Along The Water’s Edge: What to Do on the Long Island City Waterfront

One of the most exciting up-and-coming neighborhoodsin New York City is Long Island City, a spot that used to be home to industrial warehouses and is now a thriving neighbourhood of nearly 30,000 people. It is located only one stop away from Midtown Manhattan. This lovely area offers great restaurants, serene gardens, playgrounds and beautiful views of the famed Manhattan Skyline.

It’s worth taking a stroll along the Long Island City waterfront, and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of this blossoming suburb. The waterfront has a lot to offer and you can spend at least a day here exploring and enjoying the vibe.

Here are some of the highlights of the Long Island City Waterfront:

The Gantry Plaza State Park
This well-designed park has an amazing view of Manhattan and offers a pleasant place for a stroll or a picnic along the shoreline. The park is landscaped with native grasses and has four different piers, each that stretches out into the East River. These piers have wooden chaise lounges and reclining chairs where you can sit back and enjoy the view.
In the summertime, there is usually live music in the park to enjoy. It is a very popular spot for local families with young children.

Water Taxi Beach
This hip spot is considered one of the East River’s coolest urban beaches. It is a manmade beach that was created by the entrepreneurs at New York Water Taxi, who shipped in over 400 tons of beach sand from New Jersey to build it.It is a trendy party spot popular with the over-21 crowd.

It is officially open from Memorial Day weekend until Columbus Day and it has a beachside grill that serves burgers and an open tented area for shade. All throughout the summer, this beach is filled with people playing beach volleyball and sunbathing. In the evenings there are dance parties, live music and drinks. It’s a great way to feel like you are on a beach holiday without leaving the city.

The Water’s Edge Restaurant
If you have worked up an appetite while exploring the waterfront in Long Island City, you can treat yourself to some fine dining at the Water’s Edge Restaurant. The view of the Manhattan skyline from this superb dining establishment is impressive and the menu offers plenty of sophisticated dishes cooked to perfection.

The food is as impressive as the view and the menu has a great selection of dishes. Try the Rabbit Confit Risotto with garlic and black trumpet mushrooms or the Pan Seared Halibut with stuffed zucchini blossom and fennel-tomato coulis.

Enjoy exploring the Long Island City Waterfront, as this growing neighborhood has changed a lot from its industrial past.

About the Author: Lana Cole is a freelance writer who lives in upstate New York. She stayed at the Verve Hotel in Long Island City New York during her recent trip to New York City.