A horse and buggy pass by in Central Park.

After rolling through the high prairie of New Mexico, over Raton Pass, up through the midwest farmlands, through the middle of my hometown of Galesburg, Il, across the windy depths of Chicago, overnight through small towns heading east, slipping between the green rolling lands of New York – I made it to New York City.

My hotel – the Renaissance New York, is perched precariously near Times Square with Broadway and its never ending rolling lights beneath my window. New Yorkers sure love to honk. It’s a chorus of car horns that would make John Cage think, “That’s the loudest 4′ 33″ of my life.”

I had only one real goal for my short time here: go  to Central Park. And I did on a sweltering day in the upper 80s. I walked, counting up the streets until I reached the overarching trees and green grasses that Olmsted put in motion so many years ago.

Just me and the boats on the Point.

It was the first really warm day of the year (or so the New Yorkers told me). I think they were right because of the sheer masses of pasty shirtless chests I saw lounging in Sheeps Meadow and on the hills. Wherever the sun broke through the trees, there was skin to soak it up.

Amidst the crush of parents, children, single men, couples, exercise gals and flaming guys, I floated through the pathways, pausing at the carousel for a hot dog covered in sauerkraut and mustard. I guess relish isn’t on the menu here. I find my way into the Ramble wilderness area where I see woodpeckers, cardinals, sparrows and one pushy squirrel.

This is the best part. Sitting on a rock at the Point, watching the boat renters paddle slowly by. It’s always a guy and a girl with the guy paddling. Sometimes it’s a guy and a girl and dog. Nobody looks unhappy even as the thermometer pushes upward and carries the humidity along with it for the ride.

There’s a lot more to my day here – a merciful run through the air conditioned Metropolitan Museum of Art. A massive reuben from Carnegie Deli. A night show at the Highline Ballroom with the Handsome Family – friends from Albuquerque. And  another night on Times Square where the cars honk and women shout and shop.

When I come back (and I’m coming back on my return from Europe), I think the one place I’ll be sure to go is the Point in the heart of the Ramble at Central Park.

7 Beachclubs stehen dem HHer zur Auswahl. Der Reihe nach von 1-7:

1. Central Park: Mitten in der Schanze, Max-Brauer-Allee / Ecke Schulterblatt. Täglich ab 16 Uhr. EM-Spiele sollen übertragen werden. Viele Kinder, im Sand Nichtraucherzone! Sehr entspannt das ganze! 
2. Veritas Beach Club: Harburger Strandklub am Veritaskai,  mit Beachvolleyball und Tischfussball. Ab 30.4.08, täglich ab 12, sonntags ab 11 Uhr geöffnet.
3. Hamburg del mar: in St. Pauli, direkt an der Elbe, Van der Smissen Str. . Täglich ab 12 Uhr.
4. Lago Bay: Mit Rundpool, 5000qm, auch in St. Pauli, Van der Smissen Str. Täglich ab 12, am Wochenende ab 11 Uhr. 
5. Hamburg City Beachclub: 2000qm, St. Pauli, Van der Smissen Str. . Täglich ab 11.30 Uhr geöffnet.
6. StrandPauli: Hafenstr. 89, mit Tanzfläche. Mo – Fr: ab 12 Uhr, Sa ab 11Uhr, So ab 10 Uhr.
7. Schumachers Biergarten: 500qm im Stadtpark (Südring 5b), am Stadtparksee. Ab 1. Mai ab 13 Uhr.

• Fotos und Testergebnisse ab sofort und Sonnenschein!