Van Rentals and a Fresh Meadows Overview

Fresh Meadows is a neighborhood in Queens. When you visit with your Van Rentals, you will be visiting a unique community. Fresh Meadows was once home to a very large Jewish population, but there is more diversity as a number of Asian American families move to the area. The community is also home to St. John's University campus.

Keep learning

St. John's University is a private university. It is known for its liberal arts, business, pharmacy, and law programs. It is one of the largest Catholic universities in the country. You can visit with your Van Rentals to explore the campus.

Make yourself a queen

When you visit Queens with your Van Rentals, you will learn that there are five "towns" that make up the area: Long Island City, Jamaica, Flushing, Far Rockaway, and Floral Park. Most of these neighborhood do not have solid boundaries, but are general terms for the area. Residents of the area usually identify with these towns rather than the borough as a whole. When you visit Fresh Meadows, you will see the unique culture that exists here.

Out on the Bay

When you visit Fresh Meadows with your Van Rentals, you are also close to Bayside. There are a few well-known landmarks you may want to visit. Fort Trotten was built during the civil war and used until 1974. Most of the fort is now a public park and sports complex. The Straiton-Storm Cigar Factory was built in 1872 and was at one time the largest cigar manufacturer in the United States. Finally, there is the Cornell-Appleton house. This is thought to be the oldest house in Bayside. Alley Pond Park is also found here and it is the second-largest park in Queens. Within the park there is an Environmental centre, museum, and animal exhibits. There are acres of playing fields, a nature trail, a bird sanctuary, bridle paths, tennis court, and picnic areas for you to enjoy while you are here.

Branch out

While visiting Fresh Meadows with your Van Rentals, you will also want to explore other areas of the city. Why not take the car and head to Staten Island for the day? Sometimes this borough is forgotten because it is the most remote and least populated of the boroughs, but there are many activities to keep you busy here. Staten Island has a large national park, the Gateway National Recreation Area. When you visit with your Van Rentals you will find one of the largest park systems in the area. Staten Island has a surprising number of museums you can visit with your Van Rentals. There is the Alice Austen House Museum, the Conference House, Historic Richmond Town, Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, and it will soon be home to the National Lighthouse Museum.

Get to know the city by exploring the different communities within. Each has its own personality and feel!