Discovering The High Line, NYC

One of the wonderful things about New York City is that just when you think you’ve seen it all, or know it all, something changes, reinvents itself, becomes anew, tempting you to come back and take another look, rediscover it, get to know it again.  It is why even after living here most of her life, NYCity Mama, having been gone for almost 4 years, has returned to a city waiting to be rediscovered. It is why no day is short of one adventure or another.  

And today’s Adventure took her family to The High Line. There’s been a lot of buzz and excitement over this reinvented space, and Mama wanted to see if it welcomed her family as much as it seemed to welcome the reporters who were spreading the word about it’s “awesomeness”.  

So they headed over to the ever hip and cool Chelsea, in lower, west Manhattan.  It is home of many wonderful sites often visited by Mama and her crew, and today was no exception.  The High Line, recently opened to the public, was formerly a freight train line originally established in the 1930s.  After a threat of its demise by city plans, the Friends of The High Line was established. The group was successful in raising funds and support, helping to secure it’s protection and establishment under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

They arrive to 16th St, location of the only functioning elevator.  It seems that another elevator is in the works, but due date is unknown (there are other entrances as well). The afternoon was beautiful, sunny, and not too hot.  When they arrive to the top of the park, they easily mingled in with the flow of people slowly strolling about, taking pictures, and admiring the beauty of the place.

What they really liked about this place were the details about it. Like how the new design highlights the old and even makes the once abandoned and forgotten so noticeable and cool again. Mama loved the beat up structures against the newly laid out ones. She loved the plants and flowers, and how they helped heighten the age and history of the place.

Her kids loved the lemonade and cookies stand (cash only, and they sell cold pizza too), and really enjoyed the cedar lounge chairs and benches found throughout, and the overlook area the allow for visitors to look down and across at the streets below. Oh yeah, they also got a kick out of catching a lady bug in one of their cups!

With a little over a mile long, this is the perfect spot to take a break, go for a walk, get a snack (or bring one), grab a lounge chair, sit back, and enjoy the sun as you over look the water.  Her family had a nice time there, and even managed to relax for a bit.  It’s really a beautiful space, still being worked on, and likely to be enjoyed by them many more years to come.

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Tags: free activities, NY Parks
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