12 Movie Locations in Central Park through the New York City Pass

Of all the places I've been to in New York City, it was the Central Park Movie Tour that excited me the most. Going around the park while reminiscing the movies that were shot there, for me, was magical. It was like watching movies, only in my mind.

Here are some of the things to see in Central Park and the movies that were shot in each place:

1. Plaza Hotel
This was where Yvone Biasi (Bridget Fonda) and Charlie Lang (Nicolas Cage) of the movie It Could Happen to You accidentally bumped into each other.  They both stayed a night. Walter (Bill Pullman) and Annie (Meg Ryan) of Sleepless in Seattle also stayed a night here.  Much of the hotel was also seen in the movie Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.  It's at the Oak Room of the hotel where Lt. Col. Frank Slade (Al Pacino) and Charlie Simms (Chris O'Donnel) of Scent of a Woman had their fancy dinner.

2. The Maine Monument at the Columbus Circle
It was here when Robert de Niro made his assassination attempt of politician Palantine in the 1976 Martin Scorsese masterpiece Taxi Driver.

3. Wollman Skating Rink
This was the setting where Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) had their ice skating escapades in Serendipity.  This was also the location where they saw each other again at the end of the movie.  The rink was also featured in other movies like Stepmom, Autumn in New York and Love Story.

4. Sled Dog Memorial
In the live-action animated adventure Balto, the film ended in this memorial.  It was a tribute to Balto, a dog that led a team of sled dogs in the 1925 serum run to Nome, Alaska to save people's lives from the diphtheria epidemic happening at that time.

5. The Dairy
This beautiful Victorian building was featured in Independence Day and Ella the Enchanted.

6. The Mall (or Promenade)
I think this is probably one of the most highlighted places in Central Park. Hot shots has filmed here. Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz for Vanilla Sky, Audrey Hepburn for Breakfast at Tiffany's, Jennifer Lopez for Maid in Manhattan, Adam Sandler for Big Daddy, Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman of Kramer vs. Kramer have done at least a scene here.

7. The Bandshell
This was the place where Doc Golightly (Buddy Ebsen) revealed the true identity of Holly (Audrey Hepburn) to Paul (George Peppard) at Breakfast at Tiffany's.  And if you've been here, you have something in common with Martin Luther King Jr. and so many other musicians.

8. Bethesda Terrace and Fountain
This was where Michelle Pfieffer and George Clooney together with their kids ran and splashed themselves in a puddle of water in One Fine Day.  This was also the location where Mel Gibson's son was kidnapped in Ransom.  It was also the place where Falcon was killed in Stuart Little 2. Macaulay Culkin walked the same grounds in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

9. The Lake and the Bow Bridge 
This bridge was so pretty.  This was the backdrop of Autumn in New York's ending where Richard Gere was sitting in a boat with her daughter carrying his grandson in his arms after Winona Ryder passed away. And who would forget? This was where MJ broke up with Peter Parker in Spiderman 3.

11. Strawberry Fields - Little Manhattan
The memorial to the famous Beatle John Lennon was featured in the movie Little Manhattan as a still-young Josh Hutcherson was walking with his first crush Charlie Ray while eating ice cream.

12. The Dakota 
The building where the famous musician John Lennon was shot made its debut in Rosemary's Baby and was also featured in Vanilla Sky.

Cost: 

Free if availed through the New York City Pass (which we did)

$23 + $2 ticket fee (if bought individually)

Location and Directions:

Tour departs in front of the N/R subway station on 59th St (Central Park South) between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Estimated Tour Length: 
2 hours

Reminder:
You must call (212) 683-2027 or email office@onlocationtours.com. Reservation is required to secure your slot.  For other information, you may also click on this link - http://onlocationtours.com/tour/central-park-tv-movie/

Disclaimers:
We've taken the tour in 2008.  All photos are taken and owned by the author.