Central Park

Central Park is an 843-acre park with undulating meadows, boulder-studded outcroppings, elm-lined paths, manicured European-style gardens, a lake and a reservoir, as well as an outdoor theater, a memorial to John Lennon, an ideal waterside café, and a famous Alice in Wonderland statue.

The 15-acre Sheep Meadow, where thousands of people recline and play on hot days, the Central Park Zoo, and the Ramble's forest-like trails, which are popular with birdwatchers, are all highlights. In the summer, there are free outdoor concerts on the Great Lawn, as well as top-notch plays at the open-air Delacorte Theater's annual Shakespeare in the Park presentations. The Shakespeare Garden, on the west side between 79th and 80th Streets, with its rich vegetation and wonderful skyline perspective, is another suggested visit.

During the summer, you can do anything from fishing to camping in Central Park without ever leaving Manhattan, or you may follow in the footsteps of innumerable movie characters and visit the Victorian Bow Bridge, which crosses Central Park Lake and links Cherry Hill and the Ramble. Nearby, the magnificent Bethesda Fountain borders the lake, and the Loeb Boathouse, which rents rowboats and serves lunch, is a popular attraction.

Location: 59 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023