Mount Olivet Cemetery & Mausoleum

Do you like off-​the-​beaten-​path places for a nice view of the city? Maybe with a bit of greenery and a nice breeze? Do you think that cemeteries can be just a little bit romantic — you know, when the light is just right during a sunset?
I know I do!
Queens has some awesome cemeteries — it’s what we got instead of parks. You’ve seen them in The Godfather and The Sopranos. Yeah, there’s that famous one in Brooklyn, but really, per capita, Queens is where the dead roll in their graves. It is Suicide’s Paradise as they say
The thing with cemeteries is that they’re usually on a high ground — so that the buried bodies don’t wash away during floods (think about the cemeteries in New Orleans — creepy!). The high elevation makes them ideal spots for spectacular views of our city, especially of the Manhattan skyline.
I used to think that the New Calvary Cemetery in Blissville/​Sunnyside had some stunning views. It still does when the tall tombstones juxtapose in front of the tall Manhattan skyscrapers. However, Mount Olivet gives it a run for the money. It is further away from Manhattan, but it is also at a higher elevation — hence, providing a perspective unfamiliar to most.
If you’ve got a car or are up for a long bike ride, check it out. There is a tricky entrance on Elliot Ave and Mt. Olivet Crescent, which happens to be near the top of the hill.
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