Art, food, and play—what family wouldn’t love Chelsea?
The Endless Food Options
If there’s one phrase that should never be uttered in Chelsea it’s “there’s nothing good to eat here.” With more than 25 different food options, Chelsea Market has anything and everything a person could want to eat, all in one place. Whether it’s authentic Mexican food from LOS TACOS No. 1 or vegan sushi at Beyond Sushi to the Doughnuttery’s bite-sized doughnut treats and Sarabeth’s brunch, Chelsea Market has endless choices—even your picky eaters will find something to eat. In the mood for a less crowded scene? Right down the road is Gansevoort Market’s new location. The market’s vendors are still changing but currently include Chick’nCone, which, true to its name, serves different types of chicken in a waffle cone, and Gotham Poke, a modern take on the classic Hawaiian poke meal.
The Incredible Views
Since it officially opened in 2014, the High Line has quickly become a city hot spot. This elevated park, built on an old railroad track, is the perfect place to walk around and explore. Take a stroll along the tracks or sit and have picnic in one of the various seating areas along the path. In addition to the gorgeous landscape, the High Line has an always-changing array of art, from murals to sculpture installations, scattered throughout the park. Chelsea is also home to a number of piers, such as Pier 63 and Pier 64. Both piers share a large, open grass space, great for families to spread out a blanket and catch some sun while enjoying the view of the Hudson River.
The Perfect Play Areas
If your kids are in the mood for some indoor fun, Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex is full of hours of activities. From basketball and soccer to rock climbing and gymnastics, there are endless ways to keep your child (and yourself!) occupied. Chelsea Piers offers youth programs all year in almost all common sports, including soccer, basketball, and hockey, has plenty of drop-in activities, and lots of space to hold group events such as birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, and corporate team building. Other places in the area for kids to run around and have fun include Chelsea Waterside Play Area in Hudson River Park, Chelsea Park, and Clement Clarke Moore Park.
The Hours of Art and Culture
Chelsea is known as one of the centers of Manhattan’s art scene, and there are plenty of museums and galleries across the neighborhood to prove it. For fashion loving children, The Museum at FIT has ever-changing exhibits showcasing different styles and textiles from different cultures throughout history, and a more permanent collection of garments and accessories from iconic fashion figures such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. For contemporary art, the David Zwirner Gallery is full of sculptures and installations. There are plenty of unique art museums and galleries throughout Chelsea, including the Rubin Museum of Art, which is dedicated to preserving Himalayan and Tibetan art.
Main image: Street art spotted while walking along the High Line
Jaime Bonchick
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