Central Park is one of NYC's most famed attractions, for good reason.
For one, it's absolutely huge, covering a large portion of Manhattan in trees, lakes, and rivers over its 843 acres.
Every year, Central Park attracts 42 million visitors. It's the most frequently visited Urban park in the United States.
Yet all too often, Central Park's visitors enter the park and wander aimlessly upon a trail for twenty minutes before getting tired and bored, and exiting the park.
We're horrified by that possibility.
We want you to have the best possible time at Central Park, which is why we've compiled this guide to inform you of all the park's merits.
Now go out there and experience all this incredible, historic, famous park has to offer.
1. Central Park Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy raises 75% of the Park's yearly budget, and are the ones who work so hard to keep the park stunning.
They're a private, non-profit organization founded in 1980 by a group of citizens who were determined to improve Central Park. Today, they manage Central Park under contract with the city. They've dedicated to ensuring the Park's care and beauty for the present and future generations.
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They do this by aerating and seeding the lawns, raking leaves, pruning and fertilizing trees, planting shrubs and flowers, and caring for the water bodies and woodlands. They protect over 150 acres of lakes and streams from pollution, siltation, and algae.
Basically, they're the reason the park looks so beautiful.
2. The Central Park Zoo (64th Street and 5th Avenue)
Do you love animals? Then the Central Park Zoo is perfect for your next visit.
It's home to 1,400 animals of over 130 species. Their attractions include penguin and sea lion feedings, a 4-D theater, and Central Park Zoo Quests.
They've got snow leopards, grizzly bears, and such a wide range of climates that their coldest exhibit is the Antarctic penguin habitat and their hottest is an exhibit meant to simulate the tropical rainforest.
And if you're sick of all that looking and want to start petting, visit the Tisch Children's Zoo. Here, you can pet the only cow in Manhattan, potbellied pigs, sheep, and goats.
Get your tickets here.
3. The Loeb Boathouse (East 72nd Street)
Easily the most romantic spot in the galaxy, The Loeb Boathouse offers rowboat rentals from April through November for $15/hour. They also offer Gondola rentals which hold six people and cost $45/half hour.
Bike rentals at the Loeb Boathouse cost $15/hour or $50/day for 21-speeds and $9/hour or $45/day for cruisers. All bicycle rentals require a $200 deposit so, you know, you don't steal them.
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Work up an appetite from all that biking and boating? Treat yourself at Loeb Bouthouse's splendid Lakeside Restaurant, which combines outdoor dining and relaxed formality. They've got a phenomenal brunch with delicacies from maple waffles to steak paillard with eggs, potato, and gruyere tart.
They've also got delectable lunch and dinner options, from sautéed sea scallops for lunch, to coriander seared yellowfin tuna for dinner.
4. Activities
grooovvy yesterday was wonderful, even though they played "i saw mommy kissing santa clause" a good 7 times
From seasonal ice skating at Wollman Rink, to friendly competition at the Chess & Checkers house (where dominos and backgammon are also available), to swimming in Lasker Pool, it's hard to be bored in this invigorating park.
The Central Park Drives provide bicyclists with scenic views and hilly terrain. There are soccer fields at the North and East Meadows, though permits are required and cleats are prohibited. The North Meadow also has football fields, and there are first-come, first-served beach volleyball courts at the South End.
There are also numerous basketball courts and baseball fields located throughout the park, plus horse drawn carriage rentals and Central Park tours.
Bet you were wondering what happens to Wollman Rink in summer? Great question! In the summer, it becomes the Victorian Gardens Amusement Park, with a carousel and other delightful rides.
,5. Fields, lawns, and meadows
jws_allthingswomen Life is like riding a Bicycle to keep your Balance, you must keep moving 🚲 Happy Thursday 🚲 #photobyme #centralparknyc#centralparksightseeing
Central Park's 55-acre Great Lawn (79th-85th Streets) is one of the most famous lawns in the world. It's been open since 1937, and its baseball diamonds were added in the 1950s.
The Great Lawn has also been the site of performances by Simon and Garfunkel, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Philharmonic.
Sheep Meadow (West 66th-69th Streets) did not derive its namesake without cause. It was originally home to a flock of pure-bred sheep from 1864 until 1934. The sheep and their shepherd lived in a Victorian building nearby, which became the Tavern on the Green restaurant in 1934.
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Today, Sheep Meadow is a "Quiet Zone", rendering it one of the most epic places in NYC to nap, picnic, or sunbathe in a natural oasis beside NYC's stunning skyline.
Rumsey Playfield (East 71st Street) hosts Central Park's SummerStage concert series, featuring dance, spoken word, and musical performances.
6. Sights
From the 4-acre Shakespeare Garden adorned with flowers and plants mentioned in Shakespeare's plays, and bronze plaques scattered throughout the garden with quotes from the Bard, Central Park's Shakespeare Garden is a sight to behold.
As is the Central Park reservoir, which was built in the 1860s as a temporary water supply for NYC. It's now a gorgeous man-made lake near the North End, around which stretches a 1.58 mile running track.
There's also the Belvedere Castle, which was created in 1869 as many of designer Calvert Vaux's whimsical structures, Bethesda Fountain, the Gapstow Bridge, Strawberry Fields, and plenty of other delightful sights.
The Loch, located near Central Park's North End, is a small waterfall partially fed by a natural watercourse which was known in the 17th and 18th centuries as Montayne's Rivulet. And it's certainly worth a gander.
Finally, Central Park's 20-acre lake is its largest body of water. It was designed as a wild garden away from paths for visitors to wander in and experience its natural landscape.
7. Food and drinks
tommydub3 Man. Last time I was here, this place looked a lot different, and I was that little kid who wanted the meal to end so we could go to FAO Schwartz. #tavernonthegreen #nycrestaurantweek #centralpark #nyc
From the delicious Lakeside Restaurant at the Loeb Boathouse to the Tavern on the Green, there are plenty of cuisine options scattered throughout this historic park.
There are food options for sale at Wollman Rink, the Central Park Zoo Café, Kerbs Boathouse Café, Ballplayers' House, the North Meadow Snack Bar, and Moaz Vegetarian Harlem Meer Snack Bar.
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For a more elegant vibe, Tavern on the Green or Kerbs Boathouse on the East Side at 74th Street is probably your move. If you want to munch on a burger and chill, it'd be more wise to visit Ballplayers' House at 65th Street.
There also hotdog and pretzel stands on just about every corner if you want a cheap bite to munch on while you walk.
Check out 8 Overrated Things You Shouldn't Even Think About Doing in NYC This Summer.
[Feature Image Courtesy: Shawn Gehle]