If you’re taking a trip to New York City, visiting one of its markets might be up your alley. Chelsea Market is internationally famous, and you’ll find many other excellent foodie destinations in the city.
Where are these hot spots, and where will you park your RV?
We’re to give you the lowdown on the market, a few things to do in the area, and the best places to stay.
Ready to explore the Big Apple?
Alright, let’s take a bite!
About Chelsea Market
The Chelsea Market is an internationally-renowned brand and one of the world’s most celebrated indoor food and retail marketplaces.
Always focusing on food in the city, the market’s history started with the Algonquin Indians. The tribe traded their game and crops in this very spot on the banks of the Hudson River.
Constructed in the 1890s, it was initially the National Biscuit Company factory complex. In fact, the Oreo cookie was invented and produced here.
The area was also once the home of wholesale butchers who cooled their provisions with blocks of Hudson River ice. And Nabisco established its factory here to take advantage of the butchers’ lard.
The complex was redeveloped in the 1990s and features a retail concourse with office space above. Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, currently owns Chelsea Market.
It’s one of the busiest and most written-about destinations in New York City. It’s possible to enter the Market in the morning and not exit until dinnertime. There’s so much to see and do that you’ll never get bored or hungry.
Where Is Chelsea Market?
You’ll find the market in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Hence, the name.
Located on the west side of Manhattan, the Chelsea neighborhood borders Hell’s Kitchen/Times Square to the north. To the south is Greenwich Village and to the east is Grammarcy Park and Kip’s Bay.
Chelsea Market lies within the Gansevoort Market Historic District, which New York State and the National Register of Historic Places recognize. Coming from across the Hudson River in Weehawken, NJ, you can reach the market via the nearby Lincoln Tunnel.
The complex contains ten structures and fills an entire city block bordered by Ninth and Tenth Avenues and 15th and 16th Streets. In addition, there’s a connecting bridge over Tenth Avenue to the adjacent 85 Tenth Avenue building. This building was also part of the Nabisco complex but is now separately owned.
The area was originally residential. However, there have been markets in the district since the 1840s. People moved into tenements in the area in the 1820s to escape epidemics plaguing the central part of the city. In 1884, the neighborhood shifted to become a market, first for produce and, after the development of reliable refrigeration, for meat.
More Great Foodie Destinations in New York City
For adventurous eaters, NYC is the place to be. It’s also very fast-paced. So, keeping up with the ever-growing, trendy, new restaurants can be daunting.
Dedicated foodies will stand in long lines to eat delicious food and pay top dollar. In most cases, though, we don’t want to wait in line for two hours or make a reservation several months in advance to have a decent bite to eat.
Let’s look at a few hot spots in the city you may want to check out.
Union Square Greenmarket
The Union Square Greenmarket started in 1976 with just a few farmers. Over the years, it has grown into the largest Farmer’s Market in New York City.
Approximately 140 vendors from surrounding areas sell their products to more than 60,000 daily shoppers. You’ll find artisan bread, fresh-cut flowers, heritage meats, pastries, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and much more.
The market is open year-round and borders both sides of Union Square Park. The hours are 8 am to 5 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Spring and summer is the peak season for Farmer’s Markets in New York. But be aware that farmers often sell all their products and leave early or sell out of popular ingredients. So go as early as possible to ensure you find what you seek.
Zabar’s
Immigrants Louis and Lillian Zabar opened the shop in 1934. The deli was originally a 22-foot-wide shop at Broadway and 80th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Over the years, the business kept growing, and today spans the entire block front.
Zabar’s is a deli, not a restaurant. Some consider it the ultimate Jewish deli, although this may depend on your interpretation of the Talmud.
Almost entirely run by family members, they serve up delicious smoked fish and offer tastes of the latest artisanal cheeses. In addition, fresh-baked batches of rugelach are great with their unique coffee blends. Zabar’s sells 400,000 pounds of roasted coffee annually.
The popularity of their roasted coffee led to Zabar’s opening of an online retail shop that sells housewares. They sell cookware, knives, and cutlery, among other items. Additionally, you can order bagels, smoked fish, caviar, and gift boxes and baskets to be delivered.
Museum of Food and Drink
Located in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, is The Museum of Food and Drink.
As an educational non-profit and museum, they aim to change how people think about food and beverages. They work to explore the ways food and drinks impact our culture, politics, economy, and history.
The museum was founded and chartered by David Arnold in 2005. However, it remained an idea until 2011. Then a Kickstarter campaign raised $100,000 for the museum’s first exhibition.
The first exhibit debuted in New York in August 2013. It featured a 3,200-pound puffing machine, also called a puff gun. The device is now part of a cereal-focused traveling exhibit.
Best RV Parking For Visiting New York City
The first thing you need to know about parking an RV in New York City is the law. The law prohibits RVs from parking in city spaces for more than 24 hours. So while the police may not enforce this law, we recommend trying to stay only for a short time.
While there are many RV parks in the greater NYC area, there aren’t many in the city. So let’s review a couple of nearby parks that can help make your trip more enjoyable.
Liberty Harbor RV Park
Liberty Harbor is the closest RV park to New York City and the Chelsea Market. You’ll find the park in the Liberty Harbor Marina at 11 Luis Munoz Marin Blvd., Jersey City, NJ.
Downtown Manhattan is 15 minutes away via ferry with easy access to Liberty State Park, Tours of the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island. The NY Waterway Ferry leaves Liberty Harbor and runs to Pier 11 at Wall Street from Monday to Friday.
The PATH train to NYC is five blocks away at the Grove Street Station, and there’s easy access to other ferry options into the city.
The park has 50, 45-foot sites with water and electricity. There’s a dump station and restrooms with hot showers. Additionally, WiFi is available, and a restaurant and a bar are on the premises.
The park offers overflow parking for vehicles or trailers that don’t fit the allotted space. In addition, tent camping sites accommodate four guests and one car for $75.00 per night. There’s a $10 per night charge for extra people.
Rates for RVs are $135.00, with holiday rates at $150 nightly. A six-night stay will get you the seventh night free. Be aware that a 50% non-refundable deposit is required when making reservations.
Croton Point Park
If you’re looking for budget-friendly camping, this may be the park for you. It’s a longer trip into Manhattan. However, the grounds are wooded with grass around the spaces. So if you prefer pastoral settings to a big parking lot, this is the spot for RVing near NYC.
The peninsula was inhabited by Native Americans as early as 7,000 years ago. In fact, Croton is a native word that means wild wind.
Croton Point Park is a county-run RV park and campground located in Westchester County on 508 acres on a peninsula on the east shore of the Hudson River.
It’s approximately 40 miles up the Hudson River and about an hour’s drive to the Chelsea Market. However, that will depend on the time of day.
The spaces can accommodate RVs up to 38 feet. Amenities include a beach for swimming, kayak rentals, boat launch, and ballfield rentals.
The park is open year-round and hosts special events. Discounts are available with a Park Pass. FHU RV spots are $45 to $60 per night, and monthly rates are available.
Cabin rentals are available daily or weekly, ranging from $65 to $130 per night. There’s even a lodge with a full kitchen for $550 per night. Additionally, tent camping is available with daily rates from $40 to $60 per night.
Is a Trip to Chelsea Market Worth It?
As one of the most famous markets in New York City, a visit to Chelsea Market is a must when visiting the area. However, it’s an excellent idea to plan your day trip and determine the best timing. Wherever and whenever you go, bring your sense of adventure. New York City is an exciting place!
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