No matter how well you know New York and whether you’ve been there 15 or 20 times, this city is always a real pleasure and, what’s more, you always discover new things there, as it is overflowing with treasures and constantly renewing itself.
For us, this trip was not intended as a tourist visit, but rather an opportunity to spend time between friends for a weekend. So rather than a real tour of the city, we set off on a spontaneous walk, letting intuition and memories guide us, especially since it was during a stroll through Manhattan about ten years ago that the idea of Travelguys was born, even though we had only met on the plane a few hours earlier.
At the bottom of the page you will find the summary of the articles about this trip to Boston, New York and New Orleans.
Some background information before we begin. If there was one thing that struck us during this short weekend, it was the calm that had descended on the city. Having experienced New York teeming with locals and tourists, which is how I have always known it, it came as a real surprise. A pleasant surprise, because it made the walks and visits all the more enjoyable, but a surprise all the same.
One possible reason? A number of tourists visibly in free fall. Unlike a few years ago, it was not as common to hear French, Italian or even Spanish in the streets. Moreover, booking a restaurant at the last minute was absolutely no problem. There were no queues at the World Trade Center or the Top of the Rock either.
The reason? We would go so far as to say that the prices charged are putting off more and more people.
- Central Park and the surrounding area
- Staten Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline
- The High Line
- The Vessel
- Times Square
- Top Of The Rock
- Grand Central
- Madison Square Park
- Washington Square Park
- Civic Center
- World Trade Center
- Bottom line
- The articles about this trip to Boston, New York and New Orleans.
Central Park and the surrounding area
How could we not mention Central Park, which was the first place we went to?
Created in 1857, it covers approximately 341 hectares and offers a variety of vast lawns, forests, lakes and paths.
The park includes several notable sites such as Bethesda Terrace, with its iconic fountain, Bow Bridge, the lake for boat rides, and the Central Park Zoo. It is also home to cultural spaces such as the Delacorte Theater, an open-air theater where Shakespeare in the Park performances are held.
In the immediate vicinity of the park are major cultural sites, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the east and the Museum of Natural History to the west. The adjacent neighborhoods include the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side, known for their residential buildings and cultural offerings. Central Park is a popular recreational area for locals and visitors alike, offering a break from the dense environment of Manhattan.
Staten Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline
Meet up in the south the next morning to see the Statue of Liberty and take some photos of the famous skyline. Unless this is your first visit here and you absolutely want to see the statue up close and take the opportunity to visit Ellis Island, there’s no need to waste your time and money queuing: the free ferry that connects Manhattan to Staten Island will give you exactly the same views.
Too bad the weather has clouded over a bit.
Once back, we will walk back to the World Trade Center, which will be visited in detail the following day, ending with a long stroll through the greenery of Manhattan that will take us back to Midtown.
The High Line
We took this walk on the High Line, the only place where we saw a certain number of people.
Inspired by the Coulée Verte in Paris, this is an urban park built on a former elevated railway line in New York. Approximately 2.3 km long, it crosses the Meatpacking District, Chelsea and Hudson Yards neighborhoods in western Manhattan. The project, initiated in the 2000s, transformed this disused infrastructure into an open landscaped public space.
The park combines plantings, works of art and views of the city and the Hudson River. Its elevated layout offers a pedestrian path with benches and relaxation areas. It passes by art galleries, the Whitney Museum and the Chelsea Market. It thus offers beautiful views of many neighborhoods.
The High Line has contributed to the development of the neighborhood with the establishment of new buildings and shops. Its success has made it a model for urban renewal.
The Vessel
The Vessel is an architectural structure located in Hudson Yards, north of the High Line. Designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick and inaugurated in 2019, it is a lattice monument made up of 154 interconnected flights of stairs, forming a honeycomb structure.
The building is approximately 45 meters high and offers views of Hudson Yards and the Hudson River. Initially designed as an interactive attraction allowing visitors to climb and explore its different levels, it has unfortunately been closed to ascent for safety reasons.
Times Square
A symbol of the city that never goes out for some, the height of bad taste for others, we couldn’t help but push a little further, as far as Times Square. The place no longer has the effect on us that it may have had when we first discovered the city, and as far as I’m concerned, I think I prefer what it was like in the 90s.
An iconic crossroads in the city, located at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue, between 42nd and 47th Streets, the place is known for its illuminated signs and advertising. It remains a major center of entertainment and tourism, but one that you quickly tire of.
