Fun things to do near NYC's Forest Hills

Q: What are some fun activities to do near Forest Hills, NYC?

There are plenty of fun activities to do near Forest Hills, NYC! You can visit Forest Park and enjoy hiking trails and free concerts in the summer. Horseback riding at Gallop NYC in Forest Park is also a unique and therapeutic experience. For food lovers, the Forest Hills Fall Street Fair offers a variety of delicious dishes from all over the world. You can also visit Painting with a Twist at Queens for a fun and creative painting class.

Q: Are there any family-friendly attractions near Forest Hills?

Yes, there are family-friendly attractions near Forest Hills! Laser Bounce - Family Fun Center offers activities such as bowling, laser tag, and an arcade, perfect for a fun day out with the family. You can also visit the Queens Bully, a diverse gastropub that hosts themed events and offers a great dining experience for families. The Shops at Austin Street is a popular shopping strip where families can find a wide range of boutiques and stores.

Q: What are some unique and hidden attractions in Queens, New York?

Queens, New York is full of unique and hidden attractions. You can explore Royal Collectibles, a family-owned comic shop that offers a wide range of comic books, toys, and collectibles. The Atlas Obscura Guide to Queens also highlights many cool and hidden things to do in the area. Additionally, the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass and the Hanmaum Zen Center of New York are unique places to visit and learn about art and spirituality.

Q: Where can I find the best places to eat and drink near Forest Hills?

Forest Hills and Queens, in general, offer a diverse culinary landscape. You can check out the Atlas Obscura Guide to Queens for a comprehensive list of cool and unique places to eat and drink. Nick's Pizza and Alberto's Restaurant in Forest Hills are highly recommended for their delicious cuisine. You can also visit Cheese of the World for a wide selection of cheeses from around the world. Don't forget to try the milk tea at certain places that are highly rated for their arcade game attractions.

Key Takeaways:

Forest Hills is a central Queens neighborhood known for Forest Hills Gardens, Austin Street and its long history with tennis.
Forest Park, on the neighborhood's southern edge, has trails, a carousel, a golf course and a bridle path.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park and the Queens County Farm Museum are within reach for a longer day out.

Forest Hills mixes quiet Tudor-style streets with a lively main shopping street. You can walk through a planned garden community, catch a film in a 1927 movie house, see a concert where the U.S. Open was once played and spend an afternoon in a large wooded park. Here is what to do and how to get there.

Where is Forest Hills in NYC, and how to get there

Forest Hills is in central Queens, along Queens Boulevard. Two ways in from Manhattan:

Subway. The Queens Boulevard Line stops at Forest Hills-71st Avenue and 75th Avenue. Both stations opened in 1936.
Long Island Rail Road. The Forest Hills LIRR station opened in 1906. It was built with a brick courtyard, a clock tower and arched underpasses to match Forest Hills Gardens.

Suburban Setting of Forest Hills

Forest Hills Gardens is the neighborhood's best-known section. Margaret Sage, founder of the Russell Sage Foundation, bought the land in 1908. Architect Grosvenor Atterbury designed the community, inspired by the English garden city movement, and most houses went up between 1910 and 1917. Many have stucco walls and red clay tile roofs in the Tudor Revival style. The LIRR station is a good place to start a walk.

Culinary Landscape of Forest Hills

Austin Street is the main commercial street, with many restaurants and chain stores. It is the easiest place to find lunch or dinner before or after a park visit or a show. Restaurants open and close often, so check recent listings for specific places.

Outdoor Activities in Forest Park

Forest Park is a roughly 507-acre park on the southern end of Forest Hills. The firm of Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot designed the park and Forest Park Drive in the 1890s.

Inside you will find:

Over five miles of walking trails through the woods
The Forest Park Carousel
The 110-acre Forest Park Golf Course
A bridle path for horses
The George Seuffert, Sr. Bandshell, tennis courts, playgrounds and Victory Field
Areas for bird watching

The Forest Park Nature Center is currently closed to the public. Download the trail guide from NYC Parks before you go.

Unique Movie Experience at Cinemart Cinemas

Cinemart Cinemas opened on March 10, 1927, as the Metropolis Theatre. The Queens Historical Society recognizes it as the oldest continuously operated independent movie theater in Queens. It shows new releases, independent films, classics and foreign cinema, and it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027.

Forest Hills Stadium and the West Side Tennis Club

The Forest Hills Stadium hosted the U.S. Open from 1915 through 1977. It belongs to the West Side Tennis Club, which still offers grass courts to its members. Today the 14,000-seat stadium is an outdoor concert venue. Check its calendar for upcoming shows.

A person riding a horse on a wooded trail at dusk.

Shopping at Austin Street

Austin Street is where Forest Hills shops. Expect a mix of national chains and local stores. Combine a shopping stop with a walk through Forest Hills Gardens.

A tree-lined commercial street at dusk with glowing lights from shop windows.

Best time to visit Forest Hills for shopping, food, and local events

Pick your day around what you want to see. Forest Park and Forest Hills Gardens are best in daylight. For a concert at Forest Hills Stadium, check the stadium calendar for dates. On Saturdays in season, add the Queens Night Market in nearby Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Hidden, Cool, and Unusual Things to Do in Queens

Flushing Meadows Corona Park. About 870 acres, larger than Central Park. It hosted the 1939-40 and 1964-65 World's Fairs, and the Unisphere, the New York State Pavilion, the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Museum remain from those years.
Queens Night Market. An open-air market behind the New York Hall of Science with over 100 independent vendors, on Saturdays from 4 p.m. to midnight in season. Take the 7 train to 111th Street.
Queens County Farm Museum. At 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, this 47-acre farm dates back to 1697 and occupies New York City's largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland.

Tips for Planning a Trip to Queens

Use transit. Forest Hills, Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Long Island City are all on subway lines, so you can link them without a car.
Check hours. Museums and parks in Queens keep different schedules. Confirm opening days before you go.
Group by area. Pair Forest Hills with Forest Park, or with nearby Flushing Meadows Corona Park.

Forest Hills to the airport when time matters: Using BLADE Helicopter via Manhattan

Forest Hills travelers often use the subway, buses or taxis to reach the airport, and that works most of the time. When you are leaving for an international flight or a tight same-day itinerary, delays on Queens Boulevard, the Long Island Expressway or Midtown crossings can add uncertainty.

In these cases, some travelers head into Manhattan first and connect with BLADE, which arranges helicopter transfers from Manhattan to Newark (EWR) and JFK. The flight takes about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat. BLADE's Manhattan lounges are BLADE Lounge West at the West 30th Street Heliport, BLADE Lounge East at the East 34th Street Heliport and BLADE Downtown at the Wall St. Heliport.

FAQs about Fun Things To Do Near Nyc'S Forest Hills

What are some fun activities to do near Forest Hills, NYC?

Walk Forest Hills Gardens, explore the trails in Forest Park, see a film at Cinemart Cinemas, catch a concert at Forest Hills Stadium and shop on Austin Street.

Are there any family-friendly attractions near Forest Hills?

Forest Park has a carousel, playgrounds and trails. Flushing Meadows Corona Park has the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Zoo, and the Queens County Farm Museum is one of the longest continuously farmed sites in New York State.

What are some unique and hidden attractions in Queens, New York?

The surviving World's Fair structures in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, the Queens Night Market and the Queens County Farm Museum are good places to start.

Where can I find the best places to eat and drink near Forest Hills?

Austin Street is the main dining street in Forest Hills. For a wider choice, the Queens Night Market brings over 100 vendors together on Saturdays in season.