- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Central Park
Rating Details »
- Nearest Transit:
-
86th St (B, C)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
427 reviews for Central Park
The most AWESOME BEAUTIFUL park EVER. the scenery and backdrop just take your breath away. seeing people jog and taking leisurely walks in person and on tv thru Central Park really inspires me to move here one day and be amongst the legions who make Central Park into their own backyard.
luckily i grew up a few blocks away from Golden Gate Park in SF. don't get me wrong, i love Golden Gate Park just as much, as its served many years of my wonderful childhood. but i just wanna see more of what Central Park has to offer.
Who doesn't love Central Park and just about everything about it?
Rowing on Central Park Lake, listening to awesome musicians, the bridges, the hills, the trees....... I could go on but I won't.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
Absolutely the most beautiful park I've ever seen! Who would expect, that right in the middle of one of the busiest, most urban city of the country, lies a giant, green haven to explore and enjoy. Visiting Central Park was the very first thing I did on my first trip to NYC. I was blown away by the beautiful landscaping, stunning views, and sights this park has to offer. You can easily spend hours, if not, days exploring the entire park; especially if you hit up the Met or Museum of Natural History.
There are plenty of paths to bike, jog, or take a leisure stroll on. If you're feeling super touristy or all mushy and romantic, you can even get pulled along in a horse-drawn carriage. Shoot, you can even row yourself around the lake if you want. It's $12 for the first hour and $3 for every 15 minutes after.
There's plenty to see and do for all ages. There's the zoo for the kiddos (and kids at heart). The grassy areas scattered throughout the park are ideal for a lot of things... you can bust out a good book, have a picnic, daydream, or just veg out. If you're feeling pasty white, you can plant yourself on a nice plot of grass and soak up some sun... I never saw so many people plopped out on beach towels, swimsuits and all, with no beach in sight. If you are drawn to entertainment, there always seems to be something going on (street performers, musicians, artists etc). You an even go running around to find all the different locations filmed in movies and tv shows.
The list of things to do here can go on forever. In fact, I'll just stop now and let you do the exploring yourself. So if you're in the city, do not leave without a visit to Central Park! It's my favorite place in NYC, and can quite possibly become yours.
I visited Central Park during Spring..I spent most of my day there and I loved it. We even rode the the horse carriage..Romantic? Sure.. It was beautiful at night and I'm glad I got to see it during my visit in NYC.
I would want to go back during summer though...
Visit the MET ..... pending
Visit the MOma....pending
statue of liberty......probably never gona happen
Central park? CHECK.
On my list of things to do in NY, I'm glad i did complete at least one - central park is absolutely amazing and on a perfect fall day, it's great for a stroll, to people watch and to just relax. New-found appreciation for parks.....i hope that doesn't mean I'm aging....
So massive & huge! This park is not just a park, but an oasis in the middle of THE urban jungle. This park blows away any other park, makes Discovery Green look like, a small patch of grassy swamp..
My bad, I like Discovery Green, but i LOVE Central Park =)
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
Central Park is a great place to spend some time and have fun, I went here last July during my 2nd trip to NY and I loved it, it's a lot of fun just walking around the park and sightseeing, it's beautiful everywhere, it's clean everywhere, it's HUGE and I will be back here again when I visit NY again since I didn't get to see all of Central Park since it started to rain very badly when I was here.
Yes, just another fan of Central Park. As large (okay, 80% as big) and cool as our beloved Golden Gate Park in SF, it is a joy to jog or stroll or loiter in. (I managed all three).
A soweet, sweet park.
And opportunities to pet nice dogs do avail themselves. (Bonus).
Central Park. What hasn't been said? It is the epitome of what a park should be like. It is what our normal parks are like on steroids. I only had the opportunity to walk about 1/3 of it but what I saw was simply beautiful.
You have everything from an animal zoo to a lake to an ice skating rink inside. It offers different activities for all walks of life. I was able to climb up some of the gynormous rocks throughout the park, one of which had a nice view of the infamous Plaza Hotel. I love how all the locals bring their kids inside for a nice calm stroll. Either that or they just lay down on the grassy areas to read with their dogs. The trees and the benches put me at peace.
I want to come back and rent a boat out on their lake one day. Amazing.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
America's most famous urban park ought to start out with five stars.
Subtract one star for that inane exhibit of cheap shower curtains some years back.
Subtract one more for the legion of damn fools who claimed to enjoy it; those folks won't appreciate this star rating, but at least they'll be happy with its color.
