In the lower far West Side of Manhattan is a very artsy, contemporary neighborhood called Chelsea. This area has been commercialized as a prominent gay scene; many young people consider it an outdated area.

However, walking around the streets, you will stumble not only upon a colony of art galleries, but also designer showrooms and studios run by aspiring and top artists.
The walls of buildings around Chelsea explode with the colors of clearly promising talent, making the area quite a work of art in itself.

Located next to the Hudson River, this community goes from the famed Chelsea Market to the Meatpacking District, with quaint cafés, the Chelsea Piers, flea markets, hip bars, vintage stores and more along the way.

One of my favorite spots around Chelsea is The High Line, the development of which has certainly attracted more visitors. This elevated rail line transformed into a public park has a unique touch.
Saved from demolition, the structure of the historic railroad track has been redesigned in such a way that anyone can stroll from any point between Gansevoort Street to 34th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues).

Open to the public, the park allows visitors to enjoy the architecture, as well as the benches, statues, wall art, gardens, works being made by artists, and even the structure of the track itself.

The popular public park has nine different access points; you can imagine how grand it is.
On my first time in the park, I took the entrance on 26th Street since it was right next to the office where I was an intern. I enjoyed a lovely afternoon with my mom and a family friend as we walked The High Line all the way to the 34th street.

A tunnel between West 15 and 18 Streets also has been converted into a section for food vendors. The meal options go from savory to salty, with freshly brewed coffee, ice cream sandwiches and more.

On a day when it isn’t too crowded, The High Line is a perfect location for lunch or coffee break, to just enjoy a good conversation with a friend, or simply to savor the ambiance and delightful view.

Visit www.thehighline.org, www.facebook.com/thehighline; follow @highlinenyc on Twitter.
E-mail the author at [email protected]; follow @nicolethorp on Twitter and Instagram.