What’s better than one outdoor experience? Two. With the Brooklyn Bridge x Brooklyn Bridge Park collab, you can double your nature exposure. It turns out Brooklyn really is the place to be.  

I recently woke up at 5:30 am to walk the Brooklyn Bridge at sunrise. I’m not going to lie, as soon as I felt the air temperature I was tempted to go back to bed. However, my friends convinced me that the view would be worth it, and they were 100% right. Early in the morning, the bridge is free from the hordes of people that walk it during the day. The air feels fresh as it blows off the water, and the sky changes from an inky midnight to sky blue, with shades of vibrant pink and orange in between. It feels like the moment in Titanic when Jack says, “I’m the king of the world!”. It’s just you, the bridge, and a view across the city. As someone who often feels claustrophobic when surrounded by the skyscrapers in FiDi, I’ve found walking the bridge to be the perfect remedy. The walking entrance to the bridge is next to Pace, you can access it by the ramp across from City Hall Park or climb the stairs under the bridge next to 1 Pace Plaza. To walk across the bridge and back, you can expect a time commitment of about one hour. Even if you can’t convince yourself to walk the bridge that early, it’s worth it at any time. The view never fails to amaze me, no matter the crowds or changing seasons.  

I promised two outdoor activities, but I didn’t tell you that you have to do one to get to the other. You could take the subway to get to this space, but where’s the sense of outdoor adventure in that? On the Brooklyn side, right under the bridge, there is Brooklyn Bridge Park. Don’t tell anyone, but some days, I like Brooklyn Bridge Park better than Central Park. It feels less crowded, even on sunny days. It’s not as big, but it still has good walking trails that are nestled among trees. There are three main lawns in the park, my favorite being the farthest from the actual bridge because it has a stunning view of lower Manhattan. Additionally, the park has a promenade along the East River that you can stroll along. There is also a set of Gossip Girl-esque steps that connect one of the lawns to the promenade, perfect for reading a good book or having a main character moment. In the fall, I brought dining hall food to the park and had a picnic. It was a great way to easily escape the stress of the city without having to travel too far from school.  

Sometimes, it can be difficult to organize yourself enough to find nature in the city. It takes some effort, and after a tough school week, that can often feel overwhelming. But with the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge Park, the great outdoors is right at Pace’s doorstep.