• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
May 14, 2009

The Many Paths in Central Park

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

The past few days had gone by with me not feeling quite myelf.  Fighting a cold and feeling exhausted has kept me home-bound for two days, which is huge for me and the boys as they are always doing something or another. Today however, I was feeling not 100%, but a lot better, and this was enough to get me motivated to go for a 6AM jog in Fort Tryon park and plan a few hours with the boys in Central Park in the afternoon.

The boys were in an especially good and sweet mood, they have been for weeks and I wonder if they are simply growing out of something and into something else.  Whatever it is, I’m loving it!

We took the C train to 72nd St and Central Park West.  It was perfect out, not too hot, not too cold, and sunny. I made reservations to see a marionette production of Peter Pan at the Swedish Cottage’s Marionette Theatre in Central Park. I had walked by the theatre many times before, knew the surroundings pretty well also, but somehow the minute I walked along the path off of 72nd St in Central Park I felt I had lost my way and realized I was completely disoriented. Finally I came upon a few older men who worked as volunteers for the Central Park Conservancy and they informed me that not only was I on the wrong side of the park (I made a right turn instead of a left on the path), I was also too far to make it to the last show on time.

img_5231

img_5234

“I want to see Peter Pan!” cried my 3.5 year old.

“I can’t find Peter Pan’s house,” I responded, “but I have something better.  Wanna see?”

“Yeaaaah!” cheered the boys.

I thanked the men, happily accepted the map of the park they offered her (I feel that every New Yorker, not just tourists, needs one), and continued down one of the many paths.

I walked past musicians, open lawns with people sunbathing and reading.  I walked past several large rocks on top of which young men and women kissed, played their instruments, or just talked.  The boys stopped to climb rocks, pick up sticks, chase pigeons or squirrels, and pet dogs.

img_52351

img_5248

img_5249

As we walked through one of the many tunnels, we could hear music echoing through.

“It’s the circus!” exclaimed my 3.5 year old jumping in excitement. “Circus! Circus!” repeated the 2.5 yr old who has never been to one.

“No, but it’s something just as fun!” I responded.

img_5236

We reached the other side and came upon The Carousel.  When my 11 year old was about the same age as my little ones now, we used to spend hours upon hours at the carousel.  Back then the ride was only $1.00 (now it’s $2.00) and I would let him ride a few times before sitting down on one of the benches eating ice cream and watching the horses go round and round.

img_5237

It  made me nostalgic to be here again, as a mother of little ones, and that the carrousel is still there to offer to a fun pastime.

The great thing about weekdays in the park is that there aren’t many crowds for anything.  I quickly purchased three tickets and was able to get on the ride right away.  The boys seemed somewhat nervous, as the only other carousel they have gotten on was at the County Fair and that was significantly smaller.

img_5246

Her little one seemed apprehensive and even shaky at first and her older toddler didn’t really now what to expect. She got them on, put on their straps, and the ride started to turn.  Almost immediately the boy began to laugh.  The ride is fast and considerably long.  The beautiful, antique, and well maintained horses go up and down, and the carousel itself is old and beautiful, charming in so many ways.

img_5238

img_5245

“Wooooohoooooo!” the 2.5 kept yelling out. “Giddy-up! Giddy-up!” yelled the 3.5 year old. Of the few kids there, mine were the ones making the most noise.

img_5242

img_5268

img_5271

img_5270

As the ride began to slow down I worried that they would make a scene, so I told them the horses were tired and needed to rest.  I was surprised and happy to see that this was enough to get them off and out without a sound of discontent.

“I have another surprise for you” I told them. “Yaaaaaaay!” they yelled in unison.

A short walk straight up the hill from the carousel led us to one of the best and biggest play areas in Central Park, Hecksher Playground.  With over 3 acres of play area, this playground has it all.  Climbing rocks for both big and small, smooth, cushioned patches for little crawlers to venture on, sandbox galore, slides, swings, and several water play areas and four restrooms.  The boys saw this place and they went nuts, immediately running away together to the nearest climbing section they could find.

img_5256

img_5255

img_5250

img_5261

img_5263

img_5260We spent hours playing there, taking only one bathroom break the entire time.  The boys played and ran and chased and jumped and slid, it was no surprise to that eventually they both came up to me rubbing their eyes and wanting to go home.

So I led them back towards the carousel, let them get on one more time before “the horses got tired again”, bought them some popcorn and treated myself to a good ol’ fashion New York City hot dog.

img_5275

The boys rested for a bit before making their way back out the park.

img_5278

img_5289

“I love the circus and the park, Mama,” said my 3.5 year old.

“That was the carousel, sweetheart, but yes, it has music like the circus.  Do you want to come back?” I asked.

“Yes,” he responded, “but next time let’s bring Daddy and (the r 11 yr old) cause that was fun!”

“Ok, sweetheart, we will. Next time the whole family will come back together, ok?”

“Yaaaaaaaaaaay!” the boys cheered in unison.

img_5282

img_5283

img_5284

img_5285

img_5287

[subscribe2]

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
4 Comments
  • Momma D
    May 13, 2009

    what a beautiful pictorial…as an "upstater" i have visited the park many a times but have never made it to the carousel and the vicinity. fun to see through your lens.

    Reply
  • Allyson
    May 13, 2009

    Loved this post! We took our daughter to the carousel when we visited last year and she loved it just as much as your boys. She even found the horse she rode in your photo. I didn't know about that playground, but it will be a must stop next trip. We recognized many of the sites from our own trip and photos.

    Your posts are so beautiful, they always make me weepy. I love New York City so much and wish it was in our immediate future to make a life there. Until then, I will continue to read your posts and share them with my daughter…and dream Thank you.

    Reply
  • Ms. Latina
    May 13, 2009

    My boys and I love this area of Central Park, especially the area right before where you can see street vendors selling their wares, as well as the cartoonists who draw carciture. I haven't been there this year but your pictures make me want to take a stroll over there very soon!

    Reply
  • Wendy
    May 14, 2009

    I am feeling very nostalgic right now! Central Park was my backyard. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Tale of The Perfect Mother’s Day
Next Post
Highlights of The Chelsea Market in NYC

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe54 Post(s)
  • North America318 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Contact

  • caincarol@gmail.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

Copyright © 2025 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice