The High Line is quite simply one of the nicest walks in New York City. Constructed atop an abandoned rail freight line, it traverses one mile of Manahattan's lower west side from 30th Street to south of 14th. Beautifully landscaped and maintained, it has been called an urban oasis. And it is.
As an out-of-towner I stumbled upon The High Line by doing an Internet search of New York attractions. I enjoy walking so The High Line seemed to fit the bill. After a four-hour drive from Baltimore, cross into Manhattan and find West Street. Once there it is fairly easy to navigate to 30th Street and find parking. You climb the stairs and almost instantly you get the feeling that The High Line is something special. There are groves of trees and meadows up here. There are flowers and foliage. There are fountains, and an amphitheater for street viewing. The people-watching is spectacular. There are people sitting on benches eating lunch, and vendors selling it. There are strollers, sunbathers, and lovers too.
I am a big fan of walking in New York. There is an energy that the streets seem to exude. The purposeful people, the impatient traffic, and the busy-ness of the scene is captivating. On The High Line you are aware of the energy below on the street, you have ample opportunity to observe, but you are above it all in sort of a zone of Zen. What a difference a couple dozen feet in altitude makes! There is no traffic up here, no walk signs, and almost no noise.
Walk along and feel as though you a slow freight train trundling through the city. It is not so difficult to imagine. The rails of the former freight line form some of the walking surface of the deck. Pass through a building, make a stop to check out the vendors and continue on your way. I am a little too young but I imagine that for those having observed trains here, this walk is a special thrill.
Walking The High Line will in your imagination take you to another place if you let it. It is easy to forget that big deadline at work, or the bill that's due, or that fight with your girlfriend, or all the other stresses and strains of your life. At least for a little while.
Isn't that great?
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