If you know me, you know that New York City is one of my favorite places on the planet. Ever since I was young and got my first taste of the hustle and bustle, I have been fascinated with Manhattan and its surroundings. I love to visit as often as I can and I will never get tired of what there is to do there. I have some favorite places in New York City, but every time I go, I try to discover something new. One of my recent discoveries was something called the High Line. It's an interesting place so I thought I would share my visit with you.
The High Line is a beautiful public park that is located on Manhattan’s West side. It was built on a historic freight rail elevated above the streets and runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues.
The park is owned by the City of New York but is maintained by Friends of the High Line, which was formed in 1999 in an effort to save the structure from demolition. The fabulous efforts of this non-profit conservancy have resulted in fantastic place for visitors to relax and enjoy. It is truly a remarkable space with so many beautiful things to see. The first section of the park opened on June 9, 2009.
We wanted to take a walk on the High Line last week when were in the city so we decided to start at West 30th Street and head toward Gansevoort Street.
There are lush grasses, flowers and trees planted throughout the park. You will see them growing along the train tracks.
There is an area that is called Wildflower Field. It’s beautiful and so unexpected in a city like New York.
Park benches are scattered along the walkway giving visitors plenty of opportunity for relaxation.
There are several viewing spurs where you can get a great look at the city from the High Line. This one is at 26th Street.
If you look West at certain points on the High Line you can see the Hudson River and a peak at New Jersey.
There are so many interesting things to look at along the way. I absolutely love this display of artwork that we spotted on the side of a building on the East side of the park.
At the 23rd Street Lawn and Seating Area there is a grass lawn where you can spread out and get some sun or just sit and relax.
Or hang out on the steps.
The 10th Avenue Square gives you a fantastic view of 10th Avenue looking north.
One of the nicest parts of the High Line is the Sundeck and Water Feature. There is an area where water is flowing over part of the walkway where you will see children playing and people walking around barefoot to cool off. On the opposite side there are built-in wooden lounge chairs where you can lay in the sun or sit and watch the kids play in the water.
The Gansevoort Woodland was the end of the line for us. It’s a beautifully landscaped area with trees and grasses where you quickly forget you are in the middle of a busy city as you are walking through.
When we came down from the High Line we were in Chelsea. We stopped at the Standard Grill at the Standard Hotel, which is literally right on the High Line, and had a drink and a bite to eat. Then we did some shopping and wandered around Chelsea. It was the perfect ending to a great morning.
So if you want something unique to do the next time you go to New York City, I recommend you put the High Line on your list. There are so many fun ways to enjoy it and it just keeps getting better. If you want to learn more about the history and future plans for the High Line you can check out The Official Web Site of the High Line and Friends of the High Line
If you decide to visit the next time you are in NYC, I would love to hear about it!
Leslie