Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
actual, to its residents. The park's 843 acres were set aside in 1856 on the marshy north-
ern fringe of the city. The landscaping (the first in a US public park), by Frederick Law
Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was innovative in its naturalistic style, with forested groves,
GOOGLE MAP
(mid-park from 66th to 69th Sts), where tens of thousands of people
212-861-6030;
www.centralparkzoo.com
; Central Park, 64th St at Fifth Ave; adult/child $12/7;
10am-5:30pm Apr-Nov, to 4:30pm Nov-Apr; ; N/Q/R to 5th Ave-59th St)
; and the
Ramble
, a rest stop for nearly 250 migratory species of birdlife - early morning is best
for sightings. A favorite tourist activity is to rent a
horse-drawn carriage
(at 59th St, Cen-
tral Park South; 30min tour $50 plus generous tip)
or hop in a pedicab (one hour tours $45);
the latter congregate at Central Park West and 72nd St. For more information while
you're strolling, visit the
Dairy Building visitor center
(
212-794-6564;
www.centralpark.org
)
in the southern section of the park.
Lincoln Center
CULTURAL CENTER
( 212-875-5456;
www.lincolncenter.org
;
Columbus Ave btwn 62nd & 66th Sts; public plazas free,
tours adults/child $15/8; ; 1 to 66th St-Lincoln Center)
The billion-dollar-plus redevel-
opment of the world's largest performing-arts center includes the dramatically redesigned
Alice Tully Hall and other stunning venues surrounding a massive fountain; public
spaces, including the roof lawn of the North Plaza (an upscale restaurant is underneath),
have been upgraded. The lavishly designed
Metropolitan Opera House
(MET), the
largest opera house in the world, seats 3900 people. Fascinating one-hour
tours
of the
complex leave from the lobby of Avery Fisher Hall from 10:30am to 4:30pm daily; these
vary from architectural to backstage tours. Free wi-fi is available on the property as well
1 to 66th St-Lincoln Center)
, a modern public space featuring a lounge area, cafe, inform-
ation desk, and ticket center offering day-of discounts to Lincoln Center performances.
American Museum of Natural History
MUSEUM
( 212-769-5100;
www.amnh.org
;
Central Park West at 79th St; adult/child $19/10.50;
10am-5:45pm, Rose Center to 8:45pm Fri, Butterfly Conservancy Oct-May; ; B, C to 81st St-
Museum of Natural History, 1 to 79th St)
Founded in 1869, this museum includes more than
30 million artifacts, interactive exhibits and loads of taxidermy. It's most famous for its
three large dinosaur halls, an enormous (fake) blue whale that hangs from the ceiling