I tried one of Rivian's new 'adventure drives' in New York. It was the break from the city that I needed.

I arrived at Rivian's concept space on a gloomy Friday morning. The concept space is located right around the High Line park on 461 W 14th Street. While the area is usually a hot spot for tourists, the vibes that day were dark and gloomy in the city. Business Insider USA

Rivian's warm, laid-back atmosphere made the rainy day feel like part of the experience. Rivian's floor-to-ceiling windows and warm design made the space feel like a green oasis on a rainy day. Business Insider USA

The design felt like an amplified version of the Rivian showroom in Brooklyn. Rivian's Brooklyn showroom had similar design aspects, like ambient lighting, wood accents, and greenery. However, the concept space felt like a more refined version. It was slightly less colorful and busy, leaning more into a luxurious and minimalist vibe. Business Insider USA

The space itself was impressive. The Brooklyn showroom had a more neighborhood, small-town feel, while this space felt a bit more expansive and showy. Business Insider USA

I helped myself to an Apollo bagel and fruit. Apollo Bagels is currently one of the hot bagel spots in New York City. It didn't disappoint.Rivian also had coffee, orange juice, Boxed Water, and a small assortment of pastries that looked delicious. Business Insider USA

There was also a coffee station. The automaker offered hot tea, hot chocolate, lattes, cappuccinos, and cortados.Rivian said that it expanded food and beverage service for visitors, including coffee from local purveyor Don Carvajal, and tea from Harney & Sons. Business Insider USA

There were three Rivians stationed in the store. Rivian had the storm blue R1S in the front of the space, the glacier white R1T in the middle, and the Rivian blue R1S in the back of the space. Business Insider USA

The adventure theme was highlighted throughout the space. There were camping stations and accessories strategically placed throughout the store. Business Insider USA

My favorite part of the location was the sound immersion room. Rivian had a sound immersion room with a video display on the wall that showed different city landscapes and other scenes.Wylie said that the experience is designed to immerse visitors in a sensory experience. The website describes it as more of a "playground" than a "showroom." Visitors can drink coffee or tea, explore displays, step into a sound immersion room, and discover new experiences through the adventure ride."Ultimately, we want to inspire a sense of adventure in anyone who visits," Wylie said. Business Insider USA

I stayed in the sound immersion room for about 10 minutes. It was very relaxing. The pillows and seats were comfortable, and the room was dimly lit and cozy. As someone who pays for meditation classes in the city, it was nice to experience a similar experience at no cost. Business Insider USA

The space had child-friendly activities, like Rivian's Brooklyn showroom. Similar to Rivian's Brooklyn location, which had a lot of kid-friendly characteristics, the concept experience had kids' books and interactive activities, like listening to sounds and touching the material of the cars. Business Insider USA

There was an emphasis on EV education, especially related to charging. Rivian's Brooklyn showroom featured plenty of text and wall displays explaining EV ownership, but the concept space seemed to take the educational aspect a step further. It had simplified graphics to engage an audience that may be less familiar with EV ownership. Business Insider USA

Rivian partnered with a plastic-recycling company, allowing visitors to make keychains out of recycled plastic. Rivian stationed a waste design studio called Are You Mad at the space. The studio showed attendees how plastic is turned into other materials and had a table for making keychains.I'm not particularly artistic, and my keychain did fall apart shortly after I finished (my fault), but I found the process surprisingly cathartic. Business Insider USA

Rivian had a digital display showing the stories of owners. The regional marketing director told me that Rivian added sensory elements to the space to connect visitors to the brand on a deeper level. That includes digital displays to listen to owner stories and sound experiences for kids to guess sounds around the city. Business Insider USA

I listened to a local vegan restaurant owner share their Rivian experience. I had actually heard about the restaurant, so it was cool to see the brand spotlight the owners. It felt like a genuine — and successful — effort to connect with the local community. Business Insider USA

There were lots of interactive activities throughout the store. This photo shows an interactive experience that allowed visitors to vote for their favorite color with cork balls. It was one of several creative interactive elements placed throughout the store. Business Insider USA

You could map out what an upstate trip would look like. The display allowed users to choose preselected choices, including Arcadia National Park, Montauk, the Outer Banks, or their own pick. I chose Mauntauk, and it showed me how long it would take from the Meatpacking District concept space and the charging hubs along the way. Business Insider USA

I went on an adventure drive I opted not to drive in the rain, so one of the employees took the wheel. It's not necessarily easy to go on a roughly hourlong drive with people you just met, but the employees were down-to-earth and easy to get along with.It was my first time spending extended time in a car in months, and it felt like I was on a road trip. Business Insider USA

Rivian's director of regional marketing told me its vehicles were designed to feel like you're in a living room — and that's what it felt like Rivian's vehicles have a modern and comfortable feel, with functional features like floor storage and ample space between the seats and the cabin. They also have a minimalist aesthetic, and materials like vegan leather add to the soft and earthy vibe. Business Insider USA

A tour guide took the launch event attendees on a private tour of the museum. The tour lasted about 45 minutes. Business Insider USA

It was a peaceful break from the city. The Met Cloisters were a nice break from the city, and the ability to go with a car made the experience feel easy and comfortable instead of stressful with planning. Business Insider USA

I decided to try the backseat on the way back to the concept store. It was comfortable and spacious, but I felt a bit car sick. I get carsick from time to time, and I did feel a bit nauseous on the way back. Business Insider USA

I loved that Rivian made the city a focal part of the experience, but also made it feel like an escape. While living and touring New York City can be exciting, it can also feel overstimulating. I admired Rivian's ability to curate a space that highlighted aspects of city living and connected with the local community and lifestyle while also offering a break from some of the parts of it that can feel overwhelming.I thought the "adventure drives" offering was also a clever move. While standard demo drives can be cool to experience, most people aren't likely to sign up for one unless they're actively shopping for a car, especially if the brand isn't widely popular.I also thought it was a smart way to show a wider aspect of ownership. By offering an opportunity to explore outside the streets of New York, customers may be more incentivized to experience the brand for a longer duration and get a real taste of ownership.Many people, like myself, enjoy a break from the city from time to time. Taking an SUV to a more secluded area definitely captured that sense of escape — and the rain added to the feeling of adventure. Business Insider USA