This day was dedicated to exploring Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History. Usually, we don’t include parks in our travel plans, but we had read so much about Central Park—and seen it countless times in movies and web series—that our curiosity to visit it only grew stronger. The park also has a fascinating history. It opened in 1858 and was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to provide New Yorkers with a natural escape in the middle of a fast-developing city.
We had saved all the iconic spots we had seen on screen and wanted to visit them one by one. There are options to explore the park by hiring a pedicab or renting a bike, but we chose to walk. We absolutely enjoyed the walk, though it was extremely tiring—we crossed 20,000+ steps on this day alone! Our plan was to explore the park in the morning and spend the hotter afternoon hours inside the museum. For Yuven, the main highlight and the sole reason for visiting the museum was to see the dinosaur skeletons.
Our Plan for the Day
- Louis Vuitton Trunk and Trump Tower (photo stop)
- Central Park
- American Museum of Natural History
- Levian Bakery
- Sunset Ferry from East 90th Street
Exploring Fifth Avenue & Entering Central Park
After breakfast, we took the MTA Bus M7 from the stop opposite our hotel to reach the Louis Vuitton trunk installation. The store is under renovation, and they have creatively covered it with a giant LV-style trunk design—a brilliant idea and a perfect photo spot. After clicking pictures at both the trunk and Trump Tower, we walked towards Central Park from the 5th Avenue & 59th Street entrance.
The moment we stepped inside, Central Park felt refreshing. The cool breeze, tall shady trees, and vast green spaces offered a peaceful escape from the busy city streets. As we walked, we noticed how some areas were quiet and serene, ideal for slow strolls or simply relaxing. Other spots—especially near Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, and the zoo —were lively with tourists, joggers, families, artists painting, and hawkers selling beautiful artifacts. There was also a school event happening, and kids were enjoying their day.
We spotted more than 50 pet dogs throughout the park! Yuven had a great time guessing their breeds and interacting with a few of them. We didn’t visit the Central Park Zoo, though, because we were short on time.
One interesting thing we learned was that the lamp posts in the park help you navigate. The first two or three numbers represent the nearest street, and the last number indicates the side of the park—even numbers for the East Side and odd numbers for the West Side. On some lamp posts, the numbers also include letters, but these don’t have any significance for navigation. With 1,600 lamp posts and separate paths for walkers, runners, and cyclists, navigating becomes surprisingly easy.
We spent our entire morning exploring the park before heading to the next major attraction.
Exploring the American Museum of Natural History
The museum is conveniently located right next to Central Park on the Upper West Side. When we arrived, there was a small queue for tickets. We redeemed our entry using the Go City Attractions Pass.
Founded in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History is one of the largest and most iconic museums in the world. It is dedicated to exploring the planet’s natural world, human cultures, and the vast universe. Inside, there are 45 permanent halls, millions of specimens, lifelike dioramas, dinosaur fossils, gems, meteorites, ocean life exhibits, ancient civilization displays, and much more.
The most popular section is the Fossil Halls, home to legendary dinosaur skeletons like the T. rex and Apatosaurus. Another major highlight is the Rose Center for Earth and Space, which features the stunning Hayden Planetarium—a place where visitors can learn about galaxies, the Big Bang, and cosmic mysteries.
Some shows and exhibits require separate tickets, which can be added during entry.
We began our visit with the ticketed show “Worlds Beyond Earth” after having lunch at the museum café, which offers plenty of food options. Post lunch, we explored the Rose Center, where we enjoyed:
- Harriet and Robert Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway
- Scales of the Universe
- Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Hall of the Universe
- Hayden Big Bang Theater
From there, we moved through all the major mammal halls. Since we were already exhausted from our intense New York walking days, Mihir and I took turns exploring some exhibits with Yuven, depending on our interests. Despite limited time, we managed to cover:
- Earth and Planetary Sciences Halls
- Biodiversity and Environmental Halls
- Fossil Halls
The Fossil Hall was undoubtedly Yuven’s favorite—it truly felt like stepping into a dinosaur movie.
The museum turned out to be an incredible experience — educational, entertaining, and memorable for all three of us. The museum is perfect for families, kids, science lovers, and anyone curious about the world.
Evening Treat: Levain Bakery
We left the museum around closing time (5:30 p.m.) and walked to Levain Bakery on Amsterdam Avenue. Known for its freshly baked cookies and loaf cakes, the bakery lived up to its reputation. We tried the Dark Chocolate and Two Chip cookies along with hot chocolate. The cookies were warm, chunky, gooey, and perfectly sweet — worth every bite.
The route we followed after we exited the museum.
Re-entering Central Park for More Exploring
Despite being exhausted, we re-entered Central Park to cover a few more spots from our list. We skipped the MET, although I had read great reviews about its rooftop bar, which is currently under renovation. Since we aren’t huge art lovers, we didn’t mind skipping it this time.
Inside the park, we visited Belvedere Castle, which offered beautiful views of the Great Lawn and Turtle Pond. The information center and gift shop were already closed by 5 p.m. On our way, we even spotted raccoons near the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater.
While Mihir and I were ready to skip the Obelisk, Yuven insisted on visiting it after reading about it in an Egyptian mythology fiction book. The Obelisk (Cleopatra’s Needle) is over 3,500 years old, making it the oldest outdoor artifact in New York City. It was gifted by Egypt to the United States in 1877 and officially placed in Central Park in 1881. This red granite monument weighs nearly 200 tons, stands 69 feet tall, and is covered with hieroglyphics honoring pharaohs.
We ended our Central Park walk at the South Gate Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, where many people were running or relaxing around the track. The skyline views and open, lush green space were mesmerizing. By this time, we had covered nearly half of Central Park in about five to six hours — a great achievement considering our tired legs!
Sunset Ferry Ride: The Best Part of the Day
From the park, we caught a bus to the East 90th Street Ferry Terminal. We spent some quiet time at John Finley Walk, taking in the views of Roosevelt Island glowing under the evening sky.
We boarded the SV route ferry to Pier 11, Wall Street, to experience the golden hour from the water—and it was absolutely worth the wait. This ferry ride turned out to be the highlight of our 6-day trip.
Initially, we planned to buy the 10-trip pass for $29, but we couldn’t follow our ferry plans as the subway was more convenient. So, we purchased single tickets from the station for $4.50 per person.
When we boarded, the right-side seats on the upper deck were full, so we initially sat in the center. Later, Mihir got a seat on the right, while Yuven and I sat on the left side. As twilight began, the views of the Manhattan skyline, Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Bridge were simply breathtaking. The gentle breeze made the experience even more magical.
After such a long and tiring day, this peaceful ferry ride felt like the perfect ending. Plus, it’s a much cheaper alternative to the premium boat tours.
Once we reached Pier 11, we walked to the bus stop and boarded the M55 bus to get back to our stay. The entire journey took about an hour, including wait time. For dinner, we finished some leftovers and ready-to-cook meals.
Before sleeping, we admired the Empire State Building’s twilight glow for the last time, as the next day would be our departure.
Stay tuned for our last-morning exploration and additional travel tips!
Read how we spent our previous day exploring Roosevelt Island, Intrepid Museum, Hudson Yards & Pier 57…
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