Before doing a bunch of window shopping in New York, La Novia and I walked through half of Central Park. Trust me, that is a lot of walking.
When I was a kid, I rode the school bus and the bus came to a central location in my neighborhood called Silver Leaf Park. Some of the kids called it central park as it was in the "center" of the 'hood. And well, if you take that park and multiply it by approximately 894,127,745.12 you get Central Park. It's that freakin' big.
I saw little kids playing in the playground. I saw people playing tennis and basketball. I saw a lot of people jogging on various paths. I saw old people discussing the news of the day on benches. I saw plenty of young lovers sneaking kisses on the grass. I might have kissed La Novia once or twice.
The park was so scenic, she even allowed it. The New York Weather Gods were nice and gave us a beautiful day so the reservoir looked gorgeous.
During our walk, we noticed the Met was close by, but it was closing. So we decided the next day would require a visit there. And if weather permitting, another stroll through the most amazing park we have ever seen.
Wow.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (5)
- Cool (7)
I.
LOVE.
Central Park.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Yes'm, I do.
It's a necessary stop in NY. It provides a perfect getaway from the (beautiful) chaos of NYC. It has a calm bustle to it. There is a lot of activity, but it's very understated.
Seriously, go.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
A must see. You can walk through central park from the American Museum of Natural History to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is a easy stroll. Takes about 7 to 10 minutes max!
The only place in NYC that I like.
People thought this was:
- Useful (6)
- Funny (3)
- Cool (5)
God damn, what a large park.
For a frame of reference, it's across the street where the Apple Store is.
I was blown away at the size of the place the other week. I cannot understand how some people can possibly walk the length of this park wearing dress shoes (I saw several people all dapered).
For New Yorkers, though this is currently the largest park in America, be on the lookout for Irvine, California. They're out to create the Great Park, which would surpass Central Park in terms of size.
While here the other week, I managed to do something quite traditional and play a game of chess at the area where you're allowed to play chess. I just caught them at the tail-end of their business hours, so I managed to snag a board and asked them to let us play one game. In the end, I was able to kick some ass and feel like I exercised my brain a little.
Further up north, there are running tracks and the large reservoir/lake where people can ride boats and do other mushy things.
Though the place is exactly how you picture it from movies and television, the one aspect that you don't get with those visuals is the smell of horse shit. There are horse-drawn carriages that go around and drop piles of fecal matter randomly. Just be on the lookout for any while trying to get back onto Fifth Avenue.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
I've been here before but walked through again yesterday.
I can't say anything that hasn't already been said already but it's so nice to just relax in the middle of city with a gorgeous park like this.
Central park is beautiful, but it's so easy to get lost here. The maps that are posted throughout the park do not have a "You are here" marker, so it's difficult to determine what path to take (or what path you are on) to get to where you've parked or are meeting someone.
I've give this place a 5 star review if I didn't get lost for over an hour trying to go cross town to meet someone.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
Came here for one of the shows put on by Central Park's Summer Concert Series. The line was incredibly long to get into the theater so we just sat outside on a blanket under the trees. We could hear the performers just fine. It was a muggy day so the sun would have made it perfect.
The performers:
Case ( who did "Touch Me Tease Me" from the Nutty Professor Soundtrack) Jon B, who was on stage for a good 30 minutes--my brother and I agreed that he was on 29 minutes too long, this other guy i never heard of, and Deborah Cox (Nobody's Supposed to be Here) She hit this high note that made everyone go crazy. It was pretty cool to hear the wave of cheers coming from the theater all the way through the surrounding park area. She sang 3 songs then split. What a dream job. The headliner was Jazmine Sullivan, who was good.
Overall, it's a nice clean park that does well for the city of New York. Great place to go running, have a picnic, take a carriage ride, or have one of those guys pull you around on a chariot thing with their bike.
If Golden Gate Park in San Francisco had anything like a free concert series with the artists that Central Park brings in, I would probably pee my pants.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
Big ass environmental oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. I'm pretty sure without Central Park, the people of New York would not get enough oxygen and die. If there were more trees people would get more oxygen and not be as grouchy. True Story. q=D.
All kidding aside, Central Park is a great refuge from the fast-paced city life. You can catch some rays, relax, read a book, and throw a football around, away from the loud city noises. The jogging and biking trails seem to be pretty popular. I saw a few boats on the lakes as well. When you get hungry, there are food stands nearby.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
Best. park. ever.
I've probably been here 30+ times and likely still have seen less than 1/30th of it. Back when I interned in NY, I used to come here all the time to chill and read, because when you're an intern, free a heck of a lot better than, well, not free.
