Of the four days that I was in NY, I visited Central Park three of those days – and each time found a new path to walk and discovered a new piece of the 250 acres of lawn or the 150 acres of water. br>
I loved discovering the park, and found myself wishing we had something similar back home. Everything was blooming – crab apples, cherry blossoms, tulips, etc. Birds were singing (we saw the fattest robins ever – they must get fed well.) The park was alive with people – oh and we can’t forget the dogs. Apparently, if you don’t have a dog to walk in Central Park, well then you’re nobody! I found myself wondering how these big dogs could be happy in the small NY apartments I’ve heard so much about.

One of the highlights was seeing the model boat pond – where you can rent a sailboat and become captain for an hour (as seen in Stuart Little). Another was seeing the Belvedere Castle (as seen in a recent ABC Family movie, the name of which escapes me), which was completed in 1872 and situated right next to the turtle pond – appropriately named, as several turtles poked their head out of the water to greet me. Everything looked familiar – it seemed everywhere I turned was a scene out of a movie or TV show – You’ve Got Mail, The Apprentice, etc. It was like coming home, but having never been there.

I also learned in my conference of an art project to take place in the park for nearly three weeks in February of 2005. Artists Cristo and Jeanne Claude (famous for their "wraps" in fabric of the Pont Neuf in Paris 1975-85, the Reichstag in Berlin in 1995, and other projects such as The Umbrellas in Japan and the US, 1984-91) will create their next work, The Gates. They will create 7,500 "gates", 16-feet high, will follow the walkways and footpaths in Central park. From these gates will hang the most beautiful saphron-colored fabric. (See their site for more on the artists.)

I could get lost for days inside Central Park and be happy as a lark. It’s a beautiful place, and probably one of the best ideas the city planners had for New York. It’s a must see – but it’ll never be the same experience twice.

This is a very big park. It would take you most of a day to see it all. We stayed in the southern portion. A trip to Tavern on the Green is for anyone who enjoys fine dining, but I didn't really care for it. You might spot a famous personality having lunch! There's plenty of other activities in Central Park that you might want to check out, but we didn't spend much time here.

Our room overlooked Central Park surrounded by horse drawn buggies, waiting to give you a grand tour. 840 acres filled with 5 million trees of 632 species and 800 species of vines and shrubs, make this a wondrous place indeed and covered in snow, gives it a magical illumination. We tromped over the Stone Gapston Bridge that crosses the north outlet of the pond and took pictures. Hard to believe in 1856 the city bought it for 5 million...we watched the ice skaters, saw the famous and expensive Terrace on the Green lit with animal sculpted lawn topiaries, the dedicated joggers, and the bird lady, just like in the movie, HOME ALONE.

Fun, fast (ish) and fantastic exercise. Rollerblade in the summer, ice skate in the winter...very romantic! The trees of Central Park that border the rink provide the perfect frame for the high rise hotels and buildings around 5th Avenue.

As a habitual park goer, it's not an overstatement to say the daily evolution of the seasons is quite evident providing an entirely new set of vistas and experiences for each visit to Central Park...no matter how many times you might've already been there.

I'd wager Spring is by far the best season. In March, daffodils and other flowers begin appearing scattered about poking their heads through late snow when necessary. Moderate temperatures begin luring NY'ers out of dreary, cramped apartments; park attendance especially swelling after the first Sunday in April and DST.

The fountains get filled and drinking fountains turned on while new buds on trees/bushes cast a fresh light-green coating across the horizons. By mid-May, flowering trees are beautiful; the highest concentrations around Tavern on the Green, Cherry Hill, the eastern park look behind the art museum, the eastern bridle path along the reservoir, and in Conservatory Gardens - a definite must.

If you can't stand the heat, head for the park! Vegetations are at their lushest providing cool shade during summer months, but it's the massive amounts of people which become the main attraction. The park is abuzz with activities everywhere, though quiet moments are still available whether amidst the crowds or in solitude. Street performers, as well as the Summer Stage concert series and performances at Delacorte Theatre, provide daily entertainment beyond obvious people watching opportunities. Ferocious night time thunderstorms, conjured up by the most wicked humidity, can cause the ground to produce steam which yields a ghastly, eerie ambiance to the natural magical mystery.

Mild fall temperatures generously extend summer-like activities with trees offering little seasonal hints. They're not many Maples and others with vibrant fall foliage, but many shades of yellows/browns paint an entirely different landscape whether leaves are still clinging to trees or carpeting the ground. Judge for yourself, but there always seems to be a sense of desperation in the air the last Saturday of October as people fully indulge before losing the hour of park daylight come Sunday with the time change.

Enjoyable weather has usually stuck around until the week of Thanksgiving and Mother Nature drops the bottom out of temperatures. While not as great in numbers, you'll note the serious park patrons still walking dogs, jogging/biking and seeking refuge in this Edenistic escape...just more bundled up.

Central Park is not to be missed in winter! Bare tree limbs no longer conceal the towring rows of buildings surrounding the space; even more evident after 5:00 p.m. when all the lights come on. Take a walk with someone special; snuggled up for warmth...imaginary mistletoe hanging off any/everywhere! When there's snow/ice, proceed with caution walking across the frozen lakes. I see people doing it every year - yet someone always falls through!

And then, counting the days until Spring...