I started my day of exploring the Hudson River of New York City at Hudson Yards.  Just outside the subway station is the famed Vessel. While I was unable to climb the structure as it was still closed to the public, I enjoyed watching the sunlight glint off the metal, marveling at the shape and size of the structure. 

Just underneath the Vessel stood a large screen which was broadcasting the Olympics. I happened to be there during the finals of the women’s basketball game, so I grabbed one of the empty beach chairs provided to cheer along with the other spectators. Called the Backyard at Hudson Yards, it looks like this screen is a staple of this community space that hosts movie nights, other live games, yoga classes and live concerts.

Next to Hudson Yards is easy access to one of my favorite places in the city: The High Line.  Since it opened in 2009, I have visited it on every trip I take to the city; and every time I go, it seems that they’ve added something to it.  Whether it’s the extension around the Hudson Yards transportation hub or the art installations along the 1.5 mile walkway, each time I enjoy both the familiar and the new.  The architecture of the benches, pieces of the original train tracks, site specific art installations, and graffiti facades of the surrounding buildings add depth to the walk. While the ornamental grasses, flowers, and shade trees soften the hard edges of the city. Raised above the streets of the city, the High Line gives a different perspective of the city. And while it feels a little voyeuristic at times, looking into the living spaces and studios along the walk also feels like I’m experiencing life beyond the curtain.  

Just below the southern end of the High Line is another favorite destination of mine: Chelsea Market. While the High Line is bright and airy, Chelsea Market is dark and moody.  The majority of the over 55 stores and eateries can be found in the lower level of the old Nabisco factory. I come here just as much for the visual experience of metal, water, and lighting features as I do for the shops.  From small produce stands to Asian art, from pop up fashion shops to taco stands, there’s always something new to discover.  This year I ate a few small bites because I wanted to check out the newer food hall across the street.

The large warehouse that houses the Market 57 is a stark contrast to the cramped space of Chelsea Market. Opened in 2023, Market 57 is run by the James Beard Foundation and focuses on healthy food. The food hall currently features a dozen kiosks with a wide variety of global cuisines. Attached to the food hall are lobby style lounging areas and access to outdoor dining along the river as well as a large rooftop patio.  On a warm day, the rooftop patio provided a nice breeze from the river and some decent shade options. There was also a small green space that a few people were using as a suntanning space.  

From Pier 57, Little Island is seen in all its quirky glory.  Held up by 132 tall white space-shaped vessels (named tulip pots), Little Island looks like it’s floating in space. The white concrete of the tulip pots contrast with the rust color of the steel barriers and green of the landscape.  Landscape architect Signe Nielsen wanted to make it look like a scene out of the Wizard of Oz, and I think that she succeeded in making me feel like I was transported away from the city.  Little Island was created in the wake of the destruction of Hurricane Sandy.  However, while Pier 55 has been completely rebuilt, the original pilings have purposefully been left in the water as a nod to the history of this space. After a few years of design and construction, Little Island opened to the public in 2021 as an immersive park space.  A central plaza with sail shades, interactive music and art installations, a waterfront amphitheater and winding trails make up this 2.4 space.   I enjoyed the experience of walking around the park; however, my plan to find a shady green spot to read for awhile was foiled as the only seating options on Little Island are the sunbaked amphitheater and the busy dining plaza.  Luckily I was able to find a place to do this later in the day. 

The next plan for the day was to rent a Citibike and bike along the Hudson River from Little Island to The Battery.  At this point it was early afternoon, and I figured that if I bought a 24 hour pass, I could use the bikes both this afternoon and the next morning.  

Citibikes have their pluses and minuses. Each ride needs to be under 30 minutes or the price will increase. As a tourist this worked fairly well as I wanted to stop and check out a few sights along the way; however, when I encountered a full parking rack, I worried that I wouldn’t be able to find another parking option nearby. Also, when some of the parking spots are broken, the mechanics don’t always let you park it at an adjacent spot (they want the bikes to be parked in the back spots before the front spots). Over the course of the 24 hour rental, I dealt with these parking issues a few times, but I was always able to find another place.  I did miss out on seeing one of the sights I wanted to see because I couldn’t find a spot at the nearest terminal, and I was too tired of walking at that point to walk back to it.  Overall, being able to bike around the city allowed me to explore more and gave me a glimpse into the life of the locals.  For instance, as I mentioned before I didn’t get to sit and read at Little Island, but I did take some time to stop and relax at Rockefeller Park. Here I joined locals having picnics, playing frisbee, watching a dance performance, and enjoying the breeze along the river. These “local” moments are always highlights of my trips. 

There is a nice bike path that parallels the Hudson River and is mostly off road. I appreciated that the bike path was separate from the walking path so that – for the most part – I didn’t have to worry about pedestrians on my ride.  The bike paths are supposed to be free of e-bikes, but I found that there were more e-bikes & scooters than manual bikes. I would love to see NYC establish a speed limit and regulate these lanes to keep bikers safe. 

One of the stops I made sure to add in was the 9/11 memorial.  I am of the age where 9/11 hits hard. I remember vividly that morning, and I understand the impact the event has had on our world. The empty expanse of the two memorial pools, which stand in the footprint of the two towers, is a powerful reminder of the magnitude of loss the country experienced on September 11, 2001. 

Overall, the World Trade Center area has transformed into a place of both remembrance and community building. Just outside of the memorial pools, the city hosts free movie showings, art installations, markets, and musical performances. The visually captivating structure of The Oculus is also part of this. Functionally, it is an underground transportation hub and shopping plaza. Architecturally, Santiago Calatrava designed the steel ribs and glass windows breaching the ground to represent a hand releasing a dove. Additionally, the building has been situated so that each September 11th from 8:46 to 10:28, the sun’s rays will light up the Oculus floor in remembrance. 

The last stop on my bike along the Hudson was the Staten Island Ferry.  I am a big fan of getting out on the water because it provides a different vantage point of the city. Because the Staten Island Ferry is free, it is always busy and the terminal can feel overwhelming.  However, since the ferry runs every half an hour (15 minutes during rush hours), it doesn’t take long to get onboard. During the 3.5 mile trip across the Hudson River, the ferry gives great views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.