twobluecats

Good morning all! In all our trips to NYC, we've only spent a wee bit of time in the park and mostly on the trek up the east side to the Met. On our upcoming trip (in three weeks), we'd like to leave our hotel, Michaelangelo (51st and 7th) and stroll up the Upper West Side, entering the park at a good spot and then crossing to get to the Met. Is this a realistic plan? If so, where do you recommend that we enter, and what can we expect to see on our stroll?

Many thanks!

astein12

If you're up for a good long walk, I'd walk into to the park around Columbus circle (the southwest corner not too far from your hotel). Up past Tavern on the Green, then up to Strawberry Fields, past the lake and up to Naturalist's walk. Then cut east past the Belvedere castle, north towards the great lawn then east to the Met.

Good info and maps at: http://www.centralparknyc.org/virtualpark

MHS

I'm doing basically the reverse next week -- walking from the Met through the park to Broadway. Here are the directions I received: Walk parallel to the 79th Street car transverse. This will take you to 81st Street and Central Park West. Walk west on 81st to Broadway (Columbus, Amsterdam, Broadway). When you get to Broadway walk one block south to 80th. Zabars is on the northwest corner of 80th and Broadway.
Reversing these, you would walk west to east along the 79th Street car transverse to come out to 5th Ave with the Met on your left.
NYCers -- please correct this if it's wrong.

rqf

If you want to do most of the walk in the park follow AStein’s directions. If you want to get a feel for the Upper West Side just reverse the directions in the MHS post.

beentheretwice

Very realistic and quite fun. We spent a good deal of time walking through the park and very much enjoyed it.

twobluecats

Thanks for the speedy replys guys. I really like the idea of entering at Columbus and strolling up to the lake and then over--looks like we'll have a lot to take in. I realize that it really makes a difference in how long you take to stop and take in everything, but if you were guessing, how much time should we allow for a walking tour like this. I plan to start out after a rest in the room and before a planned couple of hours spent at the Met on a Friday evening.

Also, what time does it get dark this time of year?

brookwood

I recommend the maps. those paths wind and twist. Without a good sense of direction, you can end up going in a circle and end up back on the same street you started from.

owlwoman

The distance is approximately two miles, so at a good pace 1/2 hour to 45 minutes, at a leisurely pace, probably 1 hour or so....it doesn't get dark here until 8:30 now. You'll probably want to take the bus back down 5th Ave. after all the walking a touring at the Met. Aren't you the people from Nashville who were looking for a place to stay outside the city?

twobluecats

Owlman--thanks for remembering us! We are actually from Dallas, but I was originally asking for info about the stuff between Nashville and NYC. We decided to stay in Tarrytown and take the train into Grand Central. We'll stay parked there from Friday, July 1 through the morning of Monday, July 4. We then hit the road for a July 4 evening in Boston.

I'll try to pick up a good map of Central Park today at the bookstore. It definitely looks like we could get lost, but we are positively going to get a better feel for the park this time and my brother and his family will definitely enjoy it!

twobluecats

Also--definitely taking a bus back down. We were thinking of Grand Sichuan
on 9th between 50th and 51st for dinner. Any recommended ways to get there from the Met? Perhaps bus it back down 5th to 50th or so and then walk west?

owlwoman

Glad to hear you're staying in Tarrytown, I live there, hope you have some time to walk Main Street (it will take all of 10 minutes, unless you stop in every antique store, then it could take hours). Too bad you won't be here for the 4th, all the rivertowns have fireworks. Actually, some of the towns might have them on the 3rd, haven't seen any schedules in the local paper yet.

Anyway, if you take the bus down 5th to 50th, there is a crosstown bus, or if you have the energy, walk, it will only be a 10 minute or so walk at that point. If you need any further info, let me know.

rqf

It gets dark well after 8 PM. Should you change your mind and decide to walk the upper west side and enter the park at 81st. you will be in close proximity to the Shakespeare Garden, the Swedish Cottage, the Luce Nature Observatory, Belvedere Castle and Turtle Pond. To visit these places stay on the north side of the transverse road used by cars.

bennnie

Here's a link for a map of Central Park.

http://www.centralparknyc.org/virtualpark

twobluecats

Owlman---when we get ready to leave Tarrytown on July 4 headed to Boston, what route do you recommend?

owlwoman

By the way it's owlWOMAN, not Man, that's my husband. To Boston, take the Saw Mill River Parkway North to 684, the Saw Mill ends at 684 and will dump you right onto 684 toward Brewster, then take 84 East toward Danbury which takes you through Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford, right to the Mass Pike, which will lead you into Boston. If you have kids with you and some time, Sturbridge Village is a nice pit stop right at the CT/MASS border. It's one of those reproduction villages.

It takes about 3 hours, we do it all the time, it's not a bad drive and the roads should be pretty empty that day if you leave early enough.

twobluecats

Sorry Owlwoman--I should be ashamed of myself as I write (and proof!) for a living! Anyway, I truly appreciate your help! The details of this trip are finally starting to firm up, and I think my family is going to have a super July 4 vacation! Thanks again!