Central Park
 

What is the best time of day, if any, to visit Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. Also, what is the best way to get to the fountain? Thank you.

I don't think there's a best time to visit the fountain. Depends what you want out of it.

When we visit NY we make it a point to walk in The Park just about every day.

I like to get up early on a Saturday or Sunday and wander over to different parts and take photos.

Actually, there are several areas that I like better for photos. The Mall and several of the bridges such as Bow, Greywacke, Glade & Gapstow to me are really good locations.

The Fountain is located at the north end of the Mall. It's about midway from east to west at 72nd street.

You can enter the Park from either the east or west side at the south end and take a nice 10-15 minute walk north or enter from either side at 72nd street and walk towards the middle.

Don't forget to check out the restored <u>Bethesda Terrace Arcade</u>, next to the Bethesda Fountain.
http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/P...ethesdaterrace

The ceiling of the arcade is decorated with beautiful Minton tiles from England. The tiles were removed in the 1980s due to water damage from seepage of water from the road above. The tiles were finally repaired and restored, and the terrace was reopened in March 2007.

You can see the photos I took in March 2009:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/IMG_3087.jpg
Minton tiles ceiling: http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/IMG_3086.jpg

I run and ride in the park and absolutely hate traffic, people or cars, so I notice when the park is less crowded. On weekends, if you don't want to fight the crowds, probably before 10am, earlier the better. Crowds peter out around 1/2 hour before sunset. This is just one person's observations.

Suggest you also make a stop at the park's gift shop. Sara Cedar Miller, the Park's historian and photographer has just published a spectacular guide book called Seeing Central Park. It is sort of a mini coffee table version of Central Park an American Masterpiece. This one is a great guide with fabulous photos.

Read about the Bethesda Fountain before you go including the reference to Bethesda. It's all the more beautiful when you know some of the background. It is, I think, my favorite place in all of Central Park.