The best things to do near the New York Botanical Garden

If you’re spending time in the Bronx area and are in need of some more day-time activities, why not dive into some Bronx history? Current exhibitions at this treasured museum include The American Presidency: Politics & The Bronx and Remembrance of Pearl Harbor: The Bronx Goes to War, which is an examination of the aftermath effects on the Bronx and its people.

Beer lovers are drawn to this craft brewery for its delicious, rotating crop of ales, but they stay—and keep coming back—because of the atmosphere and good company. During the warm months, grab a spot at a picnic table in the backyard, order the tasting selection and challenge your buddies to a game of Jenga while enjoying the sun. In colder months, the indoor tasting room is the perfect place to bundle up with specialty cask ale.

The history of this beautiful estate dates back to the 17th Century, when Thomas Pell signed a treaty with the Siwanoy Indians to purchase what is now the Bronx borough. Located within today’s Pelham Bay Park, the current house was built between 1836 and 1842, and was sold to the City of New York in 1888. Re-opened as a museum in 1946, it now offers tours of its furnishings, carriage house and formal gardens.

The biggest urban zoo in the country happens to be accessible with just a swipe of your MetroCard. Lions, tigers and bears are all there, along with 600 other species. Popular exhibits include the Congo Gorilla Forest, where primates run and play, and the Wild Asia Monorail, which takes you past the aforementioned tigers and other endangered creatures in their expansive habitats.

This Arthur Avenue staple has withstood the test of time—the eatery has been serving its community for five generations since 1927. Surely its flavor comes from the Chef’s spoon and authentic Italian recipes.

Fun fact: Edgar Allan Poe spent the last years of his life in the Bronx, and his house still stands. Visit a wooden farmhouse built in or around 1812 for an outstanding blast from the past.