You thought you knew everything about New York? You were wrong. The city is constantly reinventing itself and will still surprise you. Illustrations.
Views from above
To admire New York from very high, we already knew the observatories of the Empire State Building, the Top of the Rock and the One World Observatory. There are two new ones! Summit One Vanderbilt, near Grand Central Terminal, is spread over three floors and offers a unique immersive and sensory experience, including a room lined from floor to ceiling with mirrors. The Edge, in the new Hudson Yards district, allows you to contemplate Manhattan and the Hudson River from a platform suspended in the air whose floor is partly… transparent. As for cocktail lovers, they have every interest in reaching the terrace of Overstory, a bar on the 64th floor of a very beautiful Art Deco building in the Wall Street district enjoying a splendid panorama.
A suspended park
This man-made island in the Hudson River was created on 132 tulip-shaped pilings at varying heights, giving it a hilly, playful look. Located between 13th and 14th streets, Little Island is home to a public garden of nearly 1 hectare, a 700-seat amphitheater, children’s games and offers breathtaking views of the river.
Broadway Museum
This brand new museum, in the heart of the theater district, tells the fascinating history of Broadway and the backstage of shows on three floors. We stroll there in the middle of the decorations and the costumes of West Side Story, Hair and other flagship productions.
Stroll along the water…
The Hudson River Greenway, which runs along the river in western Manhattan, is a very popular promenade for walking or biking while admiring the view. A good idea is to start from Battery Park, at the far southern tip of the city. The opportunity to meander between the water and the skyscrapers, far from the traffic, before continuing along the entire length of Manhattan through different neighborhoods and parks.
… and in the water!
What better way than kayaking to explore New York, especially when it’s hot? Several clubs offer free rides on certain days. It could be the Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse on the East River in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Downtown Boathouse at Pier 26 or the Manhattan Community Boathouse.
hip hop
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of rap, created in the Bronx in 1973. A whole series of events is planned for this occasion.
To learn more about what’s new in New York: nyctourism.com
California remains a destination of choice
Fires, drought, floods, snowfall… In recent years, all the natural disasters seem to have hit California. To the point of threatening tourism? Not sure, because these calamities remain confined to a few regions. So it’s always a good time to go there, especially since, this year, several famous attractions are celebrating their centenary, such as Warner Bros. Studios, Walt Disney Resort and the famous “Hollywood” sign.
Among the novelties, do not miss the expo on the deep sea at the fabulous aquarium of Monterey Bay, with bioluminescent creatures and giant sea spiders… A new theme park, the Super Nintendo World, inspired by video game characters, comes all just opened at Universal Studios, Los Angeles. San Francisco, for its part, has a brand new park, the Presidio Tunnel Tops. In addition to gardens and facilities for children, it offers breathtaking views of the city and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Two contemporary art museums have finally emerged: The Institute of Contemporary Art, in San Francisco, and The Orange County Museum of Art, in Costa Mesa. Something to satisfy all visitors.