January 15, 2010

Central Park with a Valentine

Bow Bridge, Central Park

Did you notice a whole lot of pink and red cards and decorations only hours after Christmas morning? Oh, wait, it upset you? Because I couldn’t be happier. Life should be measured in holidays really – always either living one or getting ready for the next. Besides, I especially adore Cupid’s holiday – partly because of delightful lists like this one that popped up in my inbox recently. It was put out by the Central Park Conservatory, and it’s the sites in the Park rated most romantic. Certainly many of them top my list as places to see when I finally visit the amazing New York City.

Conservatory Water

First up is the body of water surrounded by some of Central Park’s most beautiful foliage and usually graced with the miniature (though some not that small) sailboats for which it was built. Nearby you’ll find plenty of benches on which to rest side by side as well as the lovely, famed statues of Alice in Wonderland at her tea party and of Hans Christian Andersen.

Belvedere Castle

This building straight from a fairy tale offers panoramic views of other Central Park greats, like Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn. It provides the official New York City temperature, and it’s frequented by bird watchers, naturalists, and apparently couples in love.

Bow Bridge

Is anything needed but the beautiful picture above to convince you of the romantic possibilities of Bow Bridge? This cast iron archway is one of Central Park’s most popular meeting places. It offers a great view of the Lake and of the buildings of Fifth Avenue towering above the tree line. It’s a beautiful transition from Cherry Hill to the Ramble, and – well, it’s simply beautiful itself.

Conservatory Garden

Few surroundings are quite so perfect for romance as a peaceful, fragrant garden. Conservatory Garden is the only formal garden in the Park, and it’s a beautiful respite from the bustling city outside.

Bethseda Terrace

What better place for love than at the attraction known as the heart of the park? Bethseda Terrace offers the beautiful Bethseda Fountain, intricate ornamentation, a view of the Lake and the Ramble, and a walk on the tree-canopied Mall – one of the prettiest walkways in the park.

Central Park has many favorite sites. It’s the perfect attraction for group travel of any kind. But for these sites and many others, it’s perhaps best of all enjoyed in pairs.

Photo by Lucius Kwok on Flickr.

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