Central Park: Private Pedicab Tour with Local Guide Stories

4.92

(169 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You ever try to walk all of Central Park?” That’s what our guide, Samir, asked as he helped us into the pedicab near 59th Street. I laughed because honestly, I’d tried once and gave up somewhere around Sheep Meadow. This time was different — legs up, breeze in my face, and Samir weaving us through the park’s lower loop like he’d done it a thousand times (he probably has). The city noise faded behind us; all I could hear was the soft whirr of bike wheels and some distant saxophone echoing off the trees.

We stopped at Bethesda Fountain first. There was a wedding shoot happening — the bride looked so nervous she kept fiddling with her bouquet. Samir told us about the Angel of the Waters statue and how people used to gather here for concerts in the summer. He pointed out Strawberry Fields too, where someone had left fresh lilies on the Imagine mosaic. It smelled faintly sweet, mixed with that earthy after-rain scent you only get in New York when it’s just cooled down after a hot day. I didn’t expect to feel so calm in the middle of Manhattan.

I tried to pronounce “Balto” like he did (failed), and we both cracked up. There were families playing chess near the Checkers House, and kids running circles around their parents by the Carousel — pure chaos but somehow peaceful? We rolled past Tavern on the Green and Samir waved at another guide who shouted something in Spanish about Yankees tickets. It felt like everyone knew each other here.

The hour went fast — too fast maybe — but I still think about that view from Cherry Hill looking back toward the city skyline. If you’re thinking about a day trip in Central Park from Midtown or just want to give your feet a break, this is honestly such an easy way to see everything without missing those little moments you’d never notice on your own.