Jackson Heights Life

If you've ever thought about walking to Target or any of the other stores in that area of Elmhurst but dismissed the idea because having to deal with Broadway and other busy streets, I found a short-cut that takes you down mostly residential streets in Elmhurst.

The key is a tiny shortcut that lets you walk under the RR tracks instead of having to go all the way down to Broadway to cross under them.  The shortcut under the tracks is next to Diaz Grocery at the corner of Whitney and 43rd Ave.  Once you go under the tracks you'll be on 88th St. near St. James Ave.  Here's google street view of Diaz Grocery http://bit.ly/aiGDdc
and here's google street view of the shortcut http://bit.ly/ceNAgA

Starting from 82nd St. and 37th Ave, taking the shortcut and walking the most direct route from there makes the walk 1.3 miles.

However, that said, I don't find this particular Target all that pleasant. 

It's probably much longer, but I find it to be a pleasant walk if I walk up Woodside Avenue, and when that ends, I turn right (can't remember the name of the road, but it's a main road through Elmhurst) and then I can stop and get delicious things like green tea bubble tea and red bean rolls when I'm in Elmhurst. 

I live in the high 60s/Roosevelt Ave, so I'm right by Woodside Ave, and this route is probably completely inconvenient if you are in the 80s/30s in JH.  But, if you're not in a rush to get to Target (and I agree with Shelby that it's not that pleasant), it's worth it.

a few updates:

the Target in Elmhurst did a large renovation and now has a fairly substantial grocery section, including fresh meats, poultry, dairy, etc.  The prices are quite reasonable.

When I walked via the shortcut I discovered (under the railroad tracks at the end of Whitney Ave. in Elmhurst), there is now a hand-written sign posted that says something like "Beware, people are being robbed here at night."  I have gone during the daylight hours and felt safe, but I wouldn't take that path after dark.

The Whitestone Target also did a similar renovation and also has a very large, reasonably priced grocery section.  If you have a car, it's an easy 15 minute drive and there's a huge parking lot.

why not just take the train?

Also, not everyone lives right by the Roosevelt Ave stop.  For me, it takes 12  minutes to walk to the Roosevelt Ave stop vs about 30 to walk to Target.  On a nice night when I want a longer walk, a 30 minute walk to a destination is about right.