Navigating Central Park New York
Location tips
This information will help you pace your Manhattan walking trips, and ration your stamina: there are about twenty street blocks to a mile (say, 72nd Street to 92nd Street) and about six avenue blocks to a mile (say from 11th Avenue to Fifth Avenue).
In Central Park, and especially in The Ramble (the uptown shore of The Lake, or 'row boat pond'), it is easy to become disoriented and even lost. The paths curl and twist and you can’t see any landmarks for the forest. What to do? Find a lamp post. Look carefully for its identifier tag; there is a small, rectangular plate affixed to nearly every lamp post. The first two digits represent what street you would be on if the streets ran clear through the park.
The photo shows a lamp post located in on the 72nd Street transverse, correctly identifying its location as being near enough to the line that connects 70th Street were it to run through the park.
One blizzardy, adventurous morning around 4am, while I was out huffing around the park in knee deep snow I spied a coyote. I was able to track it by following the direction from which it had come, to its den in The Ramble. These identifying plates helped me figure out exactly where that den was which, I'll bet, only I and the coyotes know.
About this spot
Central Park
- 24 hours daily
US$
free
Find your way with 301 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in New York
Rainey Park
Western Queens oasis
When you step into "Rainey Park" in New York City, it feels like you have been welcomed into the shared backyard of Astoria residents. Compact & sunny!
by
Paula
Ryszkiewicz
Queens Bakehouse
New York Style patisserie
"Queens Bakehouse" in NYC was an instant hit with me. Their inventive twists on classics are what really stole my heart - the croissant loaf, for example.
by
Paula
Ryszkiewicz
Utopia
Old-fashioned breakfast
"Utopia" is my neighborhood go-to breakfast joint. It's a real old-school kind of place; I go with my newspaper and am always served well and fast.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Malachy's Donegal Inn
Pint-sized Irish bar, UWS
"Malachy's Donegal Inn" is an Irish bar in New York city that's a survivor. There's an ingrained (or ingrown) sense of comfort, 'cares abandoned'...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Central Park Benches
Poignant inscriptions
"Central Park Benches" in NYC (apart from their comfort) are known for their commemorative plaques. One of them is dedicated by the citizens of Liverpool...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
BANKSY locations New York
Contemporary street art
You can find "BANKSY in New York" in the Upper West Side. 'Boy With a Hammer' is the only one of his pieces that hasn't been 'repurposed'...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Silvana
Live music, café, boutique
"Silvana" is a large cafe, boutique, shawarma and falafel bar in NYC that also offers live music performances on their downstairs stage. Great acts!
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Mo's Famous Burgers
Hamburger Food Truck
The menu is simple: hamburgers, French fries & toppings. No over-the-top ingredients, no superfluous adjectives, and high-value food at rock-bottom prices.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Elizabeth Street Garden
Sculpture garden NoLita
"Elizabeth Street Garden" New York: formerly the site of a large, important school house, it was reclaimed in the '90s and turned into a sculpture garden.
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
UWS Phone Booth
Last payphone booth
One block away from a 21st century LinkNYC WiFi tower on Broadway sits one of three West End Avenue working telephone 'booths', the last in NYC...
by
Geoffrey
Dunbar
Anthony & Son
Old-school sandwich shop
After, "Anthony & Son" Panini Shoppe's Italian-style super-sandwiches, no regular New York sandwich will ever taste as good again...
by
Nick
Papa
Dutch Kills
Upholding cocktail culture in Queens
"Dutch Kills" in New York isn't hiding it's one of the best bars in the city, but it isn't publicizing the fact, either. No password to enter, however!
by
Nick
Papa
Heading to New York?
301 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
Heading to New York?
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 301 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture
Our team loves New York
Get to know our other Spotters from New York
As featured on:
