Located on the East River in South Brooklyn, Red Hook has long had a history as one of New York City's largest industrial ports. Cobblestone streets and abandoned waterfront warehouses speak to the neighborhood's past, while newer developments, like a cruise ship terminal, an Ikea superstore, and a popular Fairway supermarket, are signs of changing times.
Red Hook offers beautiful views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, and its waterfront parks (like this pictured one at Valentino Pier) are pretty and peaceful. During the summertime, New Yorkers flock to the Red Hook Ballfields, where vendors sell delicious Latin American street food (think grilled corn on the cob and hot quesadillas).
Home also to the Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn's largest housing project, Red Hook is somewhat isolated from the rest of Brooklyn because it doesn't have a subway line. Buses service the area, though, and while it may not be easy to get to the neighborhood, once you make the trip to Red Hook, you'll want to visit again and again.