In any case, the girlfriend and I had a picnic in Central Park, chock full of NY pizza (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), cheap Chinese (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and dessert to boot (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). It was, naturally, delicious, with the added bonus of watching the world go by. Upon finishing our lunch, the girlfriend promptly fell asleep in the soft grass. I watched some dudes play softball and saw a couple try to teach their dog how to play fetch.
Best. afternoon. ever.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
I spent a fair amount of time in Central Park during my youth, college and my post-college years. Some fantastic memories filled with friends, picnics, music, acoustic guitars, beverages, sun bathing, "lazy man" lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, flag football and other things.
At 21, I used to live on 72nd Street, in between Broadway and Columbus, so just 1.5 blocks from the Dakota Building and the Strawberry Fields entrance to the park. After work and on weekends, I would enter this part of the park and go for a skate.....and yes, sometimes I'd break out one of my few NY Rangers jerseys on my way to a pick up roller hockey game. Yes, I'd see JFK Jr skating around the Park too, but inevitably, I'd run into someone I knew either skating, jogging or just chilling....
During my college years, I'd take my little cousin (at the time) to the Diana Ross Playground to push him on the swing or we'd go to the Wolman Rink and I'd teach him and his friends how to skate. That rink is just so cool, great views, a mellow place to skate outdoors in Manhattan.
Shakespeare in the Park, movies at night, orchestra events...great, great times. Sadly, I never took advantage of those massive live concerts in the park - Paul Simon, Dave Matthews, etc; I'm not much for super-huge crowds.
Yes, Tavern on the Green, the Alice in Wonderland figures, the Bandshell, the footbridge, the Jackie O reservoir, so much to experience, such a great oasis in the middle Manhattan....
On a side note, when I was 15 or so, right by the Alice in Wonderland figures/statues, I ran into the actor that played Niedermeyer in Animal House. He turned out to be a really nice guy, he chatted with myself and some friends for a while, told us a few behind the scenes stories...
http://www.youtube.com...
Nothing to do w/ Central Park, but a great version of this song by James Taylor....
http://en.wikipedia.or...
Olmstead created Central Park and improved upon it with Prospect Park in Brooklyn
http://en.wikipedia.or...
History of Central Park
http://en.wikipedia.or...
Central Park Zoo (I've never been to it)
http://en.wikipedia.or...
Central Park West
People thought this was:
- Useful (25)
- Funny (19)
- Cool (30)
Amazing, beautiful, full of culture and history.. The perfect park..
What more can one say really?
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
Perfect. I just spent a week in NYC and ran in CPK everyday. It is the most perfect place to run IMHO and I have run all over the world.
Central park is so beautiful...and the POINT is to get lost there - unlike what some other yelper's who shall remain nameless believe, you should make a point to spend a bit of time in this park...don't be afraid to get a little lost! It's best to escape the more popular areas, like sheep meadow, and wander up to the very top of central park, where there are very beautiful and wooded areas.
I recently found myself at the strawberrry fields area of the park, which I was pleasantly surprised with. I love the summerstage concert series, but wish people would be better about cleaning up after their pets.
Pack a lunch, bring a blankie, settle in with a good book and share a bottle of wine with some friends...but make sure you bring plastic cups because they'll bust your ass...
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
First Day I flew into New York we couldn't check into our hotel until 3pm. So we killed time at Central Park. This is by far the best park I ever walked into. But don't wonder and frolic in the park at night unless you have some kind of protection i.e. AK-47 lol anyways this is a MUST VISIT spot in NY and please PLEASE bring your camera!
For your cupcakers try out the horse carriage ride around the park. This is a good place to exercise such as riding a bicycle or jogging.
There are different spots to play softball, soccer, basketball or even football.
Great spot to just relax or sleep on a rock while rejuvinating on a rock the sweet sound of a saxophone play. Be sure after you wake up to tip the saxophone guy.
There are also human statues like Captain Jack Sparrow. He actually does a pretty good impression of Captain Jack Sparrow looking exactly like him and almost sounding like him.
Nonetheless you should definitely I repeat take a bicycle or roller blades or a skate board and roam around this park freely because you'll be very tired walking around the park.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (5)
Best running spot in the city. I love the gentle slopes and shady paths that make it great for training.
Here's the deal if you're a runner: RUN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE against the traffic. It's the "official" way to run, and it's much safer to face the bikes and the cars. If you pay attention to the signs on the lamp posts, you'll see those same directions.
