What to do in Central Park – NYC

Central Park is just a park… said no one ever!  It’s 843 acres of greenery, stunning walks, sports, activities and landmarks and in this post I hope to give you hours if not days worth of things to do in the most famous park in the world!

Central Park is located between the Upper East side and Upper West side of Manhattan, in NYC.  The South end of the park is only a 10 minute walk from Times Sqaure and is right opposite the famous Plaza Hotel from the movie Home Alone, a perfect landmark to start off your Central Park visit.  When booking a hotel, we specifically wanted to be a short walk from Central Park so that we could make daily visits to different areas.  We stayed on 6^th Avenue, just a couple of blocks from Central Park and were the perfect spot between the hustle and bustle of Times Square and the miles of greenery in the Park.

First thing to do in Central Park which can be done from any end of the Park is to ride around on Bikes or Scooters.  Personally I prefer an electric Bike/scooter to save the physical exertion and instead take in the views but that’s up to you!  There are bikes at most entrances to the park that you can use for a period of time, using an app or contactless payment or there are also hire shops surrounding the park that you can hire a bike or scooter for as long as needed.  These can be more expensive, so do your best to negotiate! There are bike paths that pretty much resemble roads within the whole park that allows you to safely ride through the greenery without running over any pedestrians, but you have to treat it like a real road in terms of stopping at crossings and sticking to your side.  Other than that, it’s a really fun way of taking in a large chunk of the park at a much quicker pace than walking.  If cycling isn’t your thing but you also don’t fancy walking miles, they also offer horse and carriage rides around the park.  These are usually dotted around various entrances around the park and don’t require booking. They’re mostly located at the South entrances, closer to lower Manhattan.  

My next recommendation is against some of my morals but a great way to split up your day in the city is to visit Central Park Zoo.  It’s located in the South East Corner of the park, just a short walk from 5^th Avenue and Trump Tower.  For a single person day ticket it costs approx. £25 but prices are subject to change depending on the season and on peak times such as half term so booking in advance on sites such as Trip Advisor.  The zoo has various areas for different animals, such as the rainforest area (Warning: It’s Hot!), the water area for the Seals, monkey area and more.  On walking around we not only saw a broad range of animals but also lots of activities to keep families entertained and the opportunity to create a full day trip with your kids. 

Food options in Central Park don’t stretch too far from Pretzels and Hot dogs but we all know that’s an NYC must!  But if you’re looking for a classier stop for food, there’s a beautiful restaurant looking onto the lake called ‘The Boathouse’.  This restaurant, due to the location and high quality food is in high demand so if you’re thinking of visiting on your trip, book in advance! 

A classic stop on a Central Park visit has to be the friends fountain; Cherry Hill Fountain.  Although it may not be the real one from the opening credits, it’s identical and is a great photo opportunity for any ‘Friends’ fans out there!  

If you fancy a relaxing walk away from the hustle and bustle of Times Square, take the subway to 86^thStreet and take a long walk around the Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir.  It’s the closest I felt to being a true New Yorker on a Saturday Hot Girl Walk, surrounded by runners, dogs and families, it was a truly beautiful and relaxing way to see a different side to New York.  It was only a 5 minute subway trip from the South end of the park and also is right next to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, famous for ‘The Met’, one of the most well known fashion events of the year.

Finally, throughout the park, there are cricket fields, tennis courts, baseball fields and more to fulfil your sport needs on your trip.   It’s best to book the courts (Specifically tennis) in advance, through the https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/central-park website.  The price can vary with demand and season but if it’s something you look for on a holiday… what better place to do it than Central Park?!