Our tour of the highlights of Manhattan, New York City, USA, begins in Central Park. We then ride along Fifth Avenue from Guggenheim Museum to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and afterwards enjoy the fantastic view from “Top of the Rock”, the observation deck of Rockefeller Center. Finally, we explore High Line, an extraordinary park built on the route of a former elevated railway.
Central Park is the green lung of New York and a haven of tranquility in the otherwise bustling metropolis. This world-famous park stretches between 59th and 110th Streets and 5th and 8th Avenues, forming a striking contrast to the surrounding skyscraper skyline. Designed in 1857 by landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it was the first large, landscaped public park in the USA and today covers approximately 341 hectares (843 acres). Expansive meadows like Sheep Meadow invite visitors to relax. Millions of years old rocks jut out of the ground, testifying to Manhattan’s hard bedrock. Central Park Mall, a roughly 400-meter-long (1500 ft) promenade lined with American elm trees, leads us to Bethesda Terrace with its “Angel of the Waters” fountain. The romantic Bow Bridge, a cast-iron pedestrian bridge dating from 1862, is also very well-known. We watch the rowboats on the man-made “The Lake.” And there are even turtles frolicking in the water!
Nearby is the Dakota Building, in front of which John Lennon was shot in 1980. In his memory, his wife, Yoko Ono, had Strawberry Fields created in the park. Over 120 countries donated plants for the place, which was conceived as an international peace garden. The centerpiece is the circular “Imagine” mosaic, a gift from the city of Naples and a magnet for fans from all over the world. We watch a man drape a bouquet of roses around the mosaic—a truly moving moment! Even after almost 50 years, John Lennon remains unforgettable.
We continue north to Vista Rock, the second highest natural elevation in the park, topped by Belvedere Castle, built in 1872. From this viewpoint, we have a beautiful view of Turtle Pond. Beyond it lies the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, the largest reservoir in the park.
At the reservoir’s east shore, we leave Central Park and head towards Fifth Avenue. At the Guggenheim Museum, the circular building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright with its characteristic spiral ramp, we board a bus and ride along Fifth Avenue towards Midtown. Fifth Avenue is one of the most expensive streets in the world and, especially in Midtown Manhattan, a renowned luxury shopping destination. We get off at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and take a look inside the impressive neo-Gothic cathedral.
And then it’s time for Top of the Rock! The observation deck of Rockefeller Center is located at a height of approximately 260 meters (850 ft) and offers fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline. To the north, Central Park lies at our feet, framed by the skyscrapers of Manhattan. To the south, we have a breathtaking view of the Empire State Building and Lower Manhattan, all the way to the Statue of Liberty. The views towards the East River and Brooklyn, as well as westward to the Hudson River and New Jersey, are also beautiful!
Not far from the Hudson River lies our final destination. The High Line is an extraordinary park built on the route of a former elevated railway. Constructed in 1934, this freight railway line through the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, and Hudson Yards was decommissioned in 1980 and, after decades of stagnation and decay, transformed into a public park. In many places, the old tracks have been preserved and incorporated into the landscaping. The park also serves as an open-air gallery with rotating art exhibitions. We stroll along the former railway line at a height of approximately 9 meters (30 ft). Above us are the modern skyscrapers of Hudson Yards, such as the iconic “Edge”. Vessel, the architectural landmark of Hudson Yards, is also just around the corner. And from the northwest end of the High Line, we have a wonderful view of the Hudson Yards skyscrapers.
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The complete channel playlist for our trip to New York can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJEw93joUmr637Hy9ZMY-VFlqMqGTsuR
The complete channel playlist for our trip to the USA can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlJEw93joUmqrzH5wKxY3tGOgxqCeQNdu
Trip in June 2024
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:47 Central Park
08:14 Guggenheim Museum
09:00 Fifth Avenue Bus Ride
11:08 St. Patrick’s Cathedral
12:10 Rockefeller Center
13:25 Top of the Rock
16:58 High Line and Hudson Yards
20:53 Outro
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