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Central Park - Nice for a stroll, but you should rent a bike!

First off, if you want the best (aerial) view of Central Park, than you should actually visit the Top of the Rock. 

Alright, since that's out of the way, let's chat about Central Park. So long as you go in the daytime, it's hard to beat a warm afternoon in Central Park. Unlike Grant Park in Chicago, there's tons of shade, benches to chill out on and boulders to act like a kid on. (See the review below to better understand what I'm talking about.) 

It's hard to say exactly how much ground I covered in Central Park, which is why I would HIGHLY recommend renting a bike for an hour or two and just coasting up, down and around this massive park. I was at least smart enough to remember my running shoes on my last NYC trip, and I can't understate how good it felt to spend even just a little time sweating out the night before in the Central Park shade.

That being said, I've also been lucky enough to visit Central Park in the fall when the foliage kicks in and the heat dies down. It may not be my native Vermont, but it's pretty darn close. And believe it or not, they do an impressive job of keeping the trails clean of falling leaves and garbage. (That or I just caught the park right after a thorough cleaning.)

Anyways, there are a ton of things to do in Central Park. I'd recommend taking a walk down to the water, bringing a book, renting a bike or just posting up by a sharp curve and watching the roller bladers fall. (OK, I stole that last one from the movie Big Daddy. It's not nice to make fun of roller bladers, and for the record I didn't see a single fall in Central Park.) Also, I would highly recommend checking out Strawberry Fields, especially if you're a huge John Lennon fan. (As I am, and really, who isn't?) That guy loved NYC perhaps more than anyone, and when you take in Central Park on a beautiful afternoon it's easy to see why. Also, the best public skating rink in the city is located in Central Park in the winter, and it's a whole lot more spacious and easy to get on than that "rink" at Rockefeller Plaza.

Central Park feels even bigger than they say once you're in it. Go in with a plan and something to do, and you'll be all set. Whether you're a local or a tourist, this one's a keeper. I could write pages about Central Park, but really you should just check it out and make your own memories.

Feel The Magic in Central Park

It’s almost impossible to express in words how amazing Central Park is.  Even in pictures, it’s beautiful and so captivating to see this enormous green park with ponds and climbing rocks and bridges and what seems like a billion trees, completely surrounded by sky rise buildings and famous museums in such a huge city. There’s simply no place like it.

There’s something to be said about a place that locals enjoy as much as tourists. During my visit, I learned that a lot of tourist attractions are lost on New Yorkers – they either have never experienced them or don’t have much interest, but Central Park is totally different- I think the locals may feel an even deeper love than visitors for this magical place. 

Each time I stepped onto a path from the street leading into the park, I felt happy.  There’s an enormous field called The Great Lawn, which in the summertime is covered in people picnicking and playing baseball, Frisbee, and any other grass game you can think of – guaranteed any nice weekend day, this is a hot spot in NYC.

Something I didn’t quite know before that I learned while strolling through the park with a friend is that none of it is natural – meaning the park was completely designed to be exactly the way it is – every tree, boulder and bush was placed there just like the pathways, benches and fences.  Regardless, the design is brilliant and there are so many aspects to this park –it’s amazing.

I really enjoyed the huge boulders that are all over the place – I would climb to the top and see a whole new view or a new part of the park I hadn’t seen before.  They’re amazing places to take pictures as well.  I also visited the castle, by the large pond, which was beautiful. 

Another favorite spot is Strawberry Fields, the memorial for John Lennon, and also his favorite part of the park, which is right across the street from where he lived at The Dakota.  The famous Imagine circle on the ground is a sight to see in itself.

Each time I went to the park, there were different things going on- from runners to bikers, boaters and ice skaters, there are so many people getting so much use out of Central Park. There are also horse carriages and pedi bike guides available to take you through the park and even if you opt to walk yourself, they're very helpful with directions. The possibilities for fun are endless here. I can’t say enough great things about Central Park- I recommend going here over and over again. 

Breathtakingly beautiful

Central Park is a must see in New York City. It is huge, and a truly unique experience with all walks of life in one space. Everyone from buskers to joggers permeate Central Park and sometimes you can even get a bike or horse ride. Theres manmade bridges and trees and from certain areas, you can get a beautiful look at the city. Great place to bring a date or grab a book.