I highly recommend taking a guided bicycle tour of Central Park! There are lots of companies to choose from and I chose a company called Must See Central Park for a 2 hour $45 tour. The tour ended up taking 2 1/2 hours because the tour guide was very laid back. There were four others on the tour, not including the guide, which made it nice to be able to stop and take photographs a little more often. The guide informed us that there are 15 entrances to Central Park and it’s 1.5 miles long, with a 6 mile circumference.
A few other tid bits of info…the Park encompasses 6% of Manhattan; 38 million people visit the Park per year ( I wonder how they know?); there are 21 playgrounds; 24,000 trees; 9,000 benches; and the Park closes at 1am and reopens at 6am.
We saw the Conservatory Water Pond where you can rent a sailboat…
As I was taking a photo of this silent golden entertainer, the tour guide tipped him and he then allowed a photo of us to be taken with him…
Even without many leaves, these trees lining one of the paths were beautiful with their gnarly twisting limbs…
This is the tour guide on the right and two women in our group from Texas. We had cute baskets on the front!
The reservoir is the largest body of water at Central Park, holding a billion gallons of water and 40 feet deep. It was built in the 1860s as a temporary water supply for New York City.
We went to areas of the Park that some people don’t know about…
Here I’m at the steps of the Belvedere Castle. According to “The Official Website of New York City’s Central Park“…The National Weather Service has been taking measurements since 1919 from the castle’s tower with the aid of scientific instruments that measure wind speed and direction. Calvert Vaux, co-designer of Central Park, created the miniature castle in 1869 as one of its many whimsical structures intended as a lookout to the reservoir to the north (now the Great Lawn) and the Ramble to the south.
After decades of deterioration, the Central Park Conservancy renovated and reopened the castle in 1983.
Belvedere provides the best and highest views of the Park and its cityscape. It’s fitting, considering its name translates to “beautiful view” in Italian.
One of the views from the Castle…
Flowers around the Castle…
Bethesda Terrace is considered the heart of Central Park…
The walkway under the overhead Bridge at the Terrace is beautiful…
Emerging on the other side…
One last photo…
We made stops at most of the important sites, such as Strawberry Fields and various statues, such as Alice in Wonderland. Now I understand why Central Park is loved by so many!
Tomorrow I’ll show you photos from my adventure to the “Top of the Rock”!
Related articles
- A “Victorian folly” in the middle of Central Park (ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com)
- Fearsome ‘Fishzilla’ invades Central Park (thetimes.co.uk)
- Jewel of Manhattan: LIFE in Central Park, 1961 (life.time.com)
- Northern Snakehead ‘Frankenfish’ [VIDEO] – Invasive Species Being Hunted In Central Park’s Harlem Meer (latinospost.com)
- One Man’s Search for the Illusive Snakehead Fish in Central Park (wnyc.org)
- How Big Is Central Park (ireneleonard.wordpress.com)
- Life in Central Park, Summer 1961 (vintag.es)
- Birds in Central Park (melissalyles.wordpress.com)
- Yoga In Central Park (advancedstyle.blogspot.com)
- Central Park Five Documentary Premieres on PBS (clutchmagonline.com)
Sherry Lachelle Travels 
I LOVE Central Park….it is one of my favorite parks! I really enjoyed these pictures….I LOVED all your pictures….especially the flower pictures and the one of the Bethesda Terrace with the dancers having fun (perfect time to take that picture). Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
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I know Sherry! I thought of you while I was there!!
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Central Park is fantastic…especially in the fall. Thank you!
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I’ll bet it is beautiful then!
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The Central Park is beautiful through your lens!
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Thank you…that made me feel great!!
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Fantastic! That’s what it looks like without any snow! 😀
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Thanks! Yes…thank goodness for no snow. Don’t get me wrong…I love snow…but like everybody else, was ready for Spring! 🙂
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WOW, you make me want to go back as a tourist!
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Cool! Now that’s a compliment!!
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Looks like it was still quite cool there. Beautiful tour though.
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It actually warmed up to perhaps 60 degrees F. but I dressed for riding the bicycle with the wind factor.
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Just a fabulous gallery and full sun! So nice to see your smiling face!
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Thank you…:) 🙂 🙂
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Excellent photos, thank you for the great tour! Would like to see the park.
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Thanks…I hope you do!!
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That is a tour I will be signing up for next trip to NY.
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That’s great Michelle!!
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This looks like a great tour. I’ll have to do it some day. Maybe I’ll take our next visitors. hope you’re well!
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Thanks Molly! Yes…living there…if you’ve never taken a bicycle tour…you have to. I’m doing well…having wanderlust again…already! Sounds like you’re doing well also!!
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Thanks a lot for that great advice. I’ve saved the page for further reference if – well, when, actually – I’ll finally be visiting New York.
Best regards from southern Texas,
Pit
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You’re very welcome! Thanks Pit!
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Oh my goodness! Absolutely beautiful – and, wonderful! Through your blog posts, I have fallen in love with New York City all over again. It’s funny how we take things for granted. Man! You really got around in ‘my’ city! Your posts are a pleasure. Thank you.
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That’s such a nice compliment…thank you! Sometimes I think there’s such a thing as a natural-born traveler because I feel like one. 🙂
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I agree. Great title for you: Natural Born Traveler!
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Ah, the GoldeOne and the Gorgeous One. I like it! 😀
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Thank you…I love flattery! I’m smiling right now!!
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Good! 😀
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