The High Line may be all the rage these days, but one block away from that famous elevated green space, there stretches a five-mile-long ribbon of green that has dramatically transformed the city over the past decade. Covering 550 acres, and running from Battery Park at Manhattan's southern tip to 59th St in Midtown, the Hudson River Park is Manhattan's wondrous backyard. The long riverside path is a great spot for cycling, running and strolling.
Several boathouses (including one in Chelsea near W 26th, and another in the West Village near Houston) offer kayak hire and longer excursions for the more experienced. There's also beach volleyball, basketball courts, a skate park and tennis courts. Families with kids have loads of option including four sparkling playgrounds, a carousel (off W 22nd St), mini golf, and grassy piers for young legs to run free.
Those who simply need a break from the city, come here to loll on the grass for a bout of people-watching and river contemplation, while those seeking something less sedate can join the sangria- and sun-loving crowds at the dockside Frying Pan . The park is also a fine spot to come and watch the sunset. In the summer, the grassy lawns and converted piers host a wide range of free events from open-air film screenings and blues jams to dance parties and 'rumbles on the river' (featuring muay Thai kickboxing).
