A trip to New York means making choices, because in America’s largest city there is an infinite amount to see and experience. Even if you have been there several times, you can always discover different things.
New places are also popping up in the Big Apple – a very densely populated city. Built on the few nooks and crannies that are still open or parts of the city are reborn after a thorough renovation. And otherwise the New Yorkers will come up with a creative solution to their desire to build.
Such as the Hudson Yards district in Manhattan, which was officially opened this year. The gigantic project, which cost $ 25 billion, was built on top of a still-functioning New York subway marshalling yard.
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The brand new district has shiny skyscrapers, a shopping center and the futuristic art center The Shed. But visitors are mainly drawn by The Vessel. This striking centerpiece of Huson Yards resembles a giant honeycomb, although many New Yorkers compare the copper structure to a doner kebab.
Once inside, it feels as if you have stepped into an artwork by Escher. The Vessel consists of 154 steps and 80 platforms, where you can look out over the city and the Hudson River. Admission is free, but it is advisable to reserve a spot in advance.
From March, daredevils can also visit The Edge, the highest open-air observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, for spectacular views. The triangular platform has a glass bottom and is located on the hundredth floor, at a height of no less than 344 meters.
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Many tourists take the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island to pass the Statue of Liberty for free. What few people know is that you can also take the ferry from the ferry terminal to Governors Island, the island that can be visited from May 1 to the end of October.
The crossing is only ten minutes, but you have suddenly ended up in a relaxed, green place from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The island underwent a major transformation from the mid-1990s and has been open to the public since 2005, before that it was an army camp and coast guard station. This was once the only Burger King in America that served beer.
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The Burger King is gone, but better things have taken its place. There are various food trucks on the island, but the best is Island Oyster. This restaurant is located right next to the ferry and from the spacious terrace you have a great view of Manhattan.
After a good lunch you can explore the island on foot or by bicycle. There is a fort, historic houses, an urban farm, but also fifty hammocks to relax in. If you can’t get enough of Governors Island, you can also sleep in luxury tents. Not cheap, but magical.
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Refurbished classics
In addition to new hotspots, New York also takes care of old acquaintances.
Liberty Island attracts 4.5 million visitors annually. Only 7% of them can actually enter the crown of the Statue of Liberty, because those tickets are sold out far in advance. 20% of the visitors can sit on the pedestal. The rest walked around the image and then went back again.
Until last year, because the freely accessible Statue of Liberty Museum opened in May 2019. Highlights include the eight-minute video telling the story of Lady Liberty and the original 1884 torch on display in the museum.
Coney Island is a peninsula south of Brooklyn. A place that is certainly worth the long metro ride in the summer. The attraction is the boulevard with the beach on one side and the Luna Park amusement park on the other. Here you can from April back on the Ferris wheel that has been making rounds since 1920 and eat the famous hot dog from Nathan’s Famous.
The look of Coney Island is a curious mix of nostalgia, past glory and potential. After the havoc left by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the district has now recovered. The annual Mermaid Parade is growing in popularity, as are the local beers. And there are still many changes to come, because project developers are busy building and from next year there will also be a ferry.
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Seaport District, also known as South Street Seaport, is a historic piece of New York. The Dutch West India Company settled here in 1625 and since then there has been plenty of trade in the port area. The architecture and atmosphere is completely different from the adjacent Financial District with all its modern buildings. In Seaport you will find old stone houses and even some cobbled streets, where many shops and restaurants can now be found.
Hurricane Sandy also caused a lot of damage here eight years ago. The shopping district was lost for a while until real estate developer Howard Hughes Corporation bought the place and went through it with a broom. Now you will find young, creative companies and the more luxurious shops, such as SJP boutique, Sarah Jessica Parker’s shoe store.
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In addition to shops, there is also no shortage of trendy restaurants and entertainment. Certainly not if you walk a little further to the water and end up at Pier 17. Here is a newly built boardwalk – called Heineken River Deck – where you drink beers while looking at the Brooklyn Bridge. In the winter you can skate on the roof of Pier 17. Concerts and movie nights are organized in summer. And here again a fantastic view over the city where something is always happening.
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For this article, our editor traveled to New York at the invitation of NYC & Company and hotel The Benjamin. The content of the article has been determined editorially independently.
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