Actor Matthew Modine once said, “Everything is so convenient in New York!” That’s certainly true for those of us who attend conferences like the Affiliate Buzz, Search Engine Media Expo, or BlogWorld and New Media Expo. I mean, Central Park is just a few blocks away from the hotels, and there’s so much to do there that you could spend an entire week just in that area of the city and never do the same thing two days in a row.

Things to Do in Central Park

Whether you’re coming to New York for business or pleasure, your trip isn’t complete without a visit to Central Park. There’s literally something for everyone! If you can’t find something to do in New York City’s Central Park, then you’re in the minority. Many of the city’s top rated hotels are within just a few blocks of the timeless landmark, and the city’s most informative sightseeing tours are conveniently located at entrances to the park as well.

Even if your trip to New York is for a conference that seems to have your every minute planned out, Central Park still has something to offer, even if you can only break away for an hour. Affiliate marketer James Martell and his wife found a map of the area on CentralPark.com, which was created by Aric Boyles. Originally from Ohio, Aric moved to the city in 1998 and fell in love with Central Park. His desire to see the park from a bird’s eye view led to the creation of the map that’s now sold everywhere from the city’s framing shops to the Museum of Natural History. Here are some of the things you’ll find on the map.

• Attractions – From the fully-functional weather station in Belvedere Castle to the Obelisk, which is the oldest public monument found anywhere on North American soil, the attractions are educational as they are interesting. The park is also home to iconic statues of figures like William Shakespeare, Balto, and my personal favorite – Alice in Wonderland.
• Sports – If you’re like the Martell family, who prefer to either arrive a day early or stay a couple of days over in the city, you might trade out that visit to the hotel gym for some sports activities in Central Park. A game of basketball, a ride through the park on rented bicycles, a jog on the running trails, swimming, or winter ice skating are all ways that guests can athletically enjoy the park.
• Events – Central Park is a great venue for events, whether it’s a lone musician playing a guitar or trumpet, a tour of the Conservatory Garden, or attending the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, there are a diverse number of events that appeal to visitors regardless of their age or lifestyle.

Breakations across the Globe

No matter where your business takes you, even if leads you to searching for accommodations in Phuket, Thailand, you can use the internet to find events that help you add a little breakation to your busy work schedule. Studies have shown for years that working fewer hours in the day causes you to accomplish more than if you put in more than the standard workday. Even studies done more than a century ago proved that those who worked 10-hour days accomplished no more in the way of production than employees who worked 8-hour days. In fact, Henry Ford scaled back his employees from 6 days a week to 5 without altering their pay and they were just as productive as they were before the change.

Sandwiching conference events with something fun, whether you’re in New York City or any other city in the world provides you with a welcome interruption from being focused on your work 24-7. Set your phone to silent and escape, even if it’s just for an hour. Unlike checking Facebook or Pinterest, which can be black holes of procrastination, getting out and doing an activity helps provide you with a time limit and keep you on task for upcoming business-related events after your break. Set a time limit for your break, and try to make it something outdoorsy. The fresh air will do you good, and after you’ll be more than ready to get back to work with renewed energy – both physically and mentally.

About the Author

Travel writer and successful internet entrepreneur Kimberly Juchnowski is the brainchild behind http://tikikiki.com, a site dedicated to helping people enhance their stay in Thailand. She’s traveled through a total of 17 countries on 4 different continents, but her recent visit through Thailand and Southeast Asia lasted six whole months. The visit appealed to her interests in foreign languages and cultures while allowing her to keep up her everyday health and fitness regime. When she’s not traveling, Kimberly lives in Northern Thailand, where she relocated in 2011.