Central Park   

If you want to experience the serenity of lush greenery in New York City, then look no further then the beautiful Central Park. For over 150 years Central Park has been an oasis of natural beauty in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Manhattan Island. The 136-acre park encompasses an area from 59th Street to 110th Street between Central Park West and Fifth Avenue.

Central Park contains 21 playgrounds, 7 bodies of water, 30 bridges and arches, 51 sculptures, 58 miles of pedestrian paths, 4.5 miles of bridal paths, and nearly 9000 benches where you can relax as you enjoy sitting in the shade of one of over 26,000 trees.

Park Activities

There are so many activities available in the park that you can spend the entire day there quite easily. You can visit Strawberry Fields and the Imagine Mosaic where you're sure to see flowers placed in remembrance of John Lennon (The Dakota is a few steps away on 72nd Street). You can lay back and relax in the Sheep Meadow or visit Lilac Walk and see over 22 varieties of lilacs decorating the path. You can rent a boat and paddle you way around the 18 acre Lake, or jog around the Reservoir.

Are you an experienced horseback rider? Then you can rent a horse and ride along the park’s beautiful bridal paths or perhaps you'd rather take a carriage ride around the park. The Central Park Conservatory, the body responsible for the maintenance of the park, offers at least ten free walking tours in various areas of the park year round, so you can always take a guided tour and learn about the history and ecology of the park.

Of course we can't forget the Central Park Zoo at Fifth Avenue and 64th Street where you'll see sea lions, monkeys, penguins, polar bears and a whole host of other animals.

As you can see, Central Park offers a whole host of activities and if you are a nature lover you should definitely be on your “must see” list when you visit the Big Apple.

Location
From 59th Street to 110th Street between Central Park West and Fifth Avenue.

Park Hours
6:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m.

Pricing
FREE to enter the Park. FREE Walking Tours available.

Directions

Subway
East Side - 4, 5, 6 Trains to 72nd Street. West Side - A, B, C,and D Trains.

Bus
East Side - 1, 2, 3, 4 buses on 5th Ave. West Side - M10 bus

Tour Bus
Gray Line New York Sightseeing Tours Bus - Downtown Loop. Click for more details.

Official Website
Central Park NYC.org