Summary: An 843-acre wooded and landscaped oasis in the middle of the city. Ample room for in-line skaters, runners, joggers, bikers, bird watchers, nature lovers and practitioners of just about every other activity you can think of. The park includes lakes, a skating rink, a miniature golf course, tennis courts, softball fields, a swimming pool and even a carousel.

Highlights of the most famous park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux include:

• Alice in Wonderland Sculptures
  Near Fifth Avenue at East 75th Street
  Climbable figures of Alice, the Mad Hatter and other characters from the Lewis Carroll tale.

• Belvedere Castle, the Henry Luce Nature Observatory
  Near 79th Street in the center of the park
  (212)772-0210
  Once a weather station, now an education center with terrific views.

• Bethesda Terrace
  Near East 73rd Street at the southeast corner of Rowboat Lake
  Famous for the "Angel of the Waters" fountain.

• Buggy Rides
  Horse-drawn hansom cabs are for hire at the Plaza entrance on Central Park South and at Columbus Circle.

• Central Park Zoo
  5th Avenue at East 64th Street
  (212) 861-6030
  Officially called the Central Park Wildlife Center. Displays wildlife, including polar bears and monkeys, in naturalistic settings. Run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, which also manages the Bronx Zoo. Open every day of the year. April through October: Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm; Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. November through March: 10 am to 4:30 pm daily. Watch the sea lions chow down at 11:30 am, 2 pm and 4 pm; see the penguins dine at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm every day. Save your ticket for entrance to the nearby Tisch Children's Zoo.

• Cleopatra's Needle
  Near East 81st Street (behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art)
  An Egyptian obelisk presented to the U.S. by the Khedive of Egypt in 1881.

• Conservatory Garden
  Fifth Avenue at 105th Street
  (212) 360-2766
  A wonderfully designed and meticulously maintained formal garden. Our favorite spot in Central Park and the perfect place to escape to when you need a break from your usual routine.

• Delacorte Theater
  (212) 539-8655
  Home of free Shakespeare plays each summer.

• Friedsam Memorial Carousel
  Near 65th Street in the center of the park
  (212) 879-0244
  Children love riding this antique merry-go-round. A good place for a child's birthday party, too.

• Great Lawn
  Behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art
  The place to suntan, toss a frisbee or wait for free Shakespeare tickets.

• Harlem Meer
  Between 107th Street and 110th Street off Fifth Avenue
  Harlem Meer is a beautifully landscaped pond. Follow the path around the meer for a wonderful walk on a sunny day. You can actually catch fish here (although you are encouraged to toss them back); call 212-860-1370 for details. The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, which runs programs for kids, is located on the north side.

• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir
  Main entrance to the jogging track is at East 90th Street
  This 1.58 mile track is almost always busy with joggers. The heavy use and diligent police patrols make this a popular place to run, even in the evening.

• Lasker Rink
  (212) 534-7639
  The less crowded and less expensive alternative to Wollman Rink for winter skating.

• Loeb Boathouse
  Near 74th Street, on the east side of Rowboat Lake
  (212) 517-3697
  Open for lunch and dinner all summer, beginning in May. A nice place to have a drink and enjoy the sunshine.

• Sailboat Lake
  Near Fifth Avenue at 74th Street
  (212) 673-1102
  Relax and watch the mini-regattas of remote-controlled yachts in the lake. Better yet, rent a boat at the Kerbs Model Boathouse and join the races!

• Strawberry Fields
  Near Central Park West at 72nd Street
  2 1/2 acres planted with 125,000 strawberry plants in honor of John Lennon.

• Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater
  (212) 988-9093
  Offers shows for children.

• Tennis Courts
  (212) 280-0205

• Tisch Children's Zoo
  5th Avenue at East 65th Street
  (212) 439-6500
  Just north of the larger Central Park Wildlife Center, the recently redesigned Children's Zoo is a special place where very young visitors can experience a world of animals designed especially for them. Best for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

• Victorian Gardens Amusement Park
  (212) 982-2229
  One-of-a-kind, hand-crafted rides, games, face painting, storytelling, clowns and entertainment. A gentle way to introduce your young children to an amusement park. Seasonal only. Located by Wollman Rink.

• Wollman Rink
  6th Avenue at 59th Street
  (212) 439-6900
  Ice skating in the winter; in-line skating at other times.

Any discussion of Central Park would not be complete without mentioning all the great events that occur regularly there. Learn more about the Harlem Meer Performance Festival at (212) 860-1370; find out when the Metropolitan Opera will be holding its summer performances on the Great Lawn at (212) 363-6000; call about New York Philharmonic concerts at (212) 875-5709; check out Shakespeare in the Park at (212) 539-8655; get details about the SummerStage Music Festival at (212) 360-2777.

But of course there is even more! For an essay about the simple pleasures that Central Park offers, see our related article. For an official view of things, see the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation web site. And for information about the group that has been central to the resurgence of the Park, call the Central Park Conservancy at (212) 360-3444

LINKS:

• The NY Times compares Central Park to Prospect Park

The NYC Insider Site Directory: