CENTRAL PARK (also look at the blog the Metropolitan Museum and More)

Photo of Central Park courtesy of NYC Parks Department 

Things explore and do in Central Park NYC runs from 57th Street Central Park South to 110th Street and encloses a 6 1/2 mile road loop with a multitude of side roads and detours that can be taken - stroll, play ground sample, rollerblade, swim (summer)  ice-skate (winter), row, watch a play, movie or great orchestra, hear music, watch performers,  ride in a gondola, explore Belvedere castle, visit a zoo, take a yoga class, watch turtles, fish , sail model boats, play, climb and exercise.  All are possible here.  

Best time to visit: All year 

Length of trip: Minimum 2 hours

Distance:  As much or as little walking/biking/roller blading as you want and great for strollers
Subway Stops: click on the NYC Subway map or here http://web.mta.info/maps/submap.html 

Suitable for: All age groups

Nearby eating: See blog suggestions
Advance Planning: 
Movies shot : List on the business website  www.centralpark.com/pages/history/central-park-in-the-cinema/movies-shot-in-central-park.html
Events: NYC Government Parks Department webpagehttps://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park/events or the website https://www.centralpark.com/search/event/upcoming-events/#page=1
12 things to do in the park:
Central Park Conservancy offers free maps to download (6 options: running, playground, foliage, self guided tour, official, and bike maps)

1. Bike rentals & tours : NYC Parks approved rental & tour company (bikes, scooters tandems) https://bikerent.nyc/  on Central Park South. The road around the entire Park covers 6.1 miles. If you are interested in biking elsewhere the NYC Parks website has a very concise https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/bikeways webpage https://www.nycgovparks.org/facilities/bikeways and you can pick up a greenway route map for free at any bike store .
2. Roller blade or bike rentals: https://www.unlimitedbiking.com/rentals/nyc-rollerblade-rentals/
3. Central Park Zoo around 65th Street & 5th https://centralparkzoo.com
4. Model boat rental at Conservatory Water at around 74th off of 5th in the park https://www.centralpark.com/events/model-sailboat-rentals/ or watch model boat racing http://www.cpmyc.org/ To the north of the pond is the Alice in Wonderland Statue - great for a park benches and for climbing
5. Fishing:https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/charles-a-dana-discovery-center
6. Outdoor movies & concert schedules:https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/free_summer_movies
7. Music and music festivals: https://cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage/
8. Shakespeare in the Park: During the summer months https://publictheater.org/programs/shakespeare-in-the-park
9. Opera in the Park & Philharmonic in the park: https://cityparksfoundation.org/events/met-opera-central-park-2022/ and https://nyphil.org/parks
10. Running in the Park:  https://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/sports/running/The reservoir is pretty and famous – 1.6 miles
11. Wollman Rink https://wollmanrinknyc.com/opens in the fall. Go early or during lunch. It's a great experience but can be packed- lunch or later in the evening always better later   http://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/activities/fun-fall-and-winter-traditions/ for winter activities
12. Row boat or Gondola rental in summer https://www.centralparknyc.org/activities/guides/boating 

Great eateries nearby: All marked on the map below. Fast food stands are dotted around the park. The Neue Galerie Cafe Sabarsky -at 86th and 5th https://www.neuegalerie.org/cafesabarsky offers Viennese food in an elegant wood paneled room and serves breakfast (9am-11am), lunch and dinner as well a range of superb pastries and cakes.  Best time to get table 11:45am. Great for hot chocolate in Winter. Serafina Pizza - at 79th and Madison -good pizza and Italian food. 

Shake Shack - 77th and Columbus Avenue near the American Museum of Natural History on the West Side - fast food and good burgers https://shakeshack.com/location/upper-west-side-ny#/ 

Le Pain Quotidien - at 69th Street in Central Park near the Sheep's Meadow and casual healthy and good food. No need to reserve. https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/le-pain-quotidien-at-mineral-springs.                            

Neue Gallery's Cafe Sabarsky - Credit: Neue Gallery

Safari Playground Central Park West and 90th Street
Courtesy of New York City Parks Department

Picnic in Central Park

Where to buy a nice picnic to bring to Central Park:
East Side: Taralucci E Vino make a picnic for two which can be purchased from the restaurant (very pleasant to eat in) at the Cooper Hewitt Museum (great to visit) at 91st and 5th. Marche on Madison and 74th sells sandwiches and salads. E.A.T. between 80th and81st and Madison sells excellent take out picnic food.
West Side: Zabars at 80th and Broadway is famous in NYC.  It's worth a visit even if you don't plan to purchase a picnic. Zabars is famous for its deli meats and cheeses. Stop at the Cafe next door and pick up a bagel and cream cheese.  Many New York City dweller picnic memories are associated with this institution. Whole Foods at the Time Warner Center at Columbus and 59th sells a range of take out salads and breads.

