Chelsea, a neighborhood situated on the west side of the New York City borough of Manhattan,
was named after the ''Chelsea'' manor, which was home to Clement C. Moore, a prominent Columbia University professor and '' A Visit from St. Nicholas'' author. Over the years, the peaceful enclave of the 19th-century mansions has transformed into an attractive part of New York City which is nowadays famous for its numerous avant garde art galleries, 6th Avenue Fashion Row, Garment District and the riverside Chelsea Piers. There is a lot to be seen while touring Chelsea.
It is a good idea to start sighseeing from the historical part of Chelsea with the ''Cushman Row'' located between 9th and 10th Avenues. It is a string of row houses which rank among the coutry's finest examples of Greek Revival. Their architectural details, including deeply recessed doorways, iron balustrades and tiny wreath-encircled attic windows, are worth paying attention to.

Not far from here is the General Theological Seminary, the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is well-known for its library which houses the world's largest collection of Latin editions of the Bible. Walking along the tree-shaded lawns within the extensive campus is a pleasant experience. The seminary is not the only prestigious educational institution in the area.

Another one, also worth seeing, is the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT for short), a branch of State University of New York. It prepares students for professional excellence in design, fashion and business. Such eminent designers graduated from here as Calvin Klein, David Chu and Norma Kamali. There is a museum at FIT, devoted to the art of fashion, which is known for its award-winning exhibitions and collections of textiles and fashion. Thus, it is advisable to visit the museum.

Apart from FIT, Chelsea is famous for its art galleries. It is here that one can find the largest concentration of art venues in New York City. The top ones, showcasing the big names, are as follows: Mary Boone Gallery (541 West 24th Street), Andrea Rosen Gallery (525 West 24th Street) and Matthew Marks Gallery (522 West 22nd Street).

If tired of sightseeing or looking for a totally different kind of entertainment in Chelsea, especially if touring with kids, visit Chelsea Piers. The area, once famous as the docks for major trans-Atlantic liners, has been transformed into a 28-acre sports and entertainment complex, which comprises a golf course, a multi-sport field house, a year-round twin ice-skating rinks, a health club, a bowling center and a full-service spa. It is a perfect relaxation spot.

Another draw of Chelsea is its Sixth Avenue which is commonly referred to as the ''Avenue of the Americas''. It is here between 18th and 23rd Streets that grand department stores of 1880 to 1900 are situated, making that stretch of Sixth Avenue as ''the Fashion Row''.

It ends in Herald Square with ''Macy's'' the flagship department store. It is not only the largest department store in New York City, but the sponsor of crucial cultural events in the city as well. The busy square itself, named after ''the New York Herald'', a large distribution newspaper, is also worth seeing.