With every New Yorker rushing to coin the newest neighborhood, discover the next up-and-coming district, or relocate to the hottest borough, it’s easy to forget some of the long-standing and well-loved areas. Revamped in the 1960’s to resemble the port’s heyday in the early nineteenth century, South Street Seaport is now a twelve-block collection of shops, restaurants, and entertainment.

Easily accessible from the Fulton Street subway stop (and in the future the “Seaport” stop on the new Second Avenue line), this quaint destination is a great way to spend a summer day. Boasting anchor stores such as Gap, J. Crew, Coach, Victoria’s Secret, and Guess as well as boutique shops selling everything from sunglasses to caricatures to Christmas ornaments, South Street has something for everyone. In between stores, cool your heels at one of the many restaurants or cafés lining the cobblestone streets.

If shopping isn’t high on your to-do list, you’re in luck: the best part of South Street Seaport is the atmosphere. Developed around the 30,000 square foot South Street Seaport Museum, the area transports visitors back to the port’s glory days. There is still a small fleet of historic ships harbored at South Street, New York City’s original port. Outdoor dining allows for some unbeatable people-watching, or venture to the far end of the pier for unbeatable views of Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge.

For something to do, take a tour through Bodies, the exhibition featuring actual human specimens. The weak-stomached among us aren’t doomed to boredom: spend an afternoon at Water Taxi Beach South Street, pumped full of sand for sunbathing and sand castle building. After sunset, the Beach evolves into a waterfront party featuring rotating DJs each night of the week.

While South Street Seaport may not be the destination on the tip of everyone’s tongue, it deserves its due as an authentic New York City experience. For summer entertainment, tempting shopping and fresh seafood, it’s hard to beat this downtown historic district.