Hudson River Park

Hudson River Park stretches 3 miles along the Hudson River from 59th Street in Hell's Kitchen down to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. It runs through Chelsea, the Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village and Tribeca.

It's a popular Manhattan destination thanks to its sweeping views of the Hudson River, the Manhattan skyline and the New Jersey waterfront.

This is one New York park I'd tell you to walk end to end, so you can take in the contrasts between the neighborhoods you pass through. You'll probably be surprised by what turns up along the way (I certainly was when I ran into a nuclear submarine right in the middle of New York City!).

Attractions in Hudson River Park

Hudson River Park is only a couple of decades old. It began as a project to revitalize the neglected Hudson River waterfront and create more green space for the city and its residents.

Improvements are still underway and new attractions keep opening. Here are the ones you shouldn't miss as a visitor, listed from south to north:

Tribeca Upland

This is a raised area at 395 West Street, in Tribeca. The gardens are full of native plants, and it's a great spot for panoramic Hudson River views and a rest after all that walking around New York.

Pier 34

A pier that's hugely popular with runners and a prime place to watch the sunset. You'll find it at 334 West Street, in the Chelsea neighborhood.

Gansevoort Peninsula

Gansevoort Peninsula is still under construction. Along with other recreation areas, it will have beaches. It sits at 14th Street, in the Meatpacking District.

Little Island

A park within the park, Little Island floats on the Hudson River and is one of the most visited new attractions in Manhattan.

It's at 13 West Street, also in the Meatpacking District and very close to the High Line Park.

Chelsea Piers

It isn't a tourist spot, but this huge sports complex at 23 West Street is important enough to mention. Its facilities even include an ice skating rink that's open year round.

Pier 66a

This pier is at 26 West Street, in Chelsea. It's home to the famous floating bar Frying Pan (open only in the warm months, check the details on their website).

Pier 83

This pier is at 42nd Street, in Hell's Kitchen. It's the departure point for many sightseeing cruises on the Hudson River included with the New York Pass.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (Pier 86)

This fascinating floating museum is at Pier 86, at 46th Street. You can walk the deck of a genuine World War II aircraft carrier, step inside a nuclear submarine that patrolled Russian coasts during the missile crisis, or see the first space shuttle.

If you love planes and ships as much as I do, you have to go.

Must-see attractions near Hudson River Park

There are several popular Manhattan attractions right near Hudson River Park, including:

• The High Line Park: an elevated park built on a disused elevated rail line.
• The Whitney Museum: home to a thorough collection of works by American artists.
• Chelsea Market: an old market building reborn as a food hall with boutique shops.
• The World Trade Center: where you can visit the observatory at One WTC, the tallest skyscraper in NYC, and the 9/11 Memorial on the site where the Twin Towers once stood.
• Hudson Yards: the new New York neighborhood everyone's talking about, with the Edge observation deck and the Vessel sculpture.

Do you need any more reasons to walk the whole length of Hudson River Park? 😜