New York City’s Central Park is a destination unto itself, complete with multiple attractions and things to do. If you’re visiting the city with kids, consider reserving an entire day to explore the park – especially if the kids have spent long hours behaving themselves in museums and shops. What can you do while visiting the park? Skip the horse-drawn carriage or bike rentals and explore the paved paths on your own, keeping your eye out for these notable landmarks.

Central Park Playgrounds

The entire park can be considered a playground fit for running, jumping, and climbing, but there’s also actual playgrounds perfect for modern kids who need to be shown explicitly how to avoid boredom. You’ll find jungle gyms and splash pads throughout the park, often nestled among monstrous boulders on which adults and kids alike crawl and climb. In addition to free play, many of the playgrounds also host free activities for young kids.

Literary Walk

Want to slip a little education into the day? Stroll down Literary Walk and look for statues of notable figures in literary history. This is also a popular spot for musical performers and food vendors, so grab an ice cream cone and listen to great live music in between your history lessons.

Bethesda Fountain

A beautiful spot to walk, run, and watch the boats on the water. Bethesda Fountain is also near a road where cars and carriages drive by, so be on the lookout for traffic as you make your way to the fountains.

Strawberry Fields

John Lennon’s favorite spot in the park – presumably because it was right across the street from his home – has been memorialized with  “quiet zone” lawns and a mosaic art piece. This is definitely one of the most touristy spots in the park, but it’s worth seeing at least once. You may not want to stay long with small kids though, as quiet zones and young kids don’t often mix.

What’s your favorite spot in the park?

Photos by Britt Reints