New York car rental and a Queens Overview

Queens is a borough of New York City. It is the largest of the boroughs in area and the second most populated. Here you will find JFK Airport and LaGuardia where you may pick up your New York car rental, as well as the home of the New York Mets.

Fit for a queen

Queens was established in 1683 as one of the twelve original counties of New York. It was name for then-queen Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II of England. Colonization here began with Dutch and English settlers starting in 1635. Early settlements included Maspeth, Flushing, and Jamaica. Queens played a minor role in the American Revolution. The area fell under British occupation. Under the Quartering Act, British soldiers used private homes against the will of Queens residents. This led to the adoption of the Third Amendment of the Constitution that banned soldiers from quartering in private homes.

Divide and conquer

When you visit Queens with your New York car rental, 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.

Jazz it up

Queens was the epicenter of jazz in the 1940s. Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald all came here to develop their style. Today, when you visit with your New York car rental you will still find a strong artistic presence. SculptureCenter, the Noguchi Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park, Museum for African Art, and the American Museum of the Moving Image are all found here.

Get sporty

Queens is where you will find the New York Mets with your New York car rental. The Mets are part of the Eastern Division, and since 1964 you can find them at Shea Stadium. Be sure to wear your blue orange and white when you come out to visit. These are the official colors of New York and symbolizes the return of baseball to the city after the Dodgers and Giants moved to California. In Queens you will also find the home of the U.S. Open tennis tournament with your New York car rental. This is the fourth and final event in the Grand Slam series held every August.

Make a day out of it

Queens is known as the most diverse area of New York, and when you visit with your New York car rental you will find a number of great restaurants to stop at and enjoy the food. Try Mexican food on Roosevelt Avenue, African American food in Jamaica, Asian food in Flushing, and Greek in Astoria. With so many choices, you might need a few days to sample all of the food!