How to See the Highlights of Central Park in New York City
At 843 acres, Central Park is big enough to make it almost impossible to visit everything in just a couple of days. If you’re only in town for a short time, choosing the most famous stops around the park will make it possible to get the essence of what makes Central Park one of the world’s wonders.
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Instructions
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Get a map of the park or visit the park’s official website at CentralPark.com. Then take the time to mark the attractions you want to see and plan how you will get around (buses or walking, for example), so you have time to see it all.
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Start at The Reservoir, Central Park’s 106-acre lake. It’s a great place for birdwatching, to explore bridges (especially the one at West 94th Street, made completely of cast iron) and to jog (there are two tracks surrounding the lake). The Reservoir is also a great area to simply sit down and relax.
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Visit some of the famous statues spread around the park. Balto’s statue is especially famous because of the Disney movie of the same name, but other sculptures attract lots of visitors as well, including the Romeo and Juliet statue near the Great Lawn and the Mother Statue next to the entrance of Rumsey Playfield playground.
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Take some time to relax on the Great Lawn. A giant open space that covers six blocks, the Great Lawn is the central arena for live symphony orchestra concerts during summer evenings. It’s also a great place for a picnic or to sunbathe.
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Head to the Lake to rent a canoe or have lunch at the Boathouse Restaurant, which has beautiful views over the water. This is also a great place to observe local fauna, especially raccoons and turtles enjoying the surroundings.
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Visit John Lennon’s Memorial, Strawberry Fields, between 71st and 74th streets. The area, which was created thanks to a donation made by Yoko Ono, features the famous Imagine mosaic, plus beautiful flowers and trees that invite reflection.
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Tips & Warnings
The famous Tavern on the Green Restaurant in Central Park (West 67th Street) is one of the city’s most expensive and busy restaurants. If you have your heart set in eating there, make a reservation in advance and be ready to spend.
