Afternoon Bliss in Chelsea, NYC

New York City is one of those places that I love to visit but wouldn’t want to live in. Are there any places like that for you? There’s something stressful about the crowds of people and the way buildings are packed so closely together. Having to navigate the ocean of people can be overwhelming sometimes (most times, honestly) but there’s always something new and exciting for me in the city so I look forward to my visits. This time, I went back to a familiar neighborhood to spend a quiet (as quiet as NYC gets) afternoon. 

I don’t know what it is about Chelsea. Honestly. Ask me and I won’t be able to give you a worthwhile answer. I just like to hang around the neighborhood. My love affair started with the High Line – an abandoned above ground railroad track turned into a park of sorts. My favorite way to describe it is that it looks like a hanging garden.I love it when people take something that might have otherwise been useless and turn it into something beautiful. Walk, read a book, watch the sunset, have your first kiss, whatever, it’s a great place to spend some time in NYC. It’s also completely free. You can keep your coins in your pocket, and avoid that NYC tax this one time.On the High Line’s path, I bought a hibiscus flavored ice pop. The weather wasn’t hot at all. In fact, it was a bit chilly, but if you advertise hibiscus flavored anything, I’ll be there.With half my ice pop left, I got off the High Line at 34th Street between 11th and 12th Ave and crossed the street to a gem that had been hiding from me in plain sight – Hudson River Park. The Hudson River Park led me to the Chelsea Pier.From the pier, I walked to Chelsea Market mainly to try the boozy milkshakes from Creamline. This one was mixed with amaretto and topped with honey. It’s only because I was walking on the streets with it that I didn’t lick the cup’s contents.Chelsea Market is another great place to pass time, especially if you’re hungry. It’s really one huge food court sprinkled with things like bookstores and artisan shops.I walked around a few shops and managed to convince myself to buy items I didn’t need like grapefruit tonic water, which I’ll admit was worth it. At around 6 pm, my feet let me know they would appreciate it if I sat down, so I hopped on the E train with my milkshake and headed back across the Hudson River to New Jersey.Have any of you visited NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood? What were your thoughts? If you live in Chelsea, I’d love to know what to get up to the next time I’m here. Leave me a comment to let me know.

*This is one of a couple of photo + photo essay series that will focus on any of my day-long travel experiences. Enjoy!

As always, 

thank you for reading. 

All photos shot and edited on iPhone 6S+

same footprints, different sands