Exploring Hudson Yards, New York, New York

Day 5 started on a slightly stressful note. Mihir and I had an intense conversation about how to optimize our plan to include the places we missed on Day 1. I really wanted to experience the calmer, non-crazy side of New York City, and that was the only reason Roosevelt Island was on the list. It wasn’t just about riding the famous tram - it was about enjoying the peace, open spaces, and views the island offers. After some discussion, we finally decided to begin our day there and then cover the remaining places one by one.

We got ready, took the F subway line, and reached Tramway Plaza. From there, we hopped on the Roosevelt Island Tram, which is covered by the MetroCard. The moment the tram rises above the city, you instantly get beautiful views - it’s a short ride, but worth it.

Roosevelt Island also has a free red bus service, so we boarded the bus at the tram station and rode to the last stop - Southpoint Park - to explore the views and greenery.

A board at the entrance mentioned that the park closes in the evening, so visiting it first turned out to be a great decision.

At the entrance of the park, we saw a flock of ducks resting in the shade. There were clean washrooms and a water dispenser near the gate. While filling our bottles, a few ducks came close and started making noise - it seemed they were thirsty, so we poured some water for them, and they happily drank it. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).