On the way back from Amsterdam, Dylan and I flew in to NYC where he recently moved into an apartment. I stopped over for the weekend and had him as my personal city guide. On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Dylan took Akshay (another college friend now living in NYC) and me on his very own Central Park tour. I knew the park was massive, but I had no idea just how sprawling it really was. We spent two hours walking around at a fairly brisk pace, but there were innumerable places you could pause and spend an hour or two. I’ll share my favorite six stops to make in Central Park here, courtesy of Dylan’s terrific tour guide skills.
1. Row Boat and Gondola Rentals
You can rent row boats and gondolas at the Loeb Boathouse for the afternoon in this romantic little pond, with incredible views of the NYC skyline just behind you. Not a bad date idea! Rentals begin at 10 am and run until dusk.
2. The Belvedere Castle
Yes, there is a castle in Central Park! I had no idea either.
3. The Sculptures
Throughout the park, there are over 30 different sculptures both artistic and historic. Keep an eye out for our favorite children’s story teller, this boy and his wolf, and the fountain on the Bethesda terrace- some of my personal favorites. My only complaint is that of the 22 statues depicting historical figures in the park, the few women included are fictional, such as Alice in Wonderland and Mother Goose. Natalie Lopez wrote a great piece interviewing feminist Coline Jenkins and her “mission to change that number” for more on that here: http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a10240263/female-statues-central-park/.
4. Tiny Paradises in NYC
There are several large areas where you can lay down a blanket and take in the sunshine, like this little tree-lined sanctuary. While Central Park is indeed a green oasis, the impressive skylines that rise far above the trees won’t let you forget that you’re still in the middle of a concrete jungle.
5. The Mall
This is the spot where all of the street artists perform, practice, or push their product. You can find all sorts of beautiful NYC prints, sketch artists who will draw your portrait for a few bucks, comedians, magicians, dancers, pianists, and just about anything else a New Yorker could dream up to do in a park.
6. Athletic Arenas
Within the sprawling grounds of Central Park, you can find places to partake in just about any athletic endeavor you could want: ice skating, hand ball, running, volleyball, croquet, lawn ball, tennis, basketball, and more. With the park being open 365 days a year, 6 am in the morning to 1 am at night, Central Park is definitely the place to get your outdoor athletic fix in this giant city.
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