What’s new in New York

New York! The City that never sleeps and the most visited city in the USA. It is truly one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and there is a lot to see and do in New York. in this post I am going to stick to What’s new in New York

About New York

A melting pot of American and world culture there is something special about this city. Whether you are a tourist or a local there is something for every budget, style and taste but above all the centre of all the limelight is Manhattan. With a hidden gem around every corner of Manhattan, it can keep you occupied for hours and days.

Did you know it was originally named as New Amsterdam by the early Dutch settlers and later changed to York after the British Duke of York in 1664? 

It is the most diverse and populated city in America and is made up of five different boroughs – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.

With residents from every part of the Globe New York is truly a world class city and one to add on your bucket.

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Things to see in New York

You cannot think about New York without the beautiful Art Deco style skyscrapers that are synonymous with this city but the heartbeat of this city is Times Square.  

I always make it a point to visit Times Square at least once on every visit. This is followed by a walk around the concrete jungle admiring the Empire State and the other Building.

Take a walk along 5^th Avenue followed by the breath taking views of Manhattan from the Observation Deck of the Rockefeller Centre. 

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You can go on and on about the things to see and do in New York but in this post I wanted to talk about What’s new in New York

The 3 new attractions in New York

• The Vessel @ the Hudson Yard
• The High Line.
• The Oculus @ the World Trade Centre.

The Vessel – What’s new in New York

The latest kid on the block, The Vessel was unveiled to the public in March 201.

The Vessel is the centre piece of Hudsons Yard, the most expensive and largest real estate projects in American history.

It is a honeycombed shaped flight of stairs designed by the famous British designer Thomas Heatherwick. The Vessel consists of 154 flights of stairs that lead you to the top of the structure giving you some phenomenal views of the Hudson River and West side Manhattan.

From the first piece of the design being laid out to the completion it took six years to plann, design and complete the Vessel. It is more like a three dimensional park in the air.

The structure stands out between the tall buildings around it and your first view of it is just wow.

The Vessel has been criticised by some but loved by the many and is the new place to visit on the NYC tourist trial.

There is a lot to do and see around the Hudson Yards complex and you can easily spend a few hours here. You can visit one of the many restaurants or grab something from the food hall or simply enjoy the Public Square Gardens.

There is a high end shopping mall where you can spend your cash in true New York style. 

How to get tickets for the Vessel.

Reservations can be made online to climb the giant steps of the Vessel or you can try your luck at the ticket counter at the yard. It is free to the public, but tickets are required.

The tickets give you an hour long window to arrive in and there are no limits as to how much time you can spend on top of the sculpture.

Is there a disabled lift in the Vessel? There are facilities for disabled access via a lift.

If you are looking to visit New York then make sure you add this to your list of things to do in New York.

Climb the soaring spiral staircase and enjoy those remarkable views from the top of the Vessel.

• Advance Tickets: Free on-line tickets available for two week time periods
• Same-Day Tickets: Upon arrival, speak with a Vessel Ambassador in the Public Square and Gardens
• Opening timings – Monday-Sunday: 10:00am-9:00pm

Get all the details @ The Vessel

The High Line – What’s new in New York

When the sun is shining, a walk along the cities new green space is the perfect way to enjoy it. What is the High Line? The High Line is an elevated freight train line transformed into a public park on Manhattans Westside.

The Line was saved from demolition by neighborhood residents and was transformed into a public space where visitors could experience nature, art, and design.

It is owned by the City of New York and maintained and operated by the Friends of the High Line a nonprofit organization in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

The High Line originates at the Lower West Side of Manhattan and runs from Gansevoort Street to the Meatpacking District and is roughly 1.45 miles long.

It is not too far from the Hudson Yard so you can either start your trip with the Vessel and follow on to the High Line like we did or the other way around.

How long does it take to walk the entire High Line in NYC? It takes roughly 30 minutes to walk the entire stretch of the park where you can take photos and admire the green spaces.

The design of the highline is inspired by the self-seeded landscape that normally grew between the rail tracks. The High Line now has roughly 500 species of shrubs, plants and grasses all adaptable to this surrounding.

There is a lot of work done by the public and the friends of the high line including planting and maintaining the gardens on a voluntary basis.

There are various event held throughout the year and this keeps the High Line buzzing and busy long after the trains have stopped yet the lines are alive.

For details of event and info visit @ The High Line NYC.

Visit the Oculus – What’s new in New York

The original World Trade Centre station first opened in July 1909 and was known as the Hudson Terminal. It was later bought by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and re branded as the PATH during the construction of the World Trade Centre.

Following the 9/11 tragedy a temporary station was opened in 2003 until the World Trade Centre Complex was being rebuilt. Finally in 2016 the new station house known as the Oculus was opened and World Trade Centre Transportation Hub was reinstated to its formal glory.

About the Oculus.

The Oculus was designed by Santiago Calatrava. It consist of white ribs that interlock high above the ground giving it that absolutely stunning appearance. The design inspired by a child releasing a dove and is a architectural marvel both above and below the ground.

What is the Oculus? Built at a whopping $3.9 million it is a transportation hub and services more than 4 lines. It houses the famous Westfield Shopping Mall as well.

The Oculus leads you to the World Trade Centre Museum and the memorial ground where the original World Trade Centre stood tall.

One of the most stunning features of the Oculus is the Way of Light.

The Way of light happens every year on 9/11 when the sun shines through the opening, bringing light to the bustling WTC transit center below.

Santiago designed the Oculus in a way that allows sunlight to cross the floor, directly along the axis of the building.

This is a great place to spend a few hours and marvel at the architectural splendour of both the Oculus and the new tower as well.

If you want to visit the museum please buy tickets in advance due to the long queues.

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If you are heading to New York soon dont forget to visit The Vessel and The High line in New York.

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If you do enjoy your Ramen don’t forget to visit one of the best Ramen place in NYC – Ivan Ramen. Featured on the famous Chef’s Table on Netflix read all about the magic of Ramen. The traveller @ Ivan Ramen.

Hope you enjoyed reading about – What’s new in New York