Excitement had been building for weeks leading up to the opening of SeaGlass, the aquatic carousel in New York City's Battery Park. It took years of hard work to bring the artistic and immersive design to fruition. On August 20, 2015 the public got their first chance to see if the carousel lived up to the hype. It did not disappoint.
To quote the Seaglass website: "The George Tsypin Opera Factory created a mystical underwater experience. The rider sits within iridescent fish that glide through the sights and sounds of a 360° aquatic adventure."
That is exactly what I experienced. Immersed in music, aquatic sounds, changing colors and moving through what could have been an 'octopuses garden', from the song made famous by the Beatles, you are in literally in awe as you sit inside the beautifully luminescent fiberglass fish.
Opening day hours were from 10pm to midnight and I arrived late, close to 11pm. By doing so, I avoided the crowds and long lines. Wait time was reportedly up to two hours earlier in the day. My advice is to visit during the early morning hours or late in the evening on weekdays as weekends are likely to be very busy. The ride lasts three minutes and costs five dollars. It is five dolalrs well spent. As one guest was overheard to say as he exited the ride, 'That was trippy!' Indeed.
Getting there: Subway - #1 to South Ferry, R to Whitehall Street, #4 and #5 to Bowling Green
Bus - M5, M15, M15 SelectBusService, M20 to South Ferry
