The High Line
"The High Line is a 1.45-mile elevated linear park built on a historic freight rail line 30 feet above street level. It weaves through buildings from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards, featuring native plantings, public art, and unique city perspectives. It's a masterpiece of adaptive reuse and landscape architecture that transformed a rusted rail line into one of NYC's most popular parks."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Modern, elevated
Duration
1 hour
Best For
Walking
The Backstory
Built in the 1930s for freight trains serving meatpacking and manufacturing, the rail line fell into disuse by 1980. Slated for demolition, local activists saved it in 1999. Landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations converted it to a park (2009-2014). It sparked massive gentrification and real estate development in Chelsea.
Local Secret
"Enter at Gansevoort Street (southern end) and walk north to avoid crowds walking in reverse. Go early morning (7am) or late evening for fewer tourists. The best views are near 23rd Street overlooking the city. Free tours are offered some days. Skip the overpriced Chelsea Market and eat elsewhere. Combine with Whitney Museum (at southern end)."