ohioteacher

Next week, I will be taking a group of 22 teenagers (ages 13 and 14) on a trip to NYC. On Tuesday, June 14'th, we have about a 2-hour time slot available where we can see Central Park. I'm thinking they would like to get pictures of the Museum of Natural History (from the outside) as they are all familiar with Night at the Museum. While in that area, I thought they might enjoy seeing Belvedere Castle I definitely want them to see the Imagine Mosaic at Strawberry Fields and Bethesda Fountain. I know they would enjoy the bandshell area and the mall because of the street performers. I also thought they would like to see Sheep Meadow, maybe ride the carousel, visit the Dairy for souvenirs, and maybe take pictures of Gapstow Bridge. Is this do-able? Am I leaving anything out, and is there anything I've mentioned above that I should exclude? Thank you for any suggestions.

SueNYC

Why not click on your name and read the responses to your other 3 queries about this.
People have responded to these questions. Hope your students will be enjoying Museum Mile that evening. Have fun looking after you group.

ohioteacher

I definitely have read the responses from all of the people on the other 3 queries. That's why I decided to take ellenem's suggestion of combining them into one, including how much time I have and where I am thinking about going. At this point, I am just looking for any last minute advice or suggestions.

Bowsprit

Sounds like a no-brainer but tell your group to look both ways and cross the streets in C.P. very carefully. The bicyclists are intense and they don't stop for anyone. No joke; you get hit by a bike and you're going to the hospital.

ellenem

Your plan is doable in two hours, but you'll have to keep moving—and have a good map of the park. It's easy to get turned around on the winding paths and there isn't a lot of signage. Hope you have good weather for it.

ellenem

By the way, there will be fewer people in the park on a Tuesday than on the weekend. And there will be even fewer people in the park if you visit in the morning rather than the afternoon. I'm not sure that you'd find many street performers on the mall on a Tuesday morning at 11AM, since they are busking for tips and know they won't have much of an audience. Even without performers, the mall is still a worthwhile area to visit and may be familiar from movies.

SueNYC

J Lo walked her dogs on the Mall in Maid in Manhattan and yes you will have to keep your group moving. While the Ramble is the prettier way to get from the Castle to Strawberry fields, I've avoid it because you will get lost. If you lose time at the beginning of your 2 hour window, I would shorten the trip at the end.

ohioteacher

I've never been to the castle. In your opinion, is it a place the kids would enjoy? Is there something I'm leaving out?

Bowsprit

They'd love the castle.

Have you visited the Central Park Conservancy site online? There's a lot of good information there.

Cleopatra's Needle is an unexpected pleasure; have you found that on the map? Just wander, they'll see plenty. Urban parks are fascinating.

SueNYC

Sorry skip - the Castle - I thought you were showing the kids the Museum so you could enter the Park there - Head down to Strawberry Fields and enter there -- you can deal with your time crunch by moderating the amount of retail therapy they get at the Dairy.

Bows - the original poster has a time crunch and a money crunch. We know there's lots to see.

HappyTrvlr

My teenage grandkids all loved seeing the Image Memorial and The Dakota where John Lennon lived.
Go to Zabar's for a snack.

Ryan

Where is your starting point and ending point? I ask only for purposes of suggesting a route.

Whether starting at the Museum of Natural History, at the south end on 59th and 6th, or at the Met Museum this would apply.

I might suggest planning a route that uses The Pond at the end of the park as either a starting point or the point of the botto of the "u" if starting at one museum and walking towards the other.

Assuming starting at the Pond, walk north towards The Mall, the wide expanse that starts at roughly 67th Street. If there are artists or performers in the park, they generally be at the end towards the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain.

Walk toward one or the other museum using landmarks like The Lake, Belvedere Castle, and the Obelisk to plan a route.

I might suggest bringing the frisbee and maybe letting the run around a bit on one of the open spaces. The row boats are fun and might be worth considering. But, that will take up at least an hour of your time, or more.

My son is bit younger than a teen but his favorite thing to do in NY is ramble through Central Park climbing the big rock formations.

Here's a good overview map. (BTW, I find the GPS Map on my Iphone to be a big help when navigating some little path through the Bramble.)

http://www.centralparknyc.org/maps/

Bowsprit

I wouldn't skip the Castle. The views are great from the top.

Regarding limited time and money: As I said, just wander. They'll see plenty. When your time is nearing an end, leave the park.

What's the big deal with the park? It's a park! Walk through it!