#1 Best in U.S.

I live in eastern Pennsylvania, so it takes at least 90 minutes to get to the Newport PATH station in Jersey City. Add time for parking, waiting for the PATH & getting into Manhattan, and it's at least 2 hours to get into the city. Getting to Queens can take another 30 minutes or more. Is it worth it? I've been told no, but I disagree. Astoria, Jackson Heights, Corona & Flushing are must see neighborhoods. Parking is much easier in these areas as well.

On my most recent trip to Queens, I took the 7 train from Grand Central Station to 103rd St-Corona Plaza and walked to The Lemon Ice King of Corona. They do not mix flavors, so I got 4 different small cups at $1.50 each. 

From there, I wanted to check out Flushing. The Q58 bus stops almost right in front of The Lemon Ice King of Corona and gets you to the heart of Flushing in less than 20 minutes. I walked around for a bit and wanted to get a snack before heading back to Manhattan. I settled on Taipei Hong and then took the Long Island Railroad back to Penn Station. Although I'd been to dozens of Mets games before they got a new stadium, I'd only walked around Flushing once a few years ago. If you are not coming from Long Island, it may seem far out, but between the 7 train and the LIRR, it's very easy to get a train back to Manhattan. Unlike other trains, the 7 rarely gets crowded on weekends.

Walking in the FOOTSTEPS (that's a Pearl Jam song) of THE RAMONES!

For years, I've been wanting to visit the neighborhood that gave us THE RAMONES. Today, I took the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station to Forest Hills and walked around, while listening to Soundgarden's King Animal. Around the station, there is the shopping area of Austin Street, but if you walk south on 71st Ave, you will see one million dollar home after the next.

My next destination was The Lemon Ice King of Corona. The Q23 bus got me there in 15 minutes. I can't think of ever having had better Italian ice. I tried 4 different flavors. They don't mix them, so that was my only choice.

From there, it was about a 10 minute walk to The Queens Night Market near the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. I was really glad I went. The market was very International and I would certainly go again.

After leaving the night market, it was about a 10 minute walk to the 111th St train station. The 7 train had me back to Bryant Park in 30 minutes. The walk & the subway ride gave me enough time to listen to my 2nd favorite U2 album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.