Springtime Boaters in Central Park



Springtime in New York City is so refreshing. Those first warm days marking the end of a dreary winter draw everyone outdoors and thankfully Central Park is there to host everyone’s interests. On a visit to the Upper West Side we had some time to kill on a beautiful spring day and found ourselves approaching Central Park, near 77th Street, or mid-park. We began on the park’s West Side at the American Museum of Natural History and followed a winding little path that turned out to be The Ramble, providing us with a perfect tour of some of the park’s biggest hits.

We started at a glistening slice of water with boaters and a pretty view of the city, and then The Ramble turned back into the depths of the park, under Olmsted’s beautiful Ramble Arch. We enjoyed leaving the skyline behind and feeling as if we were out for a hike in some calm and remote spot in the woods. All kinds of birds were chirping and the buds were coming out, providing optimistic scenery along our stroll that wound up and down rolling hills.



The Ramble Arch



We crossed the park and came out at the East Side, finding the Metropolitan Museum of Art right across the street. Looking for some culture, we decided to venture inside. However, since the lines were long and our time was tight we opted to return to the outdoors. You can lose yourself for a day or more in the Met and it deserves a greater devotion of time.



Angel of Waters Fountain




Bethesda Terrace Steps



Heading back to the West Side we were attracted to the bustling centerpiece of Central Park, Bethesda Terrace. With sweeping stairs from the bridge down to the sprawling brick terrace, the Angel of Water fountain and a panoramic view of the Boathouse across the Lake, it would be easy to miss the hidden jewels that a passing rickshaw driver pointed out to us below.



Minton Tile Ceiling at Bethesda Arcade



Beneath the bridge is the Bethesda Arcade, and its walls and ceiling are lined with recently restored Minton Tiles. As musical performers played beneath, luring us down with their beautiful acoustics, we marveled at the sparkling tiles, the only known example of a Minton ceiling in the world. The sunny terrace drew us out and we mingled with all the people celebrating the day blowing bubbles, walking their dogs, playing games and people watching from a warm spot in the sun. It was hard to leave such a vibrant spot, but we wanted to stop by another crowded, but quiet area of the park before heading off to our evening obligation.



Strawberry Fields Memorial to John Lennon



Below the Ramble across the lake, Strawberry Fields is a little corner on the park’s West Side at 72nd Street carved out in tribute to John Lennon, located not far from the scene of his assassination in front of The Dakota. It can be extremely crowded around the Imagine memorial where fans place flowers, but there are benches and spots on the fringes to reflect about Lennon’s messages of peace. Quite a nice way to end a happy day.

By Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog

Photos credited to Molly G. @ The Bumbles Blog