Bella's Log

Is it possible to visit New York City while staying within a budget? This question was asked in one of the budgeting groups I follow on Facebook. As a New Yorker, I knew from experience the answer was a resounding yes, and I knew exactly how to accomplish it: a day in Central Park. 

Go for a Picnic

My favorite way to enjoy Central Park is by having a picnic. As a visitor, there is no need to bring food from the hotel or rental to where you stay, especially if it is far from the park. Central Park goes from Manhattan’s 59th Street to 110th Street. Almost every street provides an entrance to the park, and you can find stores where to buy the supplies needed for a picnic. My favorite option is Trader Joe’s, which is located at the corner of West 72nd Street and Broadway and accessible via train lines 1, 2, and 3. Trader Joe’s is known for selling affordable yet delicious foods, and you can find everything needed for a picnic, including cold meats, water, chips, and even picnic blankets.

Central Park Attractions

Walking west from Broadway will take you to the 72nd Street entrance of Central Park. The first landmark you will find is The Dakota Building, a United States Historic Landmark that has served as the home of many artists, including John Lennon. The 72nd Street entrance also has a path leading to the Imagine Mosaic, a memorial dedicated to Lennon. The mosaic is located in Central Park’s Strawberry Fields, an area named after The Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever” song.   

From here, the whole park is available for picnics and strolls. Use the official park map to find all park areas and highlights. To start, I recommend walking the path that leads from the Strawberry Fields to the Bethesda Terrace. The terrace and its accompanying fountain are one of the most well-known areas of Central Park and have been featured in countless movies and TV shows. 

After admiring the scenery and taking pictures on the terrace, continue to Cherry Hill to reach the Bow Bridge. From there, take one of the many paths of The Ramble and try to identify the birds you see and hear. According to the Central Park Conservancy website, “The Ramble is visited by over 200 bird species each year.” And, if you are into scavenger hunts, try to see which of the many rambling paths leads you to the Ramble Stone Arch. The arch is a bridge “designed to look like it naturally formed.” It appears like a centuries-old structure in a mythical forest, something you would never imagine existing in New York City. 

Exit the Ramble via the West Drive and follow the map to walk past the Swedish Cottage and find the Shakespeare Gardens. This quiet garden is set to resemble the English countryside and houses a variety of flowers mentioned in The Bard’s works. A short walk from the garden leads to a Statue of Romeo and Juliet to the Delacorte Theater, where the park offers free presentations of Shakespeare’s works, commonly known as Shakespeare in the Park. 

To finish the stroll, keep heading north from the theater until only a great expanse, only a great expanse of green, is left in front of you: The Great Lawn. It is no exaggeration to call it The Great Lawn. It is big enough to fit nine American football fields or six soccer fields. As it stands now, the Lawn also houses six softball fields. The green is surrounded by trees and offers a view of NYC skyscrapers on the horizon. The Lawn is the main destination for tourists and locals for picnics, sunbathing, relaxing, or free events. I have attended a few free summer concerts by The New York Philharmonic. Check out the Central Park website to see if there will be any free concerts during your visit to New York. 

Spend the rest of the day enjoying a picnic at The Great Lawn or continue exploring the sites and sculptures inside the park. The Lawn is also close to both the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka The Met) and the American Museum of Natural History. Click on the museums’ names to check the entrance fees.

Central Park is an oasis in one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas. It offers a respite from all the buildings, cars, noise, and concrete. It is the perfect destination for any city visitor, whether they are trying to enjoy city attractions on a budget, want to experience NYC like a local, or simply want to explore beyond the Times Square crowds. 

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