As the leaves begin to shimmer from the bright green foliage of summer to the reds, oranges and yellows of fall, Central Park is NYC’s escape from the endless concrete jungle to a glimpse of nature. There is so much more to do than just admire the trees, explore the monuments, the playgrounds and the last grasses before the winter takes them away.
Forest baths at the Ramble (Mid-Park to 73rd-79th Streets) is a way to soak up the atmosphere of nature and avoid the car horns for a bit. The art of Shinrin-Yoku evolved in Japan in the 1980s to help workers disconnect from the common feelings of the urban lifestyle. The Ramble is one of the few fully forested areas in Central Park, making it an ideal space to connect and reflect.
If lush forests aren’t your favorite, check out the fall flowers at the Conservatory Garden (east side at 104th and 106th streets) and will celebrate its 85th birthday this fall. Korean chrysanthemums only survive the fall and come in a vibrant palette of pinks, oranges and yellows.
Take in the scene at Bow Bridge (Mid-Park to 74th Street). This bridge is one of the most iconic spots in Central Park and is a spectacular place to watch the beauty of the changing leaves. To say goodbye to the grass before winter takes them away, visit East Meadow (east side at 97th and 100th streets). Having a picnic or soaking up the heat before the cool weather arrives is a good way to relax.
For families with children, the park has 21 playgrounds, including the Billy Johnson Playground (east side at 67th Street). The playground has a 45-foot granite slide as well as mini versions of Central Park locations.
History buffs can check out the newly unveiled Women’s Rights Pioneers monument in all its bronze glory (Mid-Park at 68th Street). The statue features 3 incredible women: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth and Susan B. Anthony.
Almost all of the activities mentioned above have the option of an accompanying self-guided tour for the area or monument. General Conservation Tours are also a great option, offering self-guided tours, in-person and virtual tours, and weekly online walks. Some tours available include Picture Perfect Central Park, which covers the most famous locations, Urban Sanctuary and Flying South for Winter, which focuses on bird watching, and Discovery Walks for Families, which focuses on the ecology of Central Park . Fall brings more than 210 species of migratory birds to the park, so go bird watching before winter.
Many of these tours begin at the Dairy Visitor Center and Gift Shop (Mid-Park to 65th Street)which is a great place to get the upper hand on holiday gift shopping.
As a reminder to protect New York’s limited beautiful trees, Central Park says don’t climb trees, don’t burn or damage bark, and avoid picking leaves. For more news and happenings, follow @CentralParkNYC on social media. Park closure alerts and schedule updates are available at centralparknyc.org.
