Ever since my first trip there in 1991, I’ve been intrigued, energized, inspired, and fascinated by New York City.  I’ve made several returns, a very important one of which was a short visit in 2005 when I realized there were so many things there I’d love to share with our son Colin.  We made a family trek out during the summer of 2007, and in the upcoming weeks, I’ll share some of the places we went together–or places we’ll have to go together on another return trip.

I didn’t figure out how great Central Park was until Sarah and I went to New York for her birthday in 2001.  While I understood the geographic notion of its “centrality,” it wasn’t until that visit, when we spent the better part of a day exploring, that I got hooked on Central Park and began to gain a sense of its historic, cultural, literary, and civic importance.

I think only residents can claim to really know the park (we get lost every time we try to get to an actual destination from within the park), but I make a point to go back every time to revisit old favorite spots and explore new.

Some of my best memories of New York would certainly include Central Park.  The rocky landscape, abundance of statues, and variety of organized play areas made a hit with Colin, who we’re sure could have spent our entire time in New York there (and the Toys R Us in Times Square).  

I also don’t think I’ll ever forget the time Sarah and I stumbled upon the Met by coming out of a wooded path and discovering it situated there, nestled between the green of the park to its west and the bustle of Fifth Avenue to its east.  That’s still my favorite way to get to the Met. And nothing beats walking through the park early in the morning, when the city’s waking up and it’s just you, some runners, and a few very wealthy dogs enjoying all that beauty.

Next week I’m going to keep with the “green theme” and have a look at a few more places that are so naturally beautiful, you can hardly believe they exist in Manhattan.

Bethesda Terrace, Central Park, NYC 2007