Every time I wander through DUMBO, I feel like I’m seeing New York from a new angle.
I started my morning with a coffee from Butler Bake Shop. Their croissants taste like Paris, but the vibe is all Brooklyn – locals with laptops, parents with strollers, and tourists craning their necks at the Manhattan Bridge. Step outside and you’re standing in one of the most photographed spots in the city. You know the one – the bridge perfectly framed between the red-brick buildings on Washington Street.
From there, I took a slow walk toward the water. Brooklyn Bridge Park spread out in front of me, the air salty and sweet with the smell of the river. Kids were already chasing pigeons, and a jogger sped past with earbuds in and that I live here energy.
If you’ve never been, give yourself a couple of hours just to wander. Sit on a bench. Watch the ferries drift by. Peek into the Empire Stores – a mix of shopping, food, and history, all tucked inside a 19th-century coffee warehouse. It’s where you can grab a rooftop drink with a front-row seat to the skyline.
But here’s the thing: Brooklyn isn’t just DUMBO. It’s a gateway. Once you’ve soaked in the views and snapped the photos, it’s the perfect starting point for exploring the rest of the borough – or even beyond.
You can rent a car in Brooklyn, right in DUMBO, and head out for an adventure. I did exactly that with Drivo, and it changed my whole day. Suddenly, Coney Island wasn’t a long subway ride away – it was a 25-minute drive. Red Hook, with its quiet harbor and seafood shacks? Ten minutes.
My first stop was Red Hook Winery. I grabbed a glass of rosé and sat by the window watching the cranes and ships move through the port. It’s peaceful in that way only industrial neighborhoods can be – gritty but beautiful.
From there, I cruised to Coney Island. The boardwalk buzzed with energy. Someone was blasting old-school hip-hop from a speaker, and a kid won a stuffed shark at one of the carnival games. I walked along the beach with my shoes in hand and remembered why Brooklyn summers feel so nostalgic, even if you didn’t grow up here.
By late afternoon, I pointed the car back toward DUMBO. On the way, I stopped at Prospect Park – Brooklyn’s green heart. It’s where the city exhales. Families picnicked under the trees, someone strummed a guitar, and a group of friends played frisbee near the lake.
When I finally returned the car, I took one last stroll through the cobblestone streets as the sun dipped behind Manhattan. The skyline glowed gold and glassy. That’s the thing about Brooklyn – it always finds a way to feel both familiar and brand new.
If you’re visiting or even if you’ve lived in New York for years, make a day out of it. Start in DUMBO. Grab a coffee. Walk the bridge. Then find out what to do in Brooklyn in just one day – check out Drivo’s guide here. It’s packed with ideas for foodies, photographers, and anyone who just wants to feel that Brooklyn rhythm.
And when you’re ready to go beyond the subway map, rent a car in DUMBO and let curiosity take the wheel. Brooklyn is bigger, bolder, and more beautiful than most people realize – and every neighborhood has its own story. You just have to drive a little to find it.
