are separate.  In Vienna, subway and tram were together.  Buses were separate.  In Bratislava, for about 20 Euros we got a week pass and it worked great.  Unlimited rides and the public transit runs from about 5 am to almost midnight.  It's the way to go.

We also took some day trips.  If you've never taken a European commuter train; you're missing out.  for very cheap you can catch one of these to a great side trip.  We took one to Trnava, which was a great little town with ancient buildings, churches and walkable city walls.  We also took them back and forth to Vienna, where we flew in and out of and spent a day trip.  The staff at the train station is very helpful and it makes it so easy to just go.  The trains are quite comfortable too.

We took a boat up to the castle ruins one day.  Our trip was scheduled, but there are also ferries that run back and forth to Vienna, but you have to have the schedule.  There's a building along the waterfront where you can buy tickets for anything on the river.  They offer it all and give you the instructions you need to take the trip you book.

Bratislava had one thing that I found amazing.  The Castle in the city sits on top of the main hill.  Next to it is the country's parliament building.  When you go up to the castle, I recommend taking the bus as it gets you the closest to the castle.  Less walking uphill.  Just keep an eye out for all the tour buses.  Bratislava is a major stop for river cruises and a popular day trip for tourists from Vienna.  There will be cruise ships all over the river and tour buses all over the top of castle hill.  One more reason to learn to take public transportation.  Also, the trams go through a tunnel that runs directly under the castle simply because they needed to go through there.

So, trams, trains, buses, and ferries.  They are the most common and pretty easy to take to get around.

One important note.  If you take the specialty bus up to the TV Tower; make sure you check your watch and the schedule.  When we went, they only ran until 6 pm and only on weekends.

https://www.visitbratislava.com/informations/transport/  

https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/europe/slovakia/bratislava/gettingaround/   

https://thingstodoinbratislava.com/transportation/   

https://brightnomad.net/bratislava-city-break/   

https://www.bratislava-slovakia.eu/about/public-transport   

5.    One of a kind things to see and do in Bratislava.  This is a unique place.  The people make it.  I flipped the switch on this vacation.  Bratislava is notoriously a day trip for a cruise or people visiting Vienna.  When we checked into our aparthotel; the staff was genuinely surprised to see how long we were staying.  I'm glad we did.  It was a wonderful city.

That being said; why so long in a city that's normally a day trip?  The one of a kind things to see and do.  I believe these folks have an amazing sense of humor.  They kept the old Soviet stuff and use it for entertainment in the modern day.  There are places to pose for selfies at the mall.  When we went to see the castle ruins we got to play with sheep.  There are statues, both serious and fun all over town.  They are a city known for their statues; particularly Cumil.  But all of them are great to see.  There are Embassies everywhere, as it is the capital.  A lot of them hang out in old town which is just a stone's throw from the Presidential Palace. We saw the Blue Church, which is a one of a kind church in the city.  We saw UFO towers, KGB pubs and all sorts of entertaining sights all over the city.  They had Karaoke booths in a Korean restaurant.  There's a Casino, but it's not what you might expect.  They have lots of breweries, clubs and shopping for those so inclined.  It's just a great city to spend some time in.  It's relaxed, easy to communicate, not too expensive, and full of people who genuinely like to be around people from all over the world.  You have a variety of food to choose from and they have a very international food scene if you get out of old town.

https://www.visitbratislava.com/most-photographed-statues-in-bratislava/   

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g274924-Activities-c47-t26-Bratislava_Bratislava_Region.html   

https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/bratislava-slovakia/statues   

https://voicemap.me/tour/bratislava/where-three-cultures-meet-an-introduction-to-bratislava-s-old-town/sites/hidden-statues    

https://www.bradtguides.com/bratislava-statues/   

Why do I say you should spend more than a day in Bratislava?  Because it's uniquely fun.  You have a castle that has never been lived in.  You have entertaining statues all over the place.  You have amazing people and food.  You have a UFO.  You have a waterfront that begs you to spend time there.  You are central to some great day trips.  The cost is lower than most places around.  This one is an opportunity.  After the day trippers go away, you get to feel like a local.  Whether you're visiting all the fabulous parks, the breweries, the restaurants, the clubs, or whatever.  It's not just a city to visit.  It's a city to fall in love with.

If you'd like to see more about Bratislava, I'm posting some videos on my YouTube Channel, "Adventures for Anyone with Terri Dixon."

https://www.youtube.com/@adventuresforanyone2026   

Take the time and make the effort on this one.  You won't regret it.  Enjoy!