Car Rental New York and Forest Hills

Head to the hills during your upcoming car rental New York vacation - Forest Hills community, that is. The Forest Hills neighbourhood is one of Queens' most prestigious communities, boasting a number of restaurants, boutiques and chain stores. Founded in 1906 as the city of Whitepot, Forest Hills is now home to one of the most sought after real estate markets in the Big Appl. If you have the opportunity to visit this charming neighbourhood, All Car highly recommends that you take advantage. From the Tudor style homes in Forest Hills Gardens to the antique treasures on Metropolitan Avenue, there's a little something for everyone in Forest Hills.

Navigating the neighbourhood

Car rental New York travelers will find that the Forest Hills community come in three distinct parts - Forest Hills Gardens, home to the city's most exclusive addresses; higher density housing, apartments and condos on the north side of Queens Boulevard; and single/multiple family developments in the area west and south of the Gardens. The main drag of the neighbourhood is Austin Street. This busy hub is the commercial center of Forest Hills, boasting plenty of shopping and restaurants. Metropolitan Avenue is the other busy thoroughfare. Car rental New York travelers will find a large selection of antique shops on this street, as well as small cafes.

The boundaries of Forest Hills

Car rental New York travelers will find Forest Hills in the heart of Queens. Boundary streets include the Union Turnpike, Forest Park and the Kew Gardens to the south. Middle village and Rego Park are west of the neighbourhood, and Flushing Meadows Park is to the east. Officially, 102 Street and the Long Island Expressway are the borders with Rego Park.

A quick history of the area

Back in the early 1900s, Forest Hill was used almost exclusively as farmland. This all changed when the construction of the Queensboro Bridge. Developer Cord Meyer purchased many local farms in the area, followed by philanthropist Margaret Slocum Sage. Along with her husband, Russell, Margaret created the Russell Safe Foundation and began development on the Forest Hills Gardens complex. Expansion of the New York subway system led to further growth in the area during the 1950s. Today, the neighbourhood is proud to be one of New York's premier areas.

Tasty eats and treats in Forest Hills

Hearty meals are easy to come by in Forest Hills, especially if you're looking to enjoy some good ole fashion pub fare. Top spots to stop in for a bite include Nick's at 108-26 Ascan Avenue (they have the best thin-crust pizza around) and Dirty Pierre's at 13 Station Square (can you say monster burgers?). Looking for something sweet? All Car highly recommends stopping in at Eddie's Sweet Shop on Metropolitan Avenue for some homemade ice-cream. Other great restaurants include Just Like Mother's, Salut and the Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen.

Out and about in Forest Hills

Car rental New York travelers will find a number of great parks in the Forest Hills neighbourhood. From Queens Boulevard, it's a short walk south to Forest Park, the neighbourhood's outdoor center of activity. This park boasts walking, biking, hiking and horse trails, along with athletic fields and a golf course. Flushing Meadows Park is also close by, as is MacDonald Park. If you're traveling with children during your upcoming car rental New York vacation, All Car recommends visiting the Ehrenreich-Austin Playground at Austin Street and 76th Avenue. Renovated in 2005, this park features plenty of great play equipment.

Notable people who got their start in Forest Hills

Car rental New York travelers shouldn't be surprised to learn that a number of famous New Yorker's got their start in the Forest Hills community. These include actors like Hank Azaria, Carol Channing, David Caruso and Michael Landon. Musicians David Leonard, Art Garfunkel and Burt Bacharach are also from the area. Other notable personalities worth mentioning include Helen Keller, Jerry Springer, Ray Romano and Paul Simon.

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