Hidden along a steep hillside below Belvedere Castle is the enchanting Shakespeare Garden. Evocative of an English cottage garden, the four-acre space is densely planted with trees, shrubs, flowers, and herbs mentioned in William Shakespeare’s plays and poems. Scattered throughout the Garden are bronze plaques with quotes from Shakespeare that reference plants. Shakespeare Garden […]
The Ravine is the most well-known of the landscapes in the North Woods—Central Park’s largest woodland. A densely wooded valley, its defining feature is the long, narrow watercourse called the Loch, known for its three waterfalls. (The word “Loch” is Scottish for “lake.”) Paths on both sides of the Loch provide views of the water, with […]
Conservatory Water is a beloved Central Park destination filled with attractions geared toward children. Its main feature is an ornamental pond, also known as the Model Boat Pond, where children and hobbyists launch and race miniature sailboats and yachts. These are stored and rented at the nearby Kerbs Boathouse, which also houses a cafe. The edges […]
Rediscover one of the Park’s most popular areas through its beautiful tree population. Visitors on the 59th Street Tree Walk will see many species of trees, each with a unique identity. Signs on tree trunks or nearby on the ground teach visitors about the trees along the path, giving walkers the opportunity to learn something […]
From October to April, Wollman Rink welcomes visitors for ice skating, an activity that has a long history in Central Park. Wollman Rink’s location in the south area of the Park makes it easy to reach as well as a prime spot for enjoying Park scenery and the City skyline—a combination that becomes ever more […]
Gapstow Bridge spans the Pond in the southeast corner of the Park. Its rustic stone construction, much of which is covered in vines, blends in with the surrounding landscape. The bridge brings visitors over the narrow neck of the Pond and is also a popular spot for enjoying an overview of scenery and taking photographs. To the […]
One of the most iconic and well-known features in Central Park is Bethesda Terrace, a large plaza consisting of two levels as well as an Arcade and a Fountain. Located in the heart of the Park, Bethesda Terrace is found at the north end of the long, tree-lined promenade known as the Mall and overlooks the Ramble and the Lake. The […]
Located on the eastern edge of the Lake, the Central Park Boathouse is best known as the launch point for rowboats, offering visitors an ideal way to explore one of the Park’s most significant landscapes. In addition to boat rentals, the restaurant is a popular destination for lakeside dining as well as birdwatching Boating on […]
The Cherry Hill Fountain is located at the center of the carriage concourse at the top of Cherry Hill. The ornate fountain is unique, with a largely stone base topped with a finial that combines small saucers for birds to drink out of and a light fixture with eight globes. The water drips down from […]
Strawberry Fields is a memorial to the British rock musician and peace activist John Lennon (1940–1980). The memorial consists of a five-acre landscape near the West 72nd Street entrance and includes the Imagine mosaic, where many come to pay tribute to Lennon. The memorial’s name is a reference to the 1967 song Lennon wrote and performed with […]
