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One of the most famous icons of Central Park is located at the northeastern tip of the Lake and houses the Boathouse Restaurant. It is a romantic setting for dinner on a mid-summer's evening, watching the sun sink behind the trees and maybe catching a gondola slowly poling past.

Bethesda Fountain rises high above Bethesda Terrace, looking over the hundreds of visitors that come every day to enjoy the view of the Lake and relax at the "heart" of the Central Park. The sculpture that tops it, Angel of Waters, was designed by Emma Stebbins in 1873 and is one of the most recognizable icons in the entire park.

Traditionally the 'Heart of the Park', the richly ornamented Bethesda Terrace is one of the best places in the Park for people-watching. It is also easily the most photographed with early morning fashion shoots a regular occurrence and film crews visiting on an almost weekly basis.

Designed by Vaux and Olmsted as a “grand promenade”, the forty foot wide Mall is flanked by its majestic rows of American Elms, providing the perfect place for a leisurely stroll in any season to admire the cathedral-like ambience. This is another of the Park's most photo friendly scenes.

The Dairy serves as a general visitor center with information on the design of Central Park, as well as current Park events and programs. It houses a reference library where researchers are welcome to explore the colorful history of the park's construction. In addition, The Dairy serves as the official Central Park gift store with maps, guides, history books, and a line of mugs, key chains, T-shirts, and caps especially designed for the Central Park Conservancy.

With almost 250,000 riders a year, the Carousel is one of Central Park's most popular attractions with visitors, adults and children alike. The original park carousel opened in 1871 and was powered by a blind mule and a horse which walked a treadmill in an underground pit. It almost immediately became one of the park's most popular attractions and remains so until this day.

Ice skating in Central Park is easily one of the most picturesque activities to be enjoyed on a winter's night. Unlike the somewhat overwhelming confines of the Rockefeller Center rink, you can actually see stars at the Wollman rink. During the spring and summer months the rink becomes Victorian Gardens amusement Park.