At the western edge of 72nd Street Riverside Park and Riverside Drive begin. Riverside Drive winds north, flanked by palatial townhouses and multistory apartment buildings put up in the early part of the twentieth century by those not quite rich enough to compete with the folks on Fifth Avenue. A number of landmarked districts lie along it, particularly in the mid-70s, mid-80s, and low-100s.

Riverside Park, one of only eight designated scenic landmarks in New York City, is not as imposing or spacious as Central Park, though it was designed by the same team of architects and took 25 years to complete. Between 72nd and 79th streets, the park is at its narrowest and not as scenic as it becomes farther north. However, along Riverside Drive are lovely turn-of-the-nineteenth-century townhouses, many with copper-trimmed mansard roofs and private terraces or roof gardens.

A delightful place for a break is the 79th Street Boat Basin in Riverside Park, with paths leading down to it located on either side of 79th Street at Riverside Drive. It's one of the city's most peaceful locations, with views across the Hudson of New Jersey .


Further north on Riverside Drive between 105th and 106th streets is a lovely block of historic apartments. It begins with 330 Riverside Drive, now the Riverside Study Center , a glorious five-story Beaux-Arts house built in 1900 - note the copper mansard roof, stone balconies and delicate iron scrollwork.

Riverside Park and Riverside Drive

• Riverside Park and Riverside Drive

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