Central Park Carousel

As you walk along Playmates Arch in the Children’s Zone section of Central Park, you’ll hear the organ music before you see the Friedsam Memorial Carousel, which features 57 nearly life-size steeds. A merry-go-round was first installed at the site in 1871; it and two or possibly three successors, according to park lore, caught fire and had to be replaced. In 1950, the Parks Department found the current carousel—crafted in 1908 by Brooklyn manufacturer Stein and Goldstein—in an old trolley terminal in Coney Island, had it restored and moved it to its current location. Expect a long line for the ride, though the balloon, hot dog and popcorn vendors may distract your little ones from the wait.