John B. Moore Conservatory Garden in Central Park.

7. Conservatory Garden

One of the hidden wonders of Central Park is the Conservatory Garden at Fifth Avenue and 105th St. A secluded oasis, just a few steps down from one of the City's busiest thoroughfares; the garden offers a fragrant respite from the gasp and clatter of the urban afternoon.

To enter the six-acre Garden from Fifth Avenue and 105th Street, you must pass through the Vanderbilt Gate, which originally served as the entrance to the Vanderbilt Mansion at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street (at the present site of the Bergdorf Goodman department store). The Conservatory Garden itself is filled with a myriad of plant life, from carefully cultivated heirloom roses to the most common of indigenous flowers, while portions of the grounds are delineated by hedges of English yew, barberry, Korean holly and the serendipitously named "Manhattan." The Garden itself is divided into three distinct sections, each representing its own specific style. These are the north (or French Garden), the Central (or Italian Garden) and the south (or English Garden).

Conservatory Garden is the perfect spot to sit and read, or just to escape for a few moments from the bustling city a few yards away.

John B. Moore The Reservoir

6. Central Park Reservoir

Arguably the most valuable waterfront real estate on the planet, the Central Park Reservoir is located between 86th and 96th Sts. at the center of the park. Now offi­cially named the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir it covers a full one eight of the park's surface. The 106-acre body of water is 40 feet deep and holds over a billion gallons of water. Once a critical part of the city's fresh water system it was disconnected as an active component since the new water tunnel was opened in 1991. It is probably best known now as home to the 1.58 mile running track that surrounds it. The Reservoir is also currently the subject of a very public debate as several different plans are considered for its future; these include fishing piers, a marina, ball fields, restaurants and beaches. Hopefully the debate will rage on indefinitely and the current configuration will remain as it is.

John B. Moore Bow Bridge

5. Bow Bridge

Bow Bridge is one of the most photographed and filmed locations in Central Park and it deserves every bit of its star reputation. Stretching sixty feet over the lake, from Cherry Hill to the Ramble, it is not only one of the most beautiful cast iron bridges in the world, but also offers some of the most breathtaking views of the park around it. 

Completed in 1862 Bow Bridge was built of cast iron instead of stone, which was used for almost all of the other archways in the park.  From its graceful curves to the subtle ornamentation it is one of the finest examples of the magic that resulted from the combined vision of Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. It displays an understated, yet powerful aesthetic that provides the perfect transition between the carefully crafted Cherry Hill and the natural jumble of the Ramble.