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (3)
Pros:
- Sheep Meadow
- The North Woods
- Rollerskating dance parties
- Rowboats
- Live music
- Blockhouse
- Geocaches galore
- Reservoir loops at dusk
Cons:
- That nasty hill (NW corner of the loop)
- Tourists who take photos of squirrels
- Non-car-free days
- Often feels unnatural and crowded
- NYRR races
Verdict:
Central Park is a monster. In terms of city parks, it's unmatched. On a hot summer day, there are few places better than Sheep Meadow.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
Parks are the gems of large cities. Central Park is definitely a classic and a "city" of its own.
Being from San Francisco, I'm lucky enough to get a taste of Central Park through Golden Gate Park. But of course, Central Park has its own swag. I actually spent a little bit of my birthday here for an introspective moment. Had a picnic with a friend and was fortunate to find myself on a sunny summer day in a spot where young 20-somethings chose to use the area as a tanning bed.
I would highly recommend adding Central Park to your walk when visiting the Met. Unfortunately some people forget it's a NY "must see", it isn't some gigantic sky scrapper or towering monument but it is a NY landmark of its own.
Central Park is pretty big! We spent quite a few hours of our Sunday morning just biking around and sight seeing. There were hundreds of people biking and rollerblading that day so it was really fun.
There's also a lake in the middle where you can rent boats. We wanted to ride one but the bikes that we rented did not have locks so we decided not to risk it.
I loved how there's a bunch of hotdog stands throughout the park so you can take a break when you get hungry.
The park really is huge and it would probably be best not to walk around at night.
There are a lot of "mobile" bike rentals just outside park entrance to the south. Most are pretty much priced the same so be wary if you get a deal that's too good to be true. These people walk around to different corners so make sure you remember the face of the person who rented you the bikes.
Glorious, a wonder to behold, a bit of heaven tucked away amidst chaos.
A visit to New York isn't complete without a stroll through Central Park, whether it be the newlyweds being photographed along Bow Bridge, gaggles of tourists climbing aboard Alice in Wonderland, saxophonists/cellists/mimes/performance artists littered along Literary Walk and other paths, or other unique sights and experiences remaining to be had.
After spending any time walking through Manhattan, CP exists as a stark contrast to anything resembling the hustle and bustle of urban sprawl, yet, if one were to just look up, the skyscrapers and pre-war buildings stand plainly in sight for all park-goers to see. Wandering through the city, seeing college-age students and middle-aged business-folk all around, I often wonder where the children have gone, then I come within earshot of the Heckscher Playgrounds and discover, that's where they've all been hiding (and seeking) all along...
Ah, Central Park, I look forward with wonder at what memories you'll bring during my next visit!
Haiku:
It's the Heart that Beats
Inside the Beautiful Beast
In the Universe.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (3)
This is a very nice park, plus it is free to walk around! Some parts are more well lit than others. One part of this park freaked me out though. I walking by a trash can at night with my cousins and all of a sudden we saw a Raccoon come out of the trash can. I was not expecting that because I did not know NYC had raccoons! OMG. Any how the raccoon was more interested in going through the trash than being interested in us, so we just stared at him for a little while and went on our way.
IT'S ALL THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE AND SO MUCH MORE...
You seriously need to take about 3-5 days just to check this place out! It's HUGE but it's worth going on the adventure of every little corner this place holds! You can pick up a map of the park to help direct you around or just walk and stumble on to things.
The bottom end of the park is more of the touristy areas like the pond, Sheep's Meadow, The Mall, The Zoo, Strawberry Field, and other cool fountains and lakes and the upper end is more where the locals ride bikes and run!
Take it from me, take a couple days to explore this place and make sure you have good walking shoes!
People thought this was:
- Useful (3)
- Cool (3)
New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by its new director Alan Gilbert, Central Park July 14th!
OK the grass was green, the weather was great, ONLY 80.000 people and lots of food and wine. But hey..... when the music started (I BELIEVE they played Mozart and Beethoven) I couldn't hear anything because nobody paid any attention to the music. Instead everybody were talking and talking and talking and talking and talking and ..... mind you I sat quite close to one of the loudspeakers but nevertheless.....
So if you just want to have a pick-nick don't choose 14th of July next year! :-/
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (2)
*i reviewed CP a while back (see reviews) but wanted to make a new review with a lot more to add*
I've always loved going to Central Park when I was younger that I decided I wanted to get married there in October of 2005. Unfortunately my day was blessed with a lot of rain but during our actual vows the sun peeked out for just a couple of minutes. Even in the rain the park was beautiful.
