Battery Park - New York, NY

Battery Park City was built as a planned community on reclaimed land along the Hudson River in the 1980s. The neighborhood was dealt a horrific blow with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and half the residents of the community moved out at that time. Since then, the neighborhood has steadily rebuilt, and now hosts the National September 11 Memorial and Museum as well as the 9/11 Memorial with its deeply moving, constantly flowing fountains in the footprints of the original World Trade Center buildings.

In the spring and summer, look for performances by Battery Park's own community band, the TriBattery Pops. While all of Manhattan provides a constant arts scene, stop by Poets House on River Terrace for a moment of quiet reading one of 50,000 volumes of modern poetry or a spontaneous poetry reading or creative writing class.

Under the shadows of Battery Park City's skyscrapers lie a vast array of restaurants ready to serve the area's residents, as well as the thousands of employees that pour into the nearby Wall Street area daily. The Hudson Eats food court at Brookfield Place serves quick-serve food of a far higher quality than most malls, if you want something fast. Choose from traditional American fare, seafood, Italian, barbecue and more, or just grab a quick cup of coffee if that's all you have time for. Pick up a breakfast sandwich, a Nutella crepe, an order of spinach ravioli, or an excellent cup of coffee at Inatteso Cafe Casano on West Street. With all the food made fresh, this inexpensive cafe provides a restful spot for a cup of tea.

If you're looking for a swanky evening, the mixologists at the Black Hound are pouring truly creative libations from their rooftop bar on South End Avenue. Order a watermelon beer or challenge the bartender to make you a one-of-a-kind cocktail starting with the liquor of your choice.

While there are no subway stops dedicated to Battery Park City, the M9, M20 and M22 bus lines all service the neighborhood, taking residents to Kips Bay, Lincoln Center and the Lower East Side. In addition, a free bus service for area residents runs down North End and South End Avenues to the nearest subway stops. Cabs are available throughout all of lower Manhattan; you can also give Uber or a private car service a call when you need to leave the neighborhood. The Battery Park City Ferry Terminal provides transportation across the Hudson to New Jersey via a fleet of ferries.

Battery Park City welcomes pedestrians, and many locals take advantage of popular walking and running paths along the Hudson River. In addition, some residents walk to work in the Financial District. However, it's less friendly to those with cars, thanks to almost non-existent street parking. Parking options tend to be very expensive and often require reservations. Bike rentals are available in Battery Park, though biking through crowded NYC streets takes a bit of nerve.

Filled with playgrounds for children, walkways with breathtaking views and greenery in every direction, Battery Park City serves as an oasis to lower Manhattan. Take your dog to a dedicated dog run, bring your books to study, go for a bike ride or a jog along the riverwalk, or just stroll and enjoy the views of the yacht marina, Hudson River and Statue of Liberty. Food trucks let you stay all day, and the walkways are all clean and free.

Walking from south to north, you can choose from a wide array of small parks, including Robert F. Wagner Park, South Cove Park, Rector Park, Pumphouse Park, Teardrop Park and Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, which was the home to 2014's Diner en Blanc, the famous pop-up gourmet dinner. In the fall and spring, South Cove Park hosts Drawing in the Park, an annual event in which paper, chalk, paint and other art supplies are provided free of charge to anyone who wants to sit down and let out some inner creativity.

Living right on the Hudson River comes with a bit of a cost. The cost of living in Battery Park City runs 21 percent higher than that of the rest of New York City, with higher costs reflected in all areas. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment sits at $3,337 a month, and a beer runs about $7 at a local pub.

If you insist on driving, you'll find gas prices run about 11 percent higher than the national average, but it only costs $2.50 to take a bus uptown to Times Square, or $1.25 for those 65 and over.

While Battery Park City itself doesn't offer much in the way of boutiques or specialty shops, just off the neighborhood's northern end lies the shopper's haven of TriBeCa. Locals do their grocery shopping at Battery Place Market, choosing from a wide array of gluten-free and organic foods. While prices are high, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the market features a coffee bar, sandwiches made to order and a fresh bakery. Even better, Battery Place Market delivers to your apartment. Battery Park City doesn't have its own farmers market in the neighborhood, but the Tribeca Greenmarket opens up on Wednesdays and Sundays just a few blocks away. Those living at the south end of Battery Park City can head to the Greenmarket at Bowling Green on Tuesdays and Thursdays.