Trail Tramps: Walk in Snowy Central Park and Environs (Area activities link here)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Walk in Snowy Central Park and Environs (Area activities link here)

Even though we had a brunch date on this third day after the big snow, we didn't forget our daily goal to walk 10,000 steps. Besides, knowing that we'd be walking it off, we did indulge in Pancakes and French toast in P.J. Clark's, right across the street from Lincoln Center. Fortified with yummy food and our gortex hiking boots, we waved so long to our friends as they piled into a taxi, and we began what turned out to be a 10 mile walk by hoofing it over toward the 72nd Street and Central Park West entrance to Central Park. The Transverse starts there and leads straight across to 5th Avenue on the Upper East Side.
(This is an update of this post. Some of the less snowy photos were taken at another time.)

Books and media list below post.

An architectural tour of Central Park West is definitely one of our goals. For now, though, we can name three buildings. First, we can recognize The Dakota, one of New York City's most notable apartment houses, so called because when it was built at the end of the 19th century, it was so far from the active center of Manhattan that it might as well have been in North or South Dakota!

The Dakota's amazing facade. It's claim to fame: Roman Polansky's horror film, Rosemary's Baby, was filmed here, John Lennon and Yoko Ono were residents.

Another grande dame of New York apartment buildings, the Majestic stands right across from the Dakota.

As we entered the park, we glanced back to catch this glimpse of the Majestic's towers.

Another of the four grand apartment buildings that define Central Park West, the San Remo is just north of the Dakota and the Majestic. Many notable people have called this Art Deco beauty home, from Eddie Cantor and Hedy Lamar to Steve Jobs and Steve Martin.

Just inside Central Park, this pathway looks just like a country lane--in the middle of the Big City.

Strawberry Fields, one of Central Parks most visited sites is a memorial to John Lennon.

Bethesda Fountain, featuring the Angel of the Waters statue, is considered the crown jewel of Central Park.

These pedicabs will take you anywhere you want to go--for the right price.

Pilgrim Hill, just north of the 72nd Street entrance to the Park at Fifth Avenue, hill has been a favorite of sledding kids for generations.

Before exiting the Park, we took a turn south to check out some other hills and smaller paths.

Literary Walk, with the Bethesda Fountain behind us.

This doggie is heading east to 5th Avenue, but we're not ready to exit yet.

Here's action on another hill. Watch out for tree hazards!

The brave headed up yet more byways in the snow. We decided it was time for a reward.

We exited at the 72nd Street Transverse and walked one block east to Madison Avenue, and then north to...

The Maison du Chocolat, a trek up Madison Avenue, is a good place to warm up on a cold New York Winter day.

After the wonderful, warming chocolate, it was a walk back down to East 66th Street.