The neighborhood is associated with the entertainment industry, particularly thanks to the Broadway theaters, and also hosts major events such as the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, the annual New Year’s celebration.
Top Of The Rock
The next morning, we start at the Top of the Rock, an observatory at the top of Rockefeller Center in New York. It occupies the top floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, an Art Deco skyscraper built in the 1930s.
After the tragic events of 2001, it was opened as an alternative to the Empire State Building as the only observation deck, and I find it infinitely more pleasant.
At the end of the visit, take the opportunity to enjoy the Rockefeller Center, where the famous skating rink takes pride of place in winter.
Grand Central
Let’s head south and stop at the city’s most iconic station.
Located in the heart of Manhattan, at the intersection of 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Inaugurated in 1913, it is a major commuter rail transportation center and a symbol of Beaux-Arts architecture.
The main hall is famous for its ceiling, which is decorated with a fresco depicting a celestial map. The opal clock in the center of the hall is an iconic landmark.
The station also has underground passages, shops and restaurants, including the Grand Central Oyster Bar, a historic property that was unfortunately closed when we visited, as we would have loved to have dined there.
It was saved from demolition in the 1970s thanks to a mobilization led in particular by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Madison Square Park
We wander a little further south and, after passing the Flatiron Building hidden by scaffolding, we take a break in Madison Square Park.
It covers approximately 2.5 hectares and offers a green space surrounded by buildings such as the Flatiron Building.
The park is laid out with paths, lawns and sculptures, some of which are part of temporary public art programs. It also hosts cultural and gastronomic events. One of its points of interest is the original Shake Shack, a burger stand turned popular chain where Olivier won’t fail to fill up on calories.
Washington Square Park
Further south still, we come to Washington Square Park.
It covers approximately 4 hectares and is organized around its central feature, the Washington Square Arch, a triumphal arch built in 1892 to celebrate the centenary of the inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States.
The park is known for its lively atmosphere, attracting students, artists and musicians, largely thanks to its proximity to New York University (NYU). It also has a large fountain, play areas and pétanque and chess courts.
Historically, Washington Square Park has been a gathering place for social and cultural movements. Today, it remains a place to relax and an important meeting point in the heart of Greenwich Village.
Civic Center
After, once again, a long walk through NoHo, Soho and China Town, you arrive at the Civic Center.
This is a neighborhood that is home to numerous administrative and judicial buildings. It is notably home to New York City Hall, the seat of the city council since the beginning of the 19th century, as well as several courts, including the United States Courthouse and the New York County Supreme Court.
It also has government buildings such as the Municipal Building, a massive Beaux-Arts structure that houses several municipal agencies. Foley Square, in the center of the district, is a public space surrounded by judicial institutions and used for rallies and demonstrations.
World Trade Center
After a little more walking, you will arrive at the World Trade Center, the last stop on the tour.
Rebuilt after the 2001 attacks, it includes several skyscrapers, a memorial, a museum and a transport station.
At the center of the site are the Memorial Pools, two water basins located on the site of the destroyed twin towers. Their cascading walls and the names of the victims engraved on the edges are a tribute to the missing persons.
Nearby, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum traces the history of the events and their consequences.
One World Trade Center, also known as Freedom Tower, is the tallest skyscraper on the site and houses an observatory offering a panoramic view of the city. Other office towers and public spaces complete the complex.
I don’t know what to think. Yes, the view is worth it, but the experience of this new observatory will never be the same as that of its predecessor, if only because the latter was on a terrace.
I had always been reluctant to go there, now I know why but it may be the memory of the old WTC that is clouding my judgment.
Further on, the Oculus is a transport station integrated into the complex. Its wing-shaped design evokes a bird in flight and houses a shopping center.
The Oculus also serves as a connection point for the subway lines and trains connecting Manhattan to New Jersey.
At that time, an exhibition of statues was taking place on the site.
Titled “Wildlife Wonders”, it presented a monumental sculpture 36 feet long representing a bronze octopus, the largest in the world, surrounding various endangered animal species.
Bottom line
New York will always be a destination of choice, whether for a first or a twentieth visit. The difference is that over time you stop visiting it in order to experience it better.
A stroll with no other objective than to chat as you walk, which should in no way serve as a basis for organizing a stay at the risk of missing out on a lot of things, but proof that you can enjoy the Big Apple without planning anything and letting your steps guide you.
The articles about this trip to Boston, New York and New Orleans.
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