The High Line is an incredible park that all New Yorkers should visit at least once, but I guarantee that once you go, you’ll want to go again. And the best part about it? It’s free. You can even bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the open landscape by the West Side Yard or on one of the “sleek wooden benches that appear to peel up from the park surface.” And don’t forget to bring the kids. Near the north end of the High Line, the railway’s concrete deck is removed, revealing the framework of the High Line’s original beams and girders. It is covered with a thick rubber safety coating to make it a unique type of playground. There are also plenty of events such as yoga classes and storytellings for both you and the kids.

If you happen to miss the events though, don’t worry. Just take a walk and pay attention to the art as you go; there are tons of sculptures incorporated into the landscape. These pieces were commissioned by Friends of the High Line and have a theme which provides some connection to the history and culture of the High Line. These aren’t the only pieces of art though. Keep your eyes peeled for the paintings and other works of art that have been placed on the sides of buildings and on billboards which can be seen from various points along the High Line.

And of course, you can’t forget about the plants as you walk. There are tons of perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees in a variety of colors and textures. The best part about them? They were made to last. The High Line is a sustainable structure, and it even functions like a green roof.

Now that you’ve imagined the High Line as a park, do you wonder what it was like 30 years ago? It was abandoned from 1980 until 2006, which allowed nature to take it over. One photographer, Joel Sternfeld, took pictures of the plants that grew on the abandoned tracks and he is a huge reason why people supported its conversion into a public park. In fact, many of the plants that he captured then are part of the High Line today as planting designer Piet Oudolf chose to incorporate many of the species that originally grew on the High Line into its design. Nearly half of the other species included are native to the United States as well.

Now you know what the High Line looked like 30 years ago, but what about even before that, when it was still used as railroad tracks? Well, it was built in 1934 as part of the West Side Improvement Project. Before then, trains had run alongside pedestrians and horse drawn carriages on 10th Avenue. Their close proximity caused many accidents which often resulted in death and gave 10th Avenue the nickname “Death Avenue” (Friends of the high line). The High Line was a great solution and it was in use from its opening in 1934 until 1980 when the last train ran down the tracks carrying frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving.

For years the High Line was abandoned until New Yorkers like Sternfeld noticed its beauty and challenged demolition efforts. Friends of the High Line was founded in 1999 and they advocated for its preservation and reuse as public open space. It was a long and hard fight which they almost lost but in 2004, Mayor Michael Bloomberg committed $50 million to turn the High Line into the park that we all know and love.

So next time you’re bored on a Saturday or you find yourself in the Meatpacking District, go check out this “part promenade, part town square, part botanical garden,” elevated park. Take a yoga class, watch a concert, or simply go for a walk. I know you won’t regret it.