Recently, we have had amazing weather. (Side note: Except for on weekends. Since last summer, it has rained here on most weekends.) At a minimum of 20°C, I want to spend as much time as possible outside and soak up all the sun and fresh air. I have tried to switch up our afternoons, after we pick up Josephine from daycare. Her current daycare ends at 3 p.m. and is close to Union Square. That means we have a few hours together in the afternoon, and we are over on the West Side. Turns out, the High Line is only two blocks away from that daycare.
I love the High Line for several reasons: It is a very cool park on the previous, elevated tracks of the New York Central Railroad. From there, you have an amazing view at different parts of Manhattan. Besides, the greenway connects the Meatpacking District with Chelsea and the Hudson Yards in Midtown West. Walking there feels save to me because my toddler cannot accidentally stray or escape. There aren’t any vehicles at all, not even kids’ scooters.
Moreover, Josephine loves the High Line because of all the plants and artwork on display. She can spend forever just looking at all of them or playing with old leaves on the ground. Right now, her favorite art piece are the fish sculptures called “What If They Bark” by Cosima von Bonin.
Ophelia, of course, is still too small to have favorites. She enjoys looking around from her stroller, or often just a good nap in the open air.
I also love the architecture around the High Line. There are so many new buildings there. To me, they fit the industrial style of the West Side so well. Although I am not sure that I would want to live there because of all of us looking right into those apartments.
Because of all those buildings, there is also a good amount of shade on the High Line. Looking at how quickly temperatures have risen over the last few weeks, it is actually very pleasant to not be in the bright sun too much.
We usually enter at Gansevoort Street where the elevator always works. And we exit at the Hudson Yards from where we can take the 7 subway home to the East Side. That also means that, on good days, Josephine walks about 20 extra blocks – and I get to enjoy a physically tired toddler.
Still, I wish that more of the High Line’s elevators worked. Out of the 5 elevators between Gansevoort Street and the Hudson Yards, at least 3 are usually out of service (one is being renovated, but still …). That, unfortunately, doesn’t make the High Line as easily accessible for us with a big double stroller. At least, it always requires a proper planning from my side.
