Spring in Bloom: Photo-Worthy Spots on the Upper West Side

Spring in NYC doesn't announce itself quietly. One morning, the branches are bare, and the next, the entire Upper West Side erupts in pink, white, and gold. For photographers, casual walkers, and anyone who appreciates the best spring activities on the Upper West Side, this neighborhood serves as one of the most naturally stunning backdrops in the entire city. From the meandering paths of Central Park to the Hudson River waterfront of Riverside Park, here's where to point your camera and your feet this season.

Cherry Hill and the Bow Bridge, Central Park

Few spots in spring in Central Park rival the classic pairing of Cherry Hill and Bow Bridge. Cherry Hill sits mid-park at 72nd Street, and its Yoshino cherry trees produce white blossoms that enhance the stunning views of the Lake, where rowboats drift through the boat basin and the San Remo towers rise in the distance.

The Bow Bridge itself, one of New York City's most photographed landmarks, grows even more striking when cherry blossoms frame its graceful cast-iron arch. Enter Central Park at Central Park West and 72nd Street, which puts you a 20-minute walk from The Wallace Hotel. Head east into the park and you'll reach Cherry Hill in minutes. Arrive before 8 a.m. on weekday mornings to claim the scene largely to yourself.

The Shakespeare Garden, Central Park

For visitors who want blooms without the crowds, the Shakespeare Garden rewards the short detour. Spanning several acres between the Delacorte Theater and Belvedere Castle, the garden bursts with spring color, including densely planted tulips alongside striking daffodils and bursting magnolias, in an incredible explosion of color. It is in the springtime that it really shines, with brunnera, crabapples, forsythia, grape hyacinth, Korean spice, magnolias, pansies, quince, and Virginia bluebells all flowering in succession.

The Shakespeare Garden sits near 79th Street and West Drive inside Central Park, about a 20-minute walk from The Wallace. If you're short on time, a rideshare drops you at the 81st Street park entrance in about five minutes.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, Central Park

When late April arrives, serious photographers and casual visitors alike make the pilgrimage to the reservoir's west side. Some of the most iconic cherry blossoms in Central Park bloom along the path circling the Reservoir, particularly the stretch running from 90th to 96th Street, where a row of Yoshino cherry trees creates a tunnel of white-pink blossoms that local photographers return to year after year.

The Kwanzan cherry trees on the west side blossom almost immediately after the Yoshino trees on the east side finish, extending the spring blooming season around the 106-acre body of water for nearly an entire month. Enter the park at West 90th Street for the best access to this stretch. From The Wallace Hotel, the walk takes about 20 minutes along Riverside Drive or Broadway, or you can rideshare to the park entrance in about five minutes.

Riverside Park's Cherry Walk

For a more serene alternative to Central Park, Riverside Park delivers one of the most underrated things to do in NYC in spring. Cherry Walk runs as a continuous, four-mile-long path along the Hudson River, spanning from 72nd Street to 158th Street.

Yoshino plantings appear in masses throughout the park, with concentrations running from the 95th Street park entrance south to 91st Street, at the Crab Apple Grove near 92nd Street, along the 83rd Street parkway, and from the park's interior near 83rd Street down to the 79th Street entrance.

The 79th Street entrance to Riverside Park sits just a 10-minute walk west from The Wallace Hotel. Because this stretch stays largely local, it draws a fraction of the foot traffic that Central Park sees on a peak spring weekend, making it ideal for unobstructed photos and a quieter stroll.

Sakura Park, Morningside Heights

Sakura Park sits just next to Grant's Tomb and behind Riverside Church, and it contains trees from the original gift of cherry trees sent from Japan in 1912. The park was redesigned in 1932 by the Olmsted brothers with a Rockefeller donation, and visitors should not miss the stone torii, donated by the City of Tokyo, to mark the sister-city designation between Tokyo and New York. The park is on a smaller scale, but during spring, the Yoshino trees make it a must-see.

Sakura Park is located near West 122nd Street and Riverside Drive. From The Wallace Hotel, the walk takes about 25 minutes along Riverside Drive, or a rideshare gets you there in roughly eight minutes.

New York City Parks in Full Bloom

The beauty of spring in NYC is that the whole city participates, and nowhere more so than the Upper West Side, where Central Park and Riverside Park form a continuous green corridor running the length of the neighborhood. Whether you chase the first Yoshino blossoms in late March or the fuller, brighter Kwanzan blooms in early May, the season extends for weeks, offering a different photo at every turn.

If you're planning a spring photography trip to the Upper West Side, make The Wallace Hotel your home base. Its prime location at 242 West 76th Street puts every bloom-filled path within reach, and its spacious, residential-style rooms give you the perfect place to unwind after a full day on your feet.

Book your stay today to welcome the spring blooms.