What to do in Hudson Yards, New York City {visiting The Edge and the Vessel}
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What to do in Hudson Yards with your family.
Hudson Yards in New York City has undergone significant change over the last few years. What used to be train storage for the MTA was reimagined as a luxury neighborhood with the anchor being the Hudson Yards Mall and the Vessel.
History of Hudson Yards in New York City
Building plans for Hudson Yards (the far west side between 30th street and 34th street) have been underway since the 1970s but was finally undertaken in 2009. A platform was built atop the train depot and the city gained 28 new acres of building space. The grand opening of Hudson Yards and the Vessel was in March of 2019.
The Vessel is a piece of artwork that is meant to be climbed. With 154 flights of stairs and 80 landings you have so many beautiful views of New York City and the Hudson River.
In 2020, Edge New York was completed and open for visitors. It is the tallest viewing platform in the Western Hemisphere and offers an unobstructed view of the Manhattan skyline.
How to get to Hudson Yards
Public Transit:
Take the 7 train to 34th Street Hudson Yards station.
Take the M11 or M20
Driving:
Located off the Henry Hudson Parkway and 44th street there are plenty of parking garages nearby.
Visiting the Vessel in New York City
The vessel was created by Thomas Weathermark as an art piece that would help tourists see a spectacular view of New York City. The vessel is copper colored and reflects the sky so it can appear to be silver or blue depending on the day.
The vessel has staircase after staircase in a circular formation that allows you to have a 360 degree view. It has been compared to a giant pineapple in shape and I think that is really true. No matter where you start in the Vessel you can be at another view by walking to a new viewing platform.
It is a great place to bring your kids! They will love exploring all over the place and running up and down all the stairs. My older kids loved to play hide and seek (There was barely anyone there the day we went.)
The vessel in New York City is one of the coolest sites to see.
Get Hudson Yards Vessel Tickets
You do need tickets to climb the vessel and there are two options:
Same day tickets:
There are same day tickets available at the vessel and they are FREE tickets. The only downside to same day tickets is that you may have a little bit of a wait until your ticketed time. I suggest you go to the vessel first and book your tickets and then explore the Hudson Yards Mall or hang out in the Public Square. That way you don’t end up twiddling your thumbs.
Advanced tickets:
If you are visiting from out of town this might be a great option for you. Advanced tickets can be booked 6 months beforehand but they will cost you a $10 convenience fee. Book your tickets here.
Visiting Edge New York
Edge New York is the latest of NYC’s elevated view platforms. It is located at 30 Hudson Yard and the platform is on the 100th floor which makes it 1131 feet above the ground. Access to the view is from the Mall at Hudson Yards.
Unlike the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center the view is huge and unobstructed. The Edge is a triangular platform that comes out of the side of the skyscraper. The walls around the platform are made of large sheets of glass and give you the feeling that they aren’t even there.
You have a nearly 360 degree view of Manhattan and can easily see the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and more. We have been to lots of very tall view platforms including the CN tower in Toronto and we all agree that this one is the best by far. The amazing views of the city will keep you gazing for an hour.
You can also see who is the bravest in your group by walking on the glass floor area of the platform! (I was the least brave..)
Booking Tickets for Edge New York
I recommend booking tickets for the Edge at least a month in advance. But if you plan to be in New York City in the summer, I would book a few months in advance to get the best times.
To book tickets for Edge New York visit this site.
The best time to go to the edge is at sunset because you will see the city completely light up and be beautiful! I recommend booking half an hour before the sun goes down, so you can see the change!
Other things to do in Hudson Yards you should also visit these sites
Hudson Yards is more than the home of the Vessel and the Edge. It is also the site of an upscale mall, an innovative art display space called the Shed, and a Public square and garden.
Hudson Yards Mall
Hudson Yards Mall is one of the most exquisite malls I have ever seen in NYC. If you are visiting New York at Christmas you should be sure to stop by to see the stunning Christmas lights that drip from every surface. Any other time it is lovely as well.
Some of the best places to visit in the Mall are:
Dylans’ Candy Bar
Dylan’s Candy Bar is one of my kids favorite places to go in New York. There is a new location in Hudson Yards. Give your kids a bag and let them fill it with delicious treats that they can much on throughout the day.
Camp
Camp is a great store for families, especially if you have young children. It is part toy store part indoor playscape. Bring your kids to do some crafts, ride scooters, play in a kids grocery store, legos, foam pit and more. Plus most of it is FREE.
It is really one of a kind and a rare inexpensive activity for families.
Miznon
This Israeli restaurant is so delicious I can’t rave about it enough! My family lived in the Middle East for many years and this was the best felafel I have had outside of the Middle East. Skip every other restaurant in Hudson Yards and get something truly unique and delicious.
Public Square and gardens at Hudson Yards
The Public Square and Gardens were designed with the gardens of Europe in mind. What is astounding is that they are built on top of a railroad. If you want to learn about how they manage to grow so many trees in a less than hospitable environment you should see this infographic.
Aside from how amazing it is, the gardens are beautiful. Perfectly landscapes with winding paths, you can really enjoy nature in the middle of the city.
When we visited the square housed a huge screen that showed a soccer game and there were socially distanced Adirondack chairs to sit in.
I hope you visit Hudson Yards and enjoy the newest site in New York City. If you are looking for more New York City content check out these posts:
New York City for the first time
How Much does a trip to NYC Cost?
Best Broadway Shows for Families
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