[Editor’s Note: For a truly magical experience on the High Line, bring your family there during the dusk hours — the light is beautiful, the temperature is lower, and the crowds are smaller. And after your stroll, head to Artichoke Pizza — which now has locations in Chelsea, as well as in Greenwich Village and the East Village for some very tasty (and hip) slices! — Eric Messinger]
Get away from the hustle and bustle of New York City streets, without leaving New York City, by taking a trip to the High Line! Here families can find plenty of sights, activities, eateries, and more to enjoy. If you don’t know where to start, take a look at our list below of things to do on the High Line this summer.
Enjoy Nature
The length of the High Line is landscaped with seasonal plantings that are not only lovely to take in, but also make perfect backdrops for family photos! Lists of all blooming plants are available for download online, either as a complete list, categorized by season, or by month. Be sure to dip your toes in and cool off at the water feature on the Diller-von Furstenberg Sundeck!
Families can also enjoy stargazing on the High Line every Tuesday until October 28. High-powered telescopes for looking at stars, planets, and the moon are provided. The sessions are open to visitors of all ages.
Guided Tours
To learn about the history, design, and landscape of the High Line, join the weekly free guided walking tours, which take place every Tuesday until September 23, and every Saturday until September 27. Paid private tours are available as well.
For those interested in the creatures that call the High Line home, there are High Line Wildlife tours available once a month. Here you can discover the birds, butterflies, and other wildlife of the High Line. Be sure to bring a pair of binoculars for the best experience!
Nature Walk tours are also available once a month. On this tour, a High Line Gardener will give families an insider’s look at the park’s landscape and how it is maintained. As the seasonal flowers change each month, this tour is great to revisit! You can find more information on the tours here.
Summer Events
The theme of the High Line Teen Night on July 17 is “90s in NYC,” and includes free food and candy, video games, street art, photo booth, and more for teens! The Teen Night on August 14 is “Cruise to the Caribbean”-themed, so teens can enjoy tropical-inspired beats, steel drum playing, mask making, and other activities.
Beekeepers from all five boroughs are bringing to Honey Day to the High Line on July 30. Here families can taste honey, meet the beekeepers, and see a real beehive at work in a glass-paned demonstration. And on July 23 and August 27, there will be ¡Arriba! Dance Parties, where the whole family can enjoy an evening of live Latin music and dancing.
Kids Programs
Kids can play, create, and learn on the High Line in weekly drop-in programs, including Arty Hours, where families with children over four can have fun with hands-on art projects every Saturday in July and August. Every Thursday morning kids ages 0-3 can enjoy music, stories, and more at Lawn Time, and every Wild Wendnesday, kids over four can explore different aspects of High Line nature.
In the Play with your Food program every Wednesday this summer, kids over four can learn tips and tricks from the chefs of the High Line’s very own food vendors, then make their own snack. At every program, the High Line Children’s Workyard Kit is available for little builders ages four and up. With this kit of wood planks, wheels, ropes, gears, and pulleys, kids can construct from their imagination.
Food & Shopping
For sweets, kids will enjoy L’Arte del Gelato’s fresh gelato and sorbet, and Mexico-inspired frozen treats from La Newyorkina, and more. Parents can get coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee while the children have house-made pastries and hot chocolate. And fun for the whole family, at Brooklyn Soda Works you can try offbeat soda flavors like apple and ginger, hibiscus and mint, and more! The full list of vendors on the High Line is available online.
Alternatively, located near the High Line is the Chelsea Market, which has more than thirty-five vendors. If you don’t want to eat on the High Line, or if you’re in a shopping mood, try a place here. In this indoor bazaar, visitors can find eateries such as Morimoto, Cull & Pistol, Fat Witch Bakery, and more. There are also stores like Anthropologie, Posman Books, and The Filling Station.
High Line-related merchandise is available from their online shop, and the proceeds support the park.
