Green-Wood Cemetery

Once New York’s most-visited tourist attraction, the gorgeous and historic Green-Wood Cemetery is set on Brooklyn’s highest point, a series of leafy hills interconnected by looping roads and trails. Founded in 1838, it remains one of New York’s premier spots for life eternal. Some 600,000 people are buried here – that’s at least 530 miles, head to toe – including folks like Leonard Bernstein, mobster Joey Gallo and several victims of September 11. The park is a hike south of Park Slope; the easiest access is by subway. Walk up from the subway station to the Fifth Ave entrance, pick up a free map at the entrance, and ask about events like walking tours or visit on Wednesdays when there’s a two-hour trolley tour around the cemetery ($15 per person). Note the squawking green parakeets nesting atop the Gothic entryway – these guys apparently broke out of an airport crate in 1980 and have lived here ever since. The best spot to see is up on Battle Hill – the highest point – where the Continental Army fought off British troops during the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn. The event is commemorated by the 7ft statue of Minerva – the Roman goddess of wisdom – who waves to the Statue of Liberty off in the distance.