Why Queens Is the NYC Borough You Can't Ignore

Fodor's Travel: The venue comes tucked under a solar-paneled pavilion that generates energy for the park, and features an outdoor seating area and events space.

Fodor's Travel: Chow down on international fare from more than two dozen Queens-based vendors dishing out Thai noodles, Colombian arepas, Korean BBQ, and more.

Fodor's Travel: More than 80 independent vendors (mostly food stands) serve up an exotic spread with affordable (and adventurous) global dishes like Trinidadian shark sandwiches, Burmese palatas, and more.

Fodor's Travel: There's a new reason to hit the beach in Queens this summer. The team behind the buzzy Brooklyn Night Bazaar (which recently closed its space in Greenpoint) debuted the Riis Park Beach Bazaar.

Fodor's Travel: The year-old Transmitter Brewing is known for its small-batch, Belgian-style farmhouse ales.

Fodor's Travel: Finback Brewery opened a tap room in May 2014 with public tours and tastings; they've since doubled their barrel inventory and introduced rotating art installations.

Fodor's Travel: The space boasts picnic tables and burgers, honey locust trees and grassy hills, and Ping Pong and bocce ball.

Fodor's Travel: Visit Villa Enrico for mouthwatering Italian seafood served in an elegant subterranean space in LIC's Z NYC Hotel (don't miss the upstairs rooftop lounge for stellar city views).

Fodor's Travel: In Astoria, Tacuba pairs gourmet Mexican with fresh-ingredient cocktails (some of which are festively served in carved-out pineapple husks).

Fodor's Travel: The Queens Museum underwent a $69 million expansion a year and a half ago that doubled the institution's size with expanded galleries, a new sky-lit atrium, and artist studio wing.

Fodor's Travel: In 2011, the Museum of the Moving Image, in Astoria, completed an equally massive, size-doubling $67 million revamp that added new galleries, theaters, and a courtyard.

Fodor's Travel: The SculptureCenter, set in an old trolley-repair shop, was significantly overhauled in fall with a new lobby, expanded gallery space, and enclosed courtyard area for outdoor exhibitions and events

Fodor's Travel: In Flushing, the year-old Hyatt Place Flushing/LaGuardia Airport Hotel offers sleek guestrooms and public spaces, including a heated indoor rooftop pool.

Fodor's Travel: Forest Hills Stadium, which reopened in 2013 after a nearly 20-year closure, is back on the scene, attracting big-name acts like Van Morrison, James Taylor, Alabama Shakes, and Santana.