Central Park (New York)

Central Park is New York's green oasis located right in the heart of bustling Manhattan, covering an expanse of over 800 acres. Over 25 million New Yorkers and tourists enjoy its manifold natural attractions and entertainment each year, and families with energetic kids may find themselves spending a whole day here during cheap city breaks in New York. Getting around the park is pretty simple. You can become a fully-fledged New Yorker and go jogging or roller blading, take a tour by horse carriage or explore the greenery by pedicab. Central Park is a boon for nature lovers stuck in the concrete jungle of New York City. It is home to over 25,000 trees, a conservatory garden, a wildlife sanctuary, several lakes and a large wooded area set aside for bird watching.

 

Despite its relative calmness, there is an incredible range of activities on offer in Central Park. No winter short break in New York would be complete without enjoying one of its two ice rinks or a visit to the historic Central Park Zoo. Kids can run wild in the park, enjoying a wealth of sports, boating, the historic marionette puppet theatre and carousel rides. In addition there are an amazing 21 different children’s playgrounds dotted around the park. There is also lots of art and history in situ to explore including numerous open air sculptures, an ancient Cleopatra's Needle and the fascinating Belvedere Castle.

 

Cheap weekends in New York can watch those dollars stretch even further by enjoying a variety of free shows and entertainment in Central Park. Summers come alive in typically dramatic fashion at the celebrated Shakespeare in the Park season and there are pop concerts, opera and performances by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to look forward to. The Summerstage is the spot for a variety of events like fashion shows, performance artists, pop concerts and film screenings and offers up a compelling mix of the bizarre and the mainstream.