Brooklyn/East

East Brooklyn encompasses Cypress Hills, East New York, Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Flatlands, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, and Barren Island. Even many New Yorkers from outside these neighborhoods seldom if ever visit, and these areas represent unlikely tourist destinations, unless you are visiting friends or attending a specific event. That said, there are some unique though lesser-visited attractions in the area.

Understand

 * Cypress Hills is a small ethnically diverse subsection of East New York separated from the rest of the neighborhood by Atlantic Avenue.
 * East New York like many Brooklyn neighborhoods is rich in its own history with homes where farms once stood and its many parks like Highland Park where children can roam free to play. The Gateway Mall is one of the few suburban-like malls in the city and the City Line subsection or Liberty Avenue is where residents can come and do their shopping for food and clothing. Alongside the projects, parks and new homes are popping up everywhere. Like Brownsville, East New York is one of the most dangerous communities in New York City, though the crime rate has dropped quite a lot since the bad old days a few decades ago. Most visitors to New York City only pass through on their way to or from John F. Kennedy Airport on the A and J trains or the B15 bus.
 * Canarsie is a West Indian neighborhood with somewhat of a "small-town" feel, largely composed of 1- and 2-family houses. The major commercial streets are Rockaway Parkway and parts of Seaview Avenue.
 * Mill Basin and Bergen Beach are largely residential areas, predominantly occupied by Italian, Jewish, and Russian inhabitants.

By subway
This area has relatively poor subway coverage compared to most of Brooklyn. There are no subways to the Flatlands area--the closest station is Flatbush Avenue-Brooklyn College on the 2 and (rush hours) 5 --almost an hour away by walking (though buses along streets like Flatbush Avenue and Avenue H can bring you there faster)!

Canarsie is somewhat better served, with the L terminating at Canarsie--Rockway Parkway, which is about 25 minutes away from Jamaica Bay by walking (though the B42 bus goes to Canarsie Piers from the station). The L is somewhat difficult to access from elsewhere in Brooklyn, but the G, M, J/Z, and A/C all have transfers to it.

On the other hand, if you're visiting East New York, probably the area of least interest to travelers due to the high crime, you are spoiled for choice. The 3 terminates at New Lots Avenue, the closest station to the Bay (but once again, still a distance). The A/C and J/Z also have lots of stops in East New York. If you're traveling directly to Brooklyn from JFK, you will probably pass through here--rest assured, the trains are safe.

By LIRR
Long Island Railroad's Atlantic Branch has a single stop in this district at East New York. Trains stopping here are heading to or originate from Atlantic Terminal.

By bus
The BM1, BM2, BM4, and BM5 express buses come here from Manhattan.

By car
Given the spotty subway coverage and high crime in some parts of this area, East Brooklyn may well be one of the few places best reached by car. The Belt Parkway and Shore Parkway circle Brooklyn and are very close to the attractions in the Jamaica Bay.