START: Metropolitan Museum of Art at 84^th and 5^th.  

Stop on 79th at 972 5th Avenue to explore Albertine, a charming french bookstore run by the Cultural services of the french embassy. 

A lemur at Central Park Zoo (photo courtesy of Central Park Zoo)

Famous NY hawks Across from the boat rental area there’s a man with a telescope – look for Pale Male and Lola the red-tailed hawks that made newspaper headlines by nesting at 927 Fifth Avenue (at East 74th Street) and were evicted in 2004. http://urbanhawks.blogs.com/ or http://www.palemale.com/ . Despite the co-op's best efforts to make them unwelcome, the birds returned this year. The board claimed the nest hazardous because of falling debris such as squirrel, pigeon or rat carcass flung out by the hawks after feeding. New Yorkers love a good cause to fight for and especially one that involved wealthy Upper East Siders playing the "villains".  The press took up the cause for Pale Male and his mate and the force of public opinion persuaded building residents to pay for a structure that would make the next less legally hazardous. Members of the New York City department of Environmental Protection frequently stop by to visit the nest and see how life is going for them. 

Continue on down to the Conservatory Water at 74th on the East Side.  Watch or rent (March-November) remote control sail boats. Check this website link or call (917)522-0054 for rental hours and booking. Races are scheduled every Saturday year around at 10am by the model boat yacht club that was established in 1916 http://www.cpmyc.org 

Playground: Further down in bet. 71st & 72nd & 5th: great climbing equipment, water sprays and sand.
Delacorte Mechanical Clock: around 65th & 5th in the park on the way into the zoo. Chimes (8am to 6pm) on hour.  The clock plays on of 32 nursery rhyme tune and 6 animal figures march around the clock tower. https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park/monuments/378 

Central Park Zoo: around 65th and 5th Avenue in the park https://centralparkzoo.com usually open between 10am and 5pm.  Check the website for feeding times.
The Frick Museum: Kids 12 and older and adults can exit the park on the East Side to make a quick visit to the Frick Museum is nearby at 70^th and 5^th www.frick.org - Incredible collection and recorded tour. A relaxed hour will be plenty to cover everything - and nice bookstore.

Albertine french bookstore at 972 5th Ave
Photo courtesy of New Yorker Magazine

If you choose to remain in the park, make your way to the West Side west follow the Park Drive across 72nd Street passing Bethesda Fountain.  Nearby you will find performers of all kinds on the weekend.  Across the way the weekend Roller Disco run by Central Park Dance Skaters Association  (for events click http://cpdsa.org/) from 2.30 to 5.30pm.  Good for people watching and clean toilets in the vicinity. The video below provides is all about these park dance skaters.

The yellow gothic building on the North West corner of 72^nd and Central Park West is the Dakota where John Lennon lived. Exit the park at 72^nd through Strawberry Fields. 

Sadly the Central Park Boathouse closed this year. Hopefully it will reopen in the future.

  

 

The Guggenheim Museum 89th and 5th. Credit: Lisa Betany

Outdoor movie festival Central Park
photo courtesy of West Side Rag

Nearby Museums all worth visiting (click on links for hours, tickets and events):
Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum 90th and 5th (interactive exhibits short visit with great shop) 
The Guggenheim Museum 88th and 5th incredible Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and collection
The Neue Galerie 86th and 5th (beautiful selection of Gustav Klimt paintings and a quick visit ) 
The Metropolitan Museum 84th and 5th (for kids focus on knights and armor or Temple of Dendur)
74th 5th Modern collection
The Frick Museum Temporarily at 74th & Madison while their permanent site at a mansion between 70th & 71st is under renovation - a small collection private collection and very beautiful
American Museum of Natural History 81st and Central Park West a must see for everyone (packed at weekends and lunch good time to go)

Credit: CentralPark.com

Winter activities in the park https://wollmanrinknyc.com/ or check out the link http://www.centralpark.com/things-to-do/activities/fun-fall-and-winter-traditions/ for winter activities especially Winter Jam organized by New York City Parks Department https://www.nycgovparks.org/highlights/festivals/winter-jam

Ice Skating in Central Park Credit: CentralPark.com