Yesterday we had the occasion to visit one of the most interesting venues or pieces of real estate in North America.....It is a place of extraordinary beauty and interest where photographers and artists are inspired to capture amazing colors and scenery.
Geography buffs enjoy the unique perspective of over looking four boroughs of New York City, Sandy Hook, NJ, Raritan Bay, the entrance to New York Harbor, western Nassau County Long Island, NY and the Atlantic Ocean.
We were high atop Mount Mitchell Scenic Overlook, Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County, New Jersey which sits on the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic coastal plane, 266 feet above sea level. It is the highest spot on the North American coast between Maine and the Yucatan in Mexico.
The saying, "on a clear day, you can see forever," was never truer than mid day yesterday from Mt. Mitchell.
To pick out specific points of interest we used the telephoto lens of our cameras.
The most recognizable landmark is the Verrazano Narrows bridge linking Staten Island on the left to Brooklyn on the right. The "VZ" bridge spans the lower entrance to New York harbor.
The skylines of Jersey City, lower Manhattan, mid-town Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens are visible from Mt. Mitchell. Depending on the viewing angle buildings verge and over lap, sometimes appearing different than in their actual location. For instance, the tall building which appears on the right side of the Verrazano Bridge in Brooklyn actually is the 42 story Goldman Sachs Tower in Jersey City, NJ.
Sandy Hook in the foreground, Brooklyn and mid town Manhattan. The Empire State Building is the largest building in the center, the black building on the left is Penn Plaza and the Met Life building in on the far right.
In the foreground is the Sandy Hook light house, across the water is Brooklyn's Coney Island with the parachute jump on the left and the ferris wheel right of center, the tall building in the distance is the Citi Bank building in Long Island City.
Another visible landmark, near center of this photo is the VA Hospital Fort Hamilton Brooklyn. The two red brick buildings to the right are located on along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The massive Goldman Sachs building in Jersey City dominates.
While one is drawn to see what landmarks they can find in the distance, there is beautiful scenery at and below the overlook.
On September 11, 2001 hundreds of people were drawn to this scenic overlook to view the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack. Today, a beautiful memorial to all those residents of Monmouth County New Jersey that lost there lives at the World Trade Center stands atop Mt. Mitchell.
Individuals names are engraved in stone listed under their home towns.
Signage assist in locating scenic sights as well as coin operated binoculars for 25 cents.
Looking further to the right one finds aircraft approaching Kennedy Airport over Rockaway Queens
The view stretches into Nassau County as the National Grid Plant in Island Park and the Oceanside landfill are visible.
Looking far right or Southeast one spots the skyline of Long Beach, NY.
If you are in the Monmouth County area, on a beautiful day, we highly recommend a drive down Route 36 to the Atlantic Highlands area and Mt. Mitchell. You won't regret it. Be sure to take your binoculars and camera.
CKK & JPK 10/3/10
