Published: November 19, 2009

Just a few blocks’ walk from Lincoln Center on 57th Street and Broadway is the station home to the Q line. The Q makes only five stops in Manhattan and takes you into the borough with the bad rap, Brooklyn, making its final stop in Coney Island.  In Brooklyn, the Q is mostly above ground, letting its riders grab a glimpse of the diversity in the borough. With access to shopping, museums, ice-skating and delicious food, the Q is definitely a train line worth exploring when you have some extra time or when you are looking for a good way to procrastinate.

Atlantic Avenue: While it’s no Time Warner Center, the Atlantic Terminal Mall is a lot friendlier to a college student’s budget. Home to stores like Target, Burlington Coat Factory, Bath & Body Works and Marshall’s, you can stock up on some colorful bedding for your dorm room, some aromatic room spray for the bathroom and some cute clothes to bundle up in, all without breaking the bank.

Prospect Park: This stop will put you face-to-face with Brooklyn’s version of Central Park: Prospect Park. Prospect Park is 585 acres, (over 550 football fields), so it’s a little tough on your feet to see the whole park in one day. But being so large, this park has tons to offer. If you’re in the mood for some educational attractions, you can visit the Brooklyn Museum or the Lefferts Historical House that was originally built in the 18th century. If you’re a fitness buff or just want a fun hang-out with friends, you can ice skate in Wollman Rink. And if the park doesn’t convince you that trees do, in fact, grow in Brooklyn, wait ’til you see the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, filled with plants as far as the eye can see. Plus, there are always events going on in the park; from produce markets to discovery tours to free concerts, it’s the perfect place to experience what Brooklyn has to offer.

Sheepshead Bay: If you want to truly see Brooklyn’s diversity, get off on this stop and take a short, five-minute walk to the bay, which separates the mainland portion of Brooklyn from Coney Island. On one side of the bay is Emmons Avenue, which features restaurants with just about every ethnic food imaginable. Directly on the other side of the bay is a neighborhood by the name of Manhattan Beach, home to some of Brooklyn’s finest real estate. If you brought your appetite, stick to the Emmons Avenue side and make sure to wear pants with an elastic waistband. If you want to branch out from conventional cuisine, try some kartoffelsuppe (potato soup with smoked meat) at the German restaurant Sweik, enjoy some spanakopita (spinach pie) in the Greek restaurant Yiasou or grab some dinner and a show at the Japanese restaurant Momoyama, where, if you order a hibachi entrée you’ll have a chef prepare it right in front of your eyes, with a few knife tricks and jokes thrown in. And if none of these make your mouth water, you can always try out one of the Italian, Russian, Turkish, French, Chinese or Thai restaurants.

Brighton Beach: This is the home of New York’s largest Russian community, and the moment you step off the train, you’ll know it, as the store names magically change from English to Russian. So don’t be shocked if the signs no longer say Pharmacy, but rather Аптека. And if you’re feeling adventurous and willing to try something new, the streets are packed with grocery stores and restaurants where you can taste some authentic Russian cooking. If you’re not so willing, then just take a stroll down the boardwalk; with its amazing view you can take a seat on a bench and let the serenity of the ocean take over, at least until you hear the elderly Russian men yelling at each other over dominos (the game, not the pizza).

West Eighth Street: This stop will take you to the New York Aquarium, home to over 8,000 different species of animals and tons of attractions. You can visit the Planet Earth: Shallow Seas 4-D experience, where you can swim with dolphins and sea lions while in the safety of a cushy seat. Visit the Explore the Shore exhibits, where you’ll be able to touch some sea stars and horseshoe crabs. You can also have a first-hand look at how sea creatures as adorable as penguins or as terrifying as sharks, are fed.