Using 'Catcher in the Rye' as a guide to New York City during the holidays

It's a question Holden Caulfield, the moody teenage narrator of the classic novel "The Catcher in the Rye," asks about the ducks in the Central Park pond.

And it's a question that Sara Cedar Miller, the Central Park Conservancy historian, hears often.

"People are always calling and asking, 'Where do the ducks go?' " said Miller. Salinger, was published in 1951, but nearly all the landmarks Holden mentions as he wanders around Manhattan at Christmastime the Rockefeller Center skating rink, Radio City and the Rockettes, the zoo and carousel in Central Park, Grand Central, the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are still drawing holiday visitors more than a half century later.

"The things that he chose tend be crowd pleasers," said Matthew Postal, a researcher with the Landmarks Preservation Commission. "In a city where so much changes, there is a tendency, especially with institutions, to protect the crowd pleasers."

Ruth Freer, an English teacher at Highland Park High School in Highland Park, teaches "The Catcher in the Rye," and she created a Holden tour for herself on a visit to Manhattan not long ago. She took pictures of all the places mentioned in the book to share with her students.

"I think the novel encourages readers to visit New York, and when they do, they can't help seeing some of what Holden sees," Freer said. "I know my students often bring me pictures of themselves posed strategically in places mentioned in the book. They love it, and so do I. While New York is a quintessential part of 'Catcher in the Rye,' teens everywhere respond to Holden's journey."

You too can create a Holden tour of New York at Christmastime. Here are some of the places mentioned in the novel, with nearby attractions and what, if anything, is new.

Rockefeller Center: Holden Caulfield took a date skating at the ice rink here, and he also caught a show at Radio City.

In those days, the famous Rockettes performed in between movies, but today, the dancers' trademark kickline is the main attraction at the annual "Radio City Christmas Spectacular," which celebrates its 75th year this season.

Take Radio City's "Stage Door Tour" and meet one of the Rockettes, or take the elevator up at 30 Rockefeller Plaza for a bird's eye view of the city from Top of the Rock, the observatory on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors. (It's the building where the TV show "30 Rock" is set.)

Central Park: As you walk up Fifth Avenue to Central Park, enjoy the holiