central park route
 

Hi there,

What is the best and shortest route from 79th Subway #1 to following attractions:

1. Bow Bridge
2. Gapstow Bridge
3. Literary Walk/The Mall

Combo walking/subway preferred since I will be carrying heavy camera equipments.

Thanks

Not being a subway expert, I ask if you mean taking #1 subway to West 79th Street. If I am correct and if that subway stops at the 72nd Street station, you're closer exiting there.
The Bow Bridge is on the east side of the lake just north of 73th Street, a fairly simple walk around the southern rim of the lake until you hit the bridge.
To reach the other two destinations from there, keep walking southeast to the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain (which you can't miss and where you also might want to take some photos), which leads right into The Mall which in turn leads to Literary Walk.
The three sites are definitely a manageable walk with your equipment.

There is also B/C line along CPW that stops at 72nd st. What is the shortest walking distance? We are trying to minimize traveling by foot since we are covering large area from Brooklyn to Upper East in one day with heavy equipments.

Thanks

PS: Barnes & Noble publishes an excellent guide to Central Park. Naturally, its title is "Barnes & Noble Complete Illustrated Map and Guidebook to Central Park."

I've given you the shortest route. You enter the park at West 72nd Street, take the path in a southeast direction to the lake (which you can't miss), walk around the lake to the Bow Bridge. Leaving the Bow Bridge, walk southeast to and thru the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain (again you miss them), cross the Terrace Bridge and you're at the northern tip of the Mall. Walking south, the Mall leads right into the Literary Walk.
What more you want to know?

I've answered this one at Tripadvisor already

Thanks!

Now, how do we get back to our hotel without walking back to central park? Our hotel is near 81th/Broadway?

Do you know about http://www.hopstop.com/?

If yo go to the web site of the Central Park Conservancy there is a detailed map of the pedestrian paths in the Park. The distances you're talking about are fairly long and the park isn't a flat park - there are areas that are very hilly. If you have a lot of equipment I suggest you take a cab to the entrance nearest what you want to shoot - and that you have a dolly or something as well as several assistants to help you with equipment. (Vehicles are NOT allowed in the park except at certain very limited hours - and in very limited locations.)

One other point. You can;t simply go around taking random pictures in Central park. Naturally a tourist can take snapshots anywhere they want. But if this is a real photo shoot with tripods and lots of equipment - for possible commercial use - you have to get advance permission for the shoot. (Our senior staff had a group photo taken in front of the Bethesda Fountain by a professional photographer - and he had to get advance permission.)

Separately, the subway is not a realistic way to haul around photo gear. There are way too many steps to deal with - never mind having to hand onto al the gear in crowded subway cars. You need to travel by cab.

Also - suggest you get a map of Manhattan. Central park runs from 59th St to 10th and from Fifth Ave to Central Park West (the continuation of 8th Ave) and everything you're talking about is in the Park or immediately adjacent. A hotel on 81st and Broadway is 3 block from the Park.

Sorry - that's from 59th St to 110 th. FYI Central Park is bigger than the country of Monaco.

"Now, how do we get back to our hotel without walking back to central park? Our hotel is near 81th/Broadway?"

From where? You're talking about several locations IN Central Park, so of course you don't need to retrace your steps, but I don't understand your question.
Look at a good street map of Manhattan or even Google Maps to get your bearings.

Thanks nytraveler, you answered our question:-)

What was your (one) question?

Meant questions, thank you everybody for helpful suggestions!