High Line, Chelsea, Little Island, and Meatpacking District walking tour

Take a walk down one of the most unique parks in the world, the High Line. When Manhattan was a major trading port, a massive amount of raw goods were shipped up and down the west side daily. From the 19th century when ships crowded the harbor to the days of train tracks bisecting the cobblestone streets, to trucks, reliable transport has always been prioritized. Join me (a West Side native and former employee of the High Line!) for a journey along this historic elevated freight line which still passes through old buildings (including the one where the Oreo Cookie was invented) from the formerly slime coated streets of the Meatpacking District to the gleaming modern complex of Hudson Yards, learning about the past, present, and future of the West side. We'll discuss the industrial history of New York and the changing face of neighborhoods that have gone from seedy and dangerous to some of fanciest zip codes in the America! Learn from a native while enjoying the diverse plant species of this beautiful park.

Begin at the entrance to the Whitney Museum, before visiting the Little Island, NYC's newest park on a pier in the Hudson River. See the few remaining meat purveyors before venturing up into the elevated work of art that is the High Line. Learn about the environmentally sophisticated rain collection technology and native flora that makes for a gorgeous mile and a half long greenspace. Head north, passing art installations, local food vendors, and fancy new residential buildings, before stopping off at Chelsea Market for a stroll past some exciting shops and restaurants. Return to the High Line and continue north as it passes through buildings where trains once made deliveries, as you pass through the art galleries dotting western Chelsea. Arrive at the northern terminus of the park, Hudson Yards, a new, futuristic real estate complex and learn about the train yard that once dominated the area. Pass under The Vessel, a 150 foot tall sculptural attraction before finishing the tour.