Visitors help me see Manhattan and Brooklyn with fresh eyes.

My brother and sister-in-law were in town this week, visiting Brooklyn and New York for the first time in years.  Though they're both extremely well traveled (in fact, they just returned from a trip to Ghana and Togo), they're more outdoor, nature lovers than skyscraper enthusiasts.

I structured our sightseeing around a few of my favorite oases in Manhattan.  We visited Brooklyn Bridge Park, Governors Island, The High Line, and Central Park, enjoying both the shade and the company.