It was a glorious spring day in Manhattan. The kids had no homework and the adults had no obligations, so we decided to spend our evening in Battery Park. As per usual, it was a last minute decision to go, so we could only get a reservation to eat at 5:00. We figured that it would be fine since our kids are used to dining early. We drove downtown, parked in a garage, and walked over to our restaurant.
What’s for dinner?
I found Gigino online and it looked really nice. I figured it was worth going for the view alone and I was right; it is SPECTACULAR! Looking at the water and the Statue of Liberty while we toasted with our (DELICIOUS) frozen concoctions felt like a vacation!
The food also did not disappoint. Everything was delicious. Sadly, we decided to wait a while before dessert, thinking we might find someplace nearby with yummy treats. No such luck. Everything in the vicinity of our location was either permanently shuttered or closed for the night.
So, what’s the evening activity?!
Well, first we walked around the lovely waterfront area, and then we reached our final destination: The Seaglass Carousel. I had read about this merry-go-round many times, but nothing could prepare me for what it was like.
The theme of the Carousel is an homage to the original site of the New York Aquarium (1896-1941). You can read about the history of the park here. The creators wanted to create a “mystical underwater experience”, and they certainly did! The milky pastel hued sea creatures (which are actually made of fiberglass) made for a dreamlike atmosphere. This, along with the use of unconventional music, lights and movement of the ride all combined to render their vision a reality. It was absolutely magical.
Riding the sea glass carousel was an amazing experience, however the ride was seriously short. Since we all enjoyed it so much, and because tickets were only $5.00, we decided to have another round. I highly recommend a visit sometime soon!