We were married in The Conservatory Garden (south garden) up between 104th and 105th streets. The trees were just beautiful goldenrod, flaming reds, and oranges - October 22nd was a perfect time to have an autumn wedding in Central Park.
Of course I have spent a lot of time doing other things at CP in the past...a few shows/concerts, softball, the zoo, biking, people watching, many upon many walks, and reading some books on the grass and benches. Now that I have been into photography more in the past couple years - I plan on taking some of those typical but awesome parts of the park with the mist and the trees.
My favorite times to be at the park: autumn (for the colors and crisp air) and winter (for the snow of course) but I also love going there in the summer and spring too because I love all seasons. ;)
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (2)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/13/2007
Central Park -just those two little words make me smile every time I hear it and I will always smile… Read more »
When im home, GG Park is my sanctuary.....my heart.....my r&r. But when in NYC, i cheat with its twin-separated-at-birth, Central Park. You would think i was a hippy-child making daisy necklaces in the grass with how much i love parks and how much time i love to spend in them. But in actuality, my work life is so hectic, that a slow change of pace is like a breath of fresh air. Besides, its healthy to clear the mind.
I cant even express how amazing and beautiful this park is. I mean the more than hundreds of reviews say it all. When the weather is warm and not too hot, a walk or jog through here makes you feel alive. Sounds cheesy right? But im serious. You have this sense of calm and relaxation that washes over you. You look around at all the people with their kids or significant others or just by themselves with smiles on their faces and it just makes you feel good. Lay a blanket down and veg out. Its peaceful.
During winter, although you may freeze your arse off, it becomes even more beautiful if you can imagine. The snow on the ground, the bare trees with snow on their branches, and the overcast sky, is for me, breathtaking. I dont do the horse-drawn carriage thing because i feel bad for the horses, but i imagine its incredibly romantic for those couples who are into that sort of thing.
Dont even get me started on the ice skating rink. Its awesome and i love it. Someday i hope to meet my own form of Jonathan Trager(John Cusack), not necessarily at Central Park, but if you know what movie im talking about, then you catch my drift. On ice, I may not have the skills i once had as a young girl, but i will still run circles around you. Anyway, the point is, Central Park is a place you must NOT pass up when you find yourself in New York.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
Love Central Park! There is so much to do in the park you could never be bored here...
Miniature boat rentals: $10 for 30 minutes...my husband had fun with this, just a couple of tips: try to go early (waiting list due to crowds) and make sure you are not renting on a windy day ...it will be a waste.
Central park summer concert series: FREE ...good deal for regular concerts/classical... just be aware...popular concerts mean crowds - we went to the Yo Gabba Gabba for kids and were not happy with crowd control and how unorganized they were...
CP Carousel/Multiple playgrounds for kids: The carousel is fun but $4 for a 3 min. ride for 2 - (child and adult have to pay to be on even if you are just standing next to your child...) ALL Playgrounds: Go early or forget it...so many local children packed into these playgrounds...should be limited for play...too much pushing and too many unruly children...
So many reasons to love the park, history, exercise, relaxation...the park is mostly safe, stay in areas with other people and go during the day and you will have a great time no matter where you are in the park!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (2)
Central Park is like the Chris Brown of parks.
+ Big in size. Only Rihanna knows and her pics are pending.
+ Full of horse shit, so watch where you are stepping.
+ Wildly popular among tourists, musicians, joggers, hobos, couples, and even trolls during the day.
+ Anything goes at night. You may be more than black and blue on tomorrow's headlines.
Gotta love NYC! I hope their PR ppl don't contact me.
I ll put my disclaimer here first:
*Experiences may vary widely.
\ | /
-- + -- This is not a phallic symbol. I dedicate this to Michelle K, who
/ | \ lives close to that neck of the woods. Peace out.
|
|
__ \ | /____
People thought this was:
- Useful (62)
- Funny (118)
- Cool (77)
This place is so awesome it actually wants to make me take out my running shorts and shoes and jog. Honestly, there is something about the gigantic size of this park in the center of an even more gigantic city that makes it hold a special place in my heart. If God forbid I ever end up homeless, central park will be my new crib.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
Dear Central Park,
I come to you with bottles of wine and friends and in return you give me shirtless hotties and a tan.
I win.
People thought this was:
- Useful (5)
- Funny (12)
- Cool (8)
Holy Huge park. Beautiful. It is a must stop for your trip to the city. How some people in their high heels and business wear traverse the whole park astounds me. It is a nice change of pace though from the hustle of the city to be able to relax in the park.
