NYC has a lot of beaches – all of them located far away from Manhattan, in Brooklyn and Queens. But last year, Manhattan got its first public beach, a spot located in Hudson River Park, between Gansevoort Street and Little West 12th Street, near the Whitney Museum of American Art. It was built on solid ground (as opposed to a pier), and it features a southern edge that provides direct access to the Hudson River for non-motorized boats and stunning views of the River, and the lower Manhattan skyline. There is real sand and chairs to relax, and despite the beach vibes, swimming is not permitted.