Secret Places of Central Park, Walking Tour - New York City

Discover New York City's Best Central Park Walking Tour.  You will experience Hidden and Fascinating Central Park Locations Only a True New York City Historian Can Help You Find!

If you consider yourself an adventurer seeking hidden locales that won’t be found on any postcard, then there’s nothing more exciting than visiting some of Central Park’s least-trafficked, most scenic and historic locations that are above 100th Street that only a few know how to find!

You should sign up for the Secrets of Central Park Tour; the best Central Park tour in New York City.

Central Park was described by Calvert Vaux, partner of Frederick Olmsted, as a representation of “Democratic ideas into trees and dirt.” With about 45 million annual visitors today, the majestic 843-acre, 2.5-mile long park in the busiest and biggest city in the United States is still a monument of beauty, history, and democracy.

And while many native New Yorkers or visitors can tell you about the Lake or Bethesda Fountain, the Secrets of Central Park tour will show you a side of this fantastic location that will surprise and delight you in ways few people get to experience.

Led by licensed and energetic New York City tour guide Bruce Racond, he’s spent more than 20 years entertaining and educating visitors about the vast history and unique locations of New York that most never knew existed!  Please see the current TripAdvisor reviews.

Here are a few of the many adventures that await you!

• Be transported to the scenic Adirondacks in the middle of Manhattan island.
• Explore lush forests filled with oak, hickory, maple and ash in the North Woods.
• Visit the ethereal Secret Garden of the formal gardens.
• See the ornate French iron gate that protected Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s mansion.
• Learn the fascinating history of a convent built before Central Park existed.
• Overlook the scenic vista of the Harlem Meer.
• Stroll under a marvel of engineering, an arch made of uncut boulders.
• Watch for “invaders” atop the high fortresses from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
• Tread the same ground that General George Washington rode to triumphantly retake New York City.
• Find peace and tranquility along the beautiful Loch and waterfalls of the captivating Ravine.

This is a rare tour where you’ll learn historic facts and visit unusual locations within Central Park while gaining an even greater appreciation for what Frederick Law Olmsted, Calvert Vaux, and park commissioner, Andrew Haswell Green accomplished more than 150 years ago.

Whether you want to learn about the original proposals for the park’s design, find out what happened here before it all existed, this tour is a must for anyone who loves New York City or Central Park!

The tour is conducted in the rain, snow or shine.  Some locations may not be open or accessible depending on weather and/or park closings. No refunds, exchanges, or rescheduling within 24 hours of start of tour.

Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.  Please be on time.  The tour will leave the meeting location 5 minutes after the start time and it is nearly impossible to catch up with the group once the tour starts. Text or call 917 475-6839 or email [email protected] if you are running late.

The tour is approximately 3.5 miles in distance and takes about 2.5 hours.  You should be in good physical shape for the tour.  There is uneven terrain, unpaved trails, rocks, some steep (but short) hills on dirt and mulch, uneven stairs and potentially slippery areas when wet.  It is important that you dress appropriately and wear suitable shoes.  

COVID PRECAUTIONS:

SOCIAL DISTANCING/MASKS: Please practice social distancing from the people not in your party. You and your party are welcome to wear masks if you choose.

By taking this tour, you and your party voluntarily assume all risks and those related to exposure to COVID.

Find more information at https://www.revolutionarytoursnyc.com/

FAQs

 Do I need to purchase tickets in advance or can I purchase walk-up tickets?

Please purchase your tickets online in advance.  If you already purchased tickets and need to add people contact us at [email protected] or 917.475.6839 and we will try to accommodate you.

What is your Refund Policy?We have a 48-hour refund policy for tickets purchased directly from this web site. Please contact us no later than 48 hours before the start time of the tour at [email protected].  If you do not cancel your tour within this time frame you will be held responsible for the total amount of your tour.  A refund will be issued if we need to cancel a walking tour because of severe weather or a tour guide is ill and no substitute is available.

What is your Rescheduling Policy?Tour tickets can be rescheduled with at least 48 hours before the tour start time at [email protected]  with the following exceptions:

• In case of extreme weather in the forecast, we will contact you at the email address you provided when you booked to offer you rescheduling options.  Otherwise, we conduct our tours rain, snow or shine. There are no refunds, exchanges, or rescheduling for rain or snow.
• If we have to cancel a tour.

Do you cancel your walking tours in the rain or snow?All of our walking tours take place rain, snow or shine. We can still show you the sights of the tour—just bring an umbrella and dress appropriately. However, in cases of severe inclement weather (i.e. severe tropical storm, blizzard, etc.) we do reserve the right to cancel a tour. In these instances, we will notify you via the email provided at purchase and offer refunds and rescheduling options. There are no refunds, exchanges, or rescheduling for rain or snow.

Are there group size minimums and maximums?We like to limit tours to approximately 15 adults to keep it intimate.  As for minimums, we reserve the right to cancel a public tour if a minimum of 4 participants is not reached.  In these cases, we will offer customers the option to reschedule.  If there are no rescheduling options, we will offer full refunds for the tickets.

If I miss the walking tour I purchased, can I just show up for another one?No, your ticket is only valid for the tour you selected at time of purchase (both date and time specific). This allows us to reserve your spot . There are no refunds, exchanges, or rescheduling if you are running late.

I live in New York.  Will I appreciate the tours?We’re proud to say that many of our participants have lived in New York for many years or were born in New York and are surprised to find how much they learn about neighborhoods they’ve passed through many times.

Do you offer private tours?Yes, we offer tours customized for your group or occasion.  Private tours are a great way to see exactly what interests you or your group and at the most convenient day and time.  Fill out the form on the contact page and provide as much information as possible or call us at 917.475.6839. 

Is the tour suitable for children?We recommend our tours for children ages 10 and older.  Please also consider a private tour if you would like a tour specially tailored for children.

How much will we walk and is it strenuous?This walking tour is moderatly strenuous and moves at a moderate pace.  There will be stairs in some locations plus walking on steep inclines, uneven ground, and rocks. Areas can be slippery when wet. Bring appropriate shoes and clothes for hiking. As for distance, we’ll cover about 3.5 miles on the 2.5-hour tour.

What clothing should I wear?You should definitely wear shoes comfortable for walking (see above question).  Check the forecast and wear suitable clothing for the weather.

Will there be a restroom stop?Yes, there will be one restroom stop on our tour.

Are gratuities included in the walking tour price?  Gratuities are not part of the tour fee, but if you enjoyed your time on the tour, gratuities are very much appreciated.

Where do we meet for the tour?We will email you a confirmation and the precise meeting location right after you have purchased your tour.  If you don’t see the confirmation please check your email spam folder/filter if you haven’t received the confirmation email within 15 minutes after your purchase.

What do I do if I am late?The tour starts promptly at the designated time, so please try to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. If you are not at the meeting location at the start time, we will begin the tour and leave without you for the sake of the attendees who arrived on time. If you don’t find us, we will provide you with a contact number in the email in case an urgent matter prevented you from showing up on time but it is nearly impossible to catch up with the group once it departs.

Do I need to show a ticket at the start of the tour?Yes, please either print the confirmation email or show the email on your mobile device to your tour leader.

Can I purchase a gift certificate?Yes, tour gift certificates are available and can be purchased using the “Book Your Tour!” link on www.revolutionarytoursnyc.com.

Is my email address required to purchase tickets?Yes, we require a valid email address to send you a purchase confirmation, instructions on where to meet at the beginning of the tour and alerts if there are any changes to the tour (i.e. cancellation because of weather, etc.).  As per our privacy policy, we will not sell or rent your email to third parties.

Is there a contact number or email address to contact you with any questions?You can email us at [email protected] or call us at 917.475.6839.

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