Winter in New York City is cold with temperatures wavering around freezing. Although it has been known to reach a balmy 20°C as well as drop to the other extreme of -20°C, but don’t let that put you off. You can usually count on snow too. Despite all of this, winter is a good time to visit as there are less tourists and still lots of great things to see.
Central Park is just as beautiful in the winter, so you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to wrap up warm and see what’s happening there.
Horse drawn carriages
With the snow on the ground you can almost imagine yourself in a Henry James novel – it’s the mode of transport rather than the climate really. But it’s a great, romantic way to navigate this magical winter wonderland in the heart of New York City.
Ice Skating
There are two ice rinks in Central Park, the Wollman at the south end and the Lasker at the northern end. Wollman is the best known to visitors and looks idyllic against its backdrop of skyscrapers and parkland. Get on and give it a go yourself or watch from the sidelines – you might be given a ‘show’ by some well-practised skater.
Take a walk
The Central Park Conservancy team organise a number of guided walks of varying difficulties. It’s a great way to see parts of the Park you might not otherwise wander into. Walks range from Art in the Park to Conservatory Garden Walks and many more.
Central Park Zoo
See the real thing: snow leopards, polar bears and snow monkeys, as well as red pandas, penguins and Dart Poison frogs. Staying with the wintery theme, catch a wildlife film, either the Polar Express, the 4D experience or the BBC film: Planet Earth Ice Worlds.
Go sledging
When the snow’s there you can go sledging on Pilgrim Hill and Cedar Hill. Pilgrim is the steepest and most popular, but if it’s peace and relative quiet you are looking for, head for Cedar.
Strawberry Fields
Visit the 2.5 acres of Central Park dedicated to the memory of John Lennon, who was shot in New York on 8th December 1980. The memorial is a grey and white mosaic with ‘Imagine’ written in the centre. The entry to Strawberry Fields is on West 72nd Street.
Make Central Park the centre of your New York holiday with BeatTheBrochure.
[Wollman Ice Rink]
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