Central Park is one of the largest open areas in the United States, occupying about 1.3 square miles in the heart of Manhattan. Before we arrived in New York City, I really had no idea just how big Central Park was going to be.
My family and I devoted a half day to Central Park itself. We decided the best way to see it all was with a horse and carriage ride. Much like in my Chicago Horse and Carriage blog, the driver of the Central Park carriage told us of important landmarks, sculptures, and bridges in the park. Included was a history lesson of how the Park came to be. What amazed me was that this Park was at the disposal of all New Yorkers! What a cool place to call your own.
There are many things to do in Central Park. Many of you may be familiar with the Great Lawn. In previous decades, the Great Lawn was popular for hosting many concerts such as The Supremes, Elton John, Simon and Garfunkel, Diana Ross, and Garth Brooks. Although these types of concerts are mostly a thing of the past, due to wanting to preserve the lawn and noise constraints, there are still annual local concerts given on the Great Lawn, including the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera.
There are two skating rinks in Central Park, one of which converts to a swimming pool every July and August. In addition, Central Park is home to its very own zoo, baseball diamonds, the world famous Carousel that was brought over from Coney Island, and a conservatory garden.
When you decide to move on from Central Park, hopefully you will be left with a sense of relaxation, and new spark of energy, and the honor of just having been in the greatest park in the US of A!
Tips on Central Park:
-Plan on devoting at least a half-day in Central Park.
-Although more expensive, try to take a carriage ride. If you have 4 people going, you can divide the costs and you will be directed by a Central Park expert, cutting in half the time it would take you to walk through the whole park.-If you are planning out your whole trip to New York City, a suggestion would be to plan a visit to Central Park after you do most of your sightseeing. I say this because you will have the opportunity to lay down, relax on a blanket, and rest your feet. There is a magnitude of quiet spots within the park, so take advantage of this!
