Day Trip to New York, NY: 4th Visit

On our fourth and likely last visit to New York, NY, we visited the new 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan, the historic Meat Packing District, and the new High Line Park.

The 9/11 Memorial is a solemn place, as it should be. Where the original twin towers once stood, memorials are in place of what used to be each building's foundation. Somewhat adjacent to each memorial, the new towers rise, nearly completed as of this writing. The Survivor Tree, which survived the crashing towers, is also located on the memorial grounds.

The foundation where the north tower once stood.

Each memorial had the names of the victims etched in the granite slabs.

The Survivor Tree. This tree has survived the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 9/11 attacks, and several severe storms including the recent Hurricane Sandy. For that reason, it has become a symbol of hope in times of adversity.

From the 9/11 Memorial, we headed up 6th Avenue and West Street to the historic Meat Packing District. The Meat Packing District is one of several districts in Manhattan that has experienced growth, decline, and revitalization. The Meat Packing District features historic buildings mixed with new, sleek and stylish apartment buildings. The blocks within it have a variety of cafes and restaurants.

High Line Park used to be an elevated rail road that served business and industry in the area. After years of disuse, the elevated rail road was converted into one of the most unique parks we have visited. We accessed High Line Park at Gansevoort St. in the Meat Packing District.

The entire High Line Park is constructed on an old elevated railway.

The original railroad tracks remain. In this image, the tracks can be seen on the walkway on the right. At other points, the railway is covered with trees and other foliage.

Many buildings overlapped the elevated tracks. Underneath them, local vendors sold their products.