How to Spend a Perfect Day on the Upper East Side | Condé Nast Traveler

"I find Central Park nothing short of magical: its 843 acres invite walking, biking, and picnicking, and I recommend an early stroll for fewer crowds and soft morning light (beware the off-leash hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.). For a quick route I start at the 77th Street entrance, take in Kerbs Boathouse and the life-size Central Park Boathouse from afar, stop at the Bethesda Fountain where musicians and snake charmers enchant, walk up “the Mall” lined with American elms, and loop back; for picnics Sheep Meadow is perfect, and for running I use the Reservoir track between 86th and 96th Streets (a 1.5-mile loop with panoramic views)." - Hannah Towey