Central Park

Our itinerary for the second was somewhat more relaxed and less packed. We woke up a bit late and didn’t hit the road until around 11 a.m. The fact that we didn’t sleep at all during the past two days had a great toll on us. Ugh!

After a yummy breakfast, made by Brent and Luke, we headed out to our first destination — Central Park.

Not a small park you typically find in large cities, Central Park covers a total land area of 843 acres (3.41 sq. km). It is bordered on the north by West 110th Street, on the west by Central Park West, on the south by West 59th Street, and on the east by Fifth Avenue.

With about twenty-five million visitors annually, Central Park is the most visited city park in the United States, and its appearance in many movies and television shows has made it among the most famous city parks in the world.

The park is an escape valve for the city. Without it, New York would overheat, especially in summer, when the humidity tops 90 percent, and bikers, runners, bladers, dog strollers and frisbee players convene.

The first landscaped park in the US, Central Park was designed by journalist Frederick Law Olmsted and English architect Calvert Vaux in 1863. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963.

While much of the park looks natural, it is in fact almost entirely landscaped and contains several artificial lakes, extensive walking tracks, two ice-skating rinks, a wildlife sanctuary, and grassy areas used for various sporting pursuits, as well as playgrounds for children. The park is a popular oasis for migrating birds, and thus is also popular with bird watchers.

Sounds cool, huh? Check it out!

Standing near the Park’s south gate is a monument dedicated to General Sherman, a New York hero from the Revolutionary Day.

All along the way into the Park, you’ll find countless number of painters waiting to draw you a portrait,…

a bird and marine park

And even squirrels…