Much has been written about this gritty, industrial, waterfront neighborhood, which is frequently cited as the "next big thing" even though in many ways it has already arrived. Once a busy shipping center, Red Hook is raw, rugged and rich in history. Its isolation has protected its time-warp appeal—it's a serious hike from the nearest subway. But that makes it refreshingly quiet, especially along the plentiful riverfront.
Over the past decade or so, the diverse and comparatively inexpensive neighborhood has welcomed an influx of musicians, artists, rooftop beekeepers, urban chicken farmers, entrepreneurs and young parents. Together with longtime locals, they've helped turn Red Hook into a cultural hot spot, with FREE movies, kayaking and a variety of family-friendly festivals in summer. Aside from Ikea and Fairway, you won't find chains here. Instead, independent locavore eateries dot the neighborhood, small-batch distilleries and chocolate makers fill the abandoned factories, artists have transformed old warehouses into galleries and fisherman gather along the beat-up piers, where all are free to wander and soak up magnificent views of the downtown Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
While you have to travel to the adjacent Carroll Gardens to find most traditional family amenities, there are still plenty of cool things to do with kids in Red Hook. Just getting to the neighborhood can be a thrill: It's easily accessible by boat (New York Water Taxi's Ikea Ferry) and bike via the Brooklyn Greenway.