There has always been one place in New York City where the sun shines a bit brighter, the scenery is a little greener, and the atmosphere feels just a little more magical: Central Park.
Out of all the places in one of the country's greatest cities, Central Park has always had a reputation with both locals and visitors, and for good reason. This little slice of heaven exists right in the middle of Manhattan and seems to thrive despite the intense, bustling city that's constantly moving around it. Once a person steps foot into this park, however, all of that seems to come to a stop as the park is beautiful in all of its stillness and beauty. Sure, there will be a distant car horn or the sound of a train nearby, but Central Park is the balance that this city needs to truly exists with the best of both worlds, chaos and peace.
While many people will say that Central Park is the most beautiful when the leaves change or when the landscape is at its greenest, it's easy to forget how stunning the winter can look in a place such as this. The stillness is taken to a whole new level and everything is shades of brown, white, gray, and seemingly glimmering depending on the time of day. Throw in a winter sunset and suddenly, Central Park becomes the most beautiful winter destination in the world.
There's Serenity In Its Snowcovered Scenery
When the thick, dense snow (the kind that comes down in snowflakes that are three times their normal size) comes down and blankets Central Park, there's nothing like witnessing the sight first-hand. Before it's been walked-through and trodden on, one could almost believe that they're not even in the middle of a city packed with hundreds of thousands of people.
Once the lake has a skim of frozen water over the top, it's almost glass-like in its appearance, making everything else appear that much more untouched. In a city where no corner has been left unexplored, it's almost a miracle to be one of the first who has the chance to stroll through the freshly-fallen powder in this park.
Watching From Afar
If you ever have the chance to watch the snowfall while you're already in the park, that's just as special a time. With many places to shelter during the storm, so to speak, there's nothing like watching flurries or big flakes make their way down from the sky as they descend to cover the ground in a powdery layer.
Even catching Central Park just before the sun sets for the day is a magical experience. As nightfall descends, old-fashioned streetlamps light up your path as you're free to take in the snow-covered surroundings. Every tree feels a little more welcoming with a layer of fresh snow on top and each path a bit more fun to walk through as you leave boot tracks behind you, watching your breath come out in cloudy bursts against the chill of the crisp winter night air.
In the early daytime hours, it's a great place to take a moment to yourself. It's easy to forget how beautiful a city's skyscrapers can truly be, especially during the winter when everything is so gray and monotone. Not in New York City, though - somehow, these buildings stand out like tall, towering pieces of art against a snowy white backdrop, rather than feeling cold and uninviting.
Every day looks different in Central Park and it's not just due to the seasonal changes. Every hour of the day differs as day changes into night, which means that sometimes, all of that snow can take on a bold, blue hue. Every shadow seems to have a color and the reflections from nearby streetlamps warm every dark corner up just enough.
Even in black and white, Central Park looks like an otherworldly place. The trees that line the park's most prominent trail seem to stretch out to the sky in unfathomable lengths, while the bright haze fro the lanterns on either side call like beacons to those who are ready to explore the frozen landscape.
It's easy enough to forget where you are with a winter sunset such as this one. Taken from the same location, a photo such as this can easily be confused for a watercolor painting in all of its surreal nature. Catching this orange glow isn't always easy to do in a city like this but from Central Park, is nothing short of a masterpiece by Mother Nature.