Central Park is huge, at 843 acres it’s one of the largest urban parks in the United States and the largest in Manhattan.

The park is designated as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of Interior and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Central Park is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Manhattan attracting over 40 million visitors a year.

The Park is entirely landscaped with no natural old growth locations. It is home to over 25,000 trees including the largest collection of American Elms in the North Eastern U.S. Central Park is home to over 235 species of birds and 4 species of mammals including Eastern Gray squirrels, raccoons and chipmunks.

The list of  activities that you can do in Central Park range from sailing, ice skating, horse and buggy tours and walking the 10 kilometers of tracks, to exploring the numerous statues and monuments. The Park even holds yearly sporting events, concerts and has a Zoo.

If you are in New York City for Christmas, make sure you spend some time in Central Park. Christmas Markets, ice skating and a possible sighting of Santa makes Central Park a festive place to be, as this video shows.

One of my favourite activities to do in Central Park is to find a quiet location and watch the antics of the Eastern Gray squirrels, which alone can fill half a day. To really explore this park and uncover its secrets, plan to spend at least a full day if not two to get the most out of this amazing urban sanctuary.