The past decade has seen the West Side of Manhattan forever changed by the construction of the Hudson Yards real estate development and the High Line public park. These two attractions have transformed this once-industrial corner of New York, with the High Line in particular becoming in hardly any time at all one of the city’s most popular destinations. Many visitors to New York City will absolutely want to make time to explore these attractions, and ExperienceFirst’s Hudson Yards and High Line Tour (with an optional upgrade for the Edge observation deck) is an enjoyable guided walking tour that will allow them to do just that in an organized, engaging fashion.
Hudson Yards and High Line Background Information
Ever since the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s West Side Yard was completed as a storage facility for Long Island Rail Road commuter trains in 1987, various parties vied for the right to build a real estate development on a platform above the site (which is located between West 30th and 33rd Streets, and 10th and 12th Avenues). After significant debate and numerous failed proposals, ground broke here on what would become the Hudson Yards megadevelopment in late 2012. Even as approximately $25 billion has already been spent on the infrastructure and buildings standing today, multiple additional structures and supplemental phases of development remain in the works.
The urban planning success story of the High Line is well known and much-celebrated, but it certainly bears repeating. The West Side Elevated Line was a stretch of railroad tracks built here in the 1930s in an attempt to protect pedestrians from the dangers of train crossings at street level. When these elevated tracks fell into disrepair in recent decades, a coalition of local citizens and business leaders joined together to transform the disused eyesores into something special. The result was the High Line, a unique green space full of art, botanical specimens, photo-friendly views, and more.
What to See on the Hudson Yards and High Line Walking Tour
ExperienceFirst’s Hudson Yards and High Line tour departs daily at 2:30pm from right in front of the Vessel sculpture at the heart of the Hudson Yards development. The first stop on your itinerary is the Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, an elaborate shopping mall located at 10th Avenue and 33rd Street. The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards comprise roughly 750,000 square feet of retail space populated by a who’s-who of anchor tenants like Cartier, Chanel, Dior, and Fendi, to name just a few of the luxury brands that call the complex home.
From there you’ll learn more about the massive Hudson Yards project itself. Attempts to redevelop the area date back almost three-quarters of a century, with the first large-scale proposals emerging in the 1950s. Other notable projects once earmarked for the Hudson Yards neighborhood that never got off the ground include a new stadium for the New York Yankees, an arena that would serve as the primary site of a Summer Olympics, and a new home for the National Football League’s New York Jets.
To date the actual Hudson Yards development that has come to fruition numbers six buildings and has cost some $25 billion, funds drawn largely from private investment, public infrastructure projects, and assorted tax breaks. Your ExperienceFirst tour will grant you an up-close-and-personal look at all six of these buildings before heading to the High Line, whose current northern terminus is located nearby. Constructed on the remains of disused elevated railroad tracks, the High Line is a 1.5-mile-long park full of lovely gardens, striking art installations, and unforgettable views of New York City. Since its opening in 2009, it has become one of Manhattan’s most popular attractions.
ExperienceFirst’s Hudson Yards and High Line Tour concludes by offering guests the opportunity to upgrade their excursion to include admission to Edge, a cutting-edge observation deck found 100 floors and approximately 1,100 above ground. Here you’ll be able to enjoy breathtaking views in all directions. Though not yet as well known as several of Manhattan’s other observation decks, many observers believe Edge possesses some of the city’s best views.
Tips for Taking the Hudson Yards and High Line Walking Tour
- Hudson Yards and High Line Tour is included on several money saving tourist passes including the New York Pass, Go NY All-Inclusive Pass and NY Explorer Pass
- Please be advised that if the weather is potentially inclement, the tour meeting place will be directly inside the main entrance to the Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards, which can be found right across from the Vessel.
- ExperienceFirst’s Hudson Yards and High Line Tour does not run throughout the months of January and February. However, they do still offer a High Line and Chelsea Walking Tour during this time period, so if you’re visiting New York City after the turn of the year and you have your heart set on a guided tour of the High Line and its immediate surroundings, there are options available to you.
- You may cancel or alter your Hudson Yards and High Line Tour at any point up to 24 hours before its scheduled departure time without incurring a financial penalty.