A rendering of New York City's new High Line (Courtesy the City of New York, design by Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro)

See New York from a new perspective when the High Line debuts this June. The urban park will be on top of former train tracks that extend 22 blocks along Manhattan's west side and rise up to 30 feet above street level. With the transformation of the first nine-block section into a walkway that threads through native plants and grasses—other sections are in planning phases—the High Line will be one of the few places to take in views of the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River, and the Empire State Building without the usual Gotham hustle and bustle.

For the best views of the High Line itself, head to André Balazs's Standard hotel, which opened in December and was designed over, around, and under the promenade: The rooftop restaurant will launch on the heels of New York's newest sensation (848 Washington St., 212/645-4646, standardhotels.com, rooms from $195).

—Riki Markowitz, from the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Girlfriend Getaways