Jackson Heights is often thought of as a hot, up-and-coming NYC neighborhood, but really it's just been flying under the radar for the last hundred years or so. This community, one of the most diverse in the United States, has been called an “international Mayberry” due to the small-town feel and the peaceful co-existence of so many different types of people. The fact that it was the nation’s first planned garden district—meaning that most of the buildings in the historic section are built around lush, green courtyards—doesn’t hurt, either.
Eleven years ago, I moved to this Queens neighborhood from the East Village—which has its own, very different charms—hoping that a down payment and a dream would keep me from missing those Manhattan lights. I soon discovered that mere acquaintances here greet each other on the street, and I find myself in conversations with interesting people from all over the world. Once I had a baby, I met even more neighbors.
To make it a little easier to find those great Jackson Heights gems with your children, we've compiled a list of neighborhood highlights. Enjoy!