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Enjoy a Day in New York City's Central Park

Published by Jason Hussong, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

New York City’s Central Park, which has been open since 1859, is the perfect oasis to enjoy a day’s retreat, or even a brief respite, from the asphalt, steel and glass that make up the bulk of the massive metropolitan area. At times, even for a visitor, the crowded city of millions can seem overwhelming and require a bit of a break to enjoy the outdoors and nature. And while there are other parks in the city, even on Manhattan, Central Park has everything a visitor, or even a New Yorker, could want in one spot.

Many people flock to New York City for a hefty dose of art and culture. With master artists in buildings like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim mere steps away in the surrounding Museum Mile, this urban sanctum provides a worthy challenge to its competition by offering outdoor exhibits and concerts. One of the more popular art exhibits ever displayed in Central Park was Christo and Jeanne-Claude's "The Gates." Many people traveled to Central Park to specifically experience the saffron draped panels that lined 23 miles (37 km) of pathways in Central Park in New York City. One of the most famous and fixed art landmarks is the Imagine Mosaic in Central Park's Strawberry Fields. This mosaic pays homage to John Lennon, Beatle's legend and former New Yorker, who was shot dead at his home nearby.

For a more audible experience, what better way to enjoy a beautiful summers eve then under a starry sky at a free Central Park concert. No matter your musical taste, the Central Park concerts range from the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, to the Summerstage shows held at Rumsey Playfield which focus more on developing an appreciation for contemporary, traditional, and emerging artists.

Participating in hands-on outdoor activities is another great way to experience Central Park. A huge expanse of land covering 843 acres, and built by more than 20,000 workers, Central Park was meant to be run around and played on. Whether it be sailing your wind powered boat in the Central Park Water Conservatory during the summer, or skating around Wollman Rink in the winter, there’s always an excellent opportunity to get outside.

One of the most well known outdoor activities in Central Park is the New York City Marathon. In 1970 it was originally a series of laps run around the park, but later expanded to go through various boroughs of New York City, ultimately ending at the famous Tavern on the Green in Central Park. Many people aren’t quite inclined to run over 26 miles though, so a good alternative is a jog around one of the many lakes in the park; a great way to burn off some calories and get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

It hasn’t all been easy work and fun though as over 1,600 residents originally had to be moved off the land, which was claimed by eminent domain, in order to construct Central Park from the 33 chosen design submissions. During the construction, thousands upon thousands of cartloads of dirt, 3 million cubic yards of soil in total, had to be hauled in and out in order to clear an area that was initially swamp. That’s not counting the 270,000 trees and shrubs that had to be planted, or all the rock that had to be blasted away – that required more gunpowder than what was later used in the whole of the Battle of Gettysburg.

It’s estimated that New York City’s Central Park, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963, plays host to an annual 25 million visitors, and it’s easy to see why just by setting foot beyond any of its borders. There are so many great activities to experience here, that there’s really something for everyone from every generation.

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When to Go to Central Park New York

Any time of year is the best time of year to see New York City's Central Park as each season offers its own various charm; whether it be the blooms in spring, the picnics in summer, the colors in fall or the first snow in winter, there's always a reason to enjoy Central Park in New York City. With festivals, concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, skating, sailing, and just plain old strolling, there's always something for everyone.

Odds n' Ends

Crime in Central Park may be on an overall decline, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't play it smart. As is the case with any park in any big city, stay out at night. It's always safer to take the longer way if it's well lit than risk becoming a victim of crime while enjoying one of the best places in the city. Incidents can also happen during the day, as they can in any big city, so make sure be aware of your surroundings; common sense is always best.

More Experiences Nearby

See the American Museum of Natural History Come Alive at Night
The American Museum of Natural History is a must on any visit to New York City. Its great halls receive approximately four million visitors a year; and it’s easy to see why once you set foot inside the Museum and take a look around one of its forty-six permanent exhibition halls. With all the various exhibits to explore, it’s quite easy to spend a full day there and not be bored for a single minute. One of the best experiences here is to follow Ben Stiller’s lead from the Night at the Museum movie, and spend a nocturnal adventure “sleepover” ...1 miles away.

Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!

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New York in One Day Sightseeing Tour
You'll see New York City's major sites on this tour, including Times Square, the World Trade Center Site, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Central Park and ...
Starting from $44.99 per person.

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Books and DVDs

Central Park, An American Masterpiece: A Comprehensive History of the Nation's First Urban Park
Not for Tourists 2010 Guide to New York City
The Complete Illustrated Map and Guidebook to Central Park

Elsewhere on the Web

Central Park - CentralPark.com

Media References

Spreading a Blanket and a Meal - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
New York Must-Dos - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
New York is just a concrete jungle. Tell it to the birds - TheIndependent.co.uk (newspaper)
Tavern on the Green - NYTimes.com (newspaper)

Language Guides

French , Hindi , Indonesian , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Malay , Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Thai , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United States. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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