A historical freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan’s west side found new life as the High Line, a 1.45-mile public park with Hudson River views. Original railroad tracks are embedded into the walkway that stretches from West 34th Street down to Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District. A number of hotels are conveniently located near the park, including the charming High Line Hotel, The Standard High Line (the park runs under the hotel) and the historical Jane Hotel where survivors of the Titanic stayed on reaching New York.
Begin this self-guided tour with a coffee at the High Line Hotel before climbing the stairs to the High Line at 20th Street just west of 10th Avenue. Walk south with the Hudson River on your right. In addition to river views, the park is known for its diversity of flowers, trees, and plants, plus a lawn for picnics and play areas for children. For picnic provisions, descend the stairs at 16th Street and explore Chelsea Market, an expansive indoor food market with everything from tacos to Thai food to lobster rolls.
Back on the High Line, continue walking south under the hulk of the Standard Hotel (its ground-floor Biergarten is a fun spot to raise a stein of beer and play ping pong) and towards the park’s southernmost point at Gansevoort Street. Here, the Whitney Museum of American Art opened in 2015, after moving from its original location on the Upper East Side (check out the eighth floor Studio Café for coffee, snacks, or drinks).
Walk one block west and cross the West Side Highway to join Hudson River Park, a waterfront trail leading all the way down to the southern tip of Manhattan. If hunger strikes, two charming options include The Spotted Pig, the West Village’s original gastropub with one of New York’s most famous burgers and the Ear Inn, a cozy historical pub dating back to 1817. Along the walk south, families may want to stop at the Children’s Museum of the Arts or Pier 25, home to an extensive outdoor playground. During the warmer months, a boat moored at the end of Pier 25 is actually a restaurant called Grand Banks; it’s a lovely spot for sunset oysters and cocktails.
Continuing south, one of lower Manhattan’s more somber landmarks, the 9/11 Memorial, is found. After seeing the massive outdoor pools representing the footprint of the former Twin Towers, walk towards the southern edge of City Hall Park and onto the pedestrian walkway across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. The 1.1-mile path crosses the East River from lower Manhattan into Brooklyn, offering exceptional views of the Financial District skyscrapers. Stop for a frozen treat under the Brooklyn Bridge at Brooklyn Ice Cream factory (or if you’ve walked up an appetite, try the famous coal oven pizza at Grimaldi’s) before finishing your self-guided tour with a stroll along the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a pedestrian walkway with skyline views suspended over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
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Classic flavors like chocolate, butter pecan, and coffee are served at this ice cream shop with skyline views.
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This narrow, historic pub with frequent live music sessions is a favorite watering hole for locals.
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A seasonal restaurant set on a boat, Grand Banks is a scenic place to meet friends for sunset oysters and cocktails.
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This popualr West Village gastropub is legendary among New Yorkers for its signature burger.
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Style and affordability combine at this West Village hotel with a lively nightlife scene. Some rooms resemble ship cabins and have shared bathrooms while others are traditional hotel rooms with...
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Floor-to-ceiling windows provide exceptional city skyline and Hudson River views in this trendy hotel.
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An exclusive boutique hotel in a historic setting, this downtown property stands out for its Parisian inspired garden and charming rooms with decorative fireplaces.
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Where the Twin Towers once stood is today home to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
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Suspended above the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, this promenade offers skyline views of Manhattan.
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Brooklyn Bridge, dating back to 1883, is one of New York's most iconic landmarks.
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The Whitney Museum of American Art moved from the Upper East Side to its new location in the Meatpacking District in 2015.
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A combination of piers, riverside paths, grassy lawns, and playgrounds for kids make up Hudson River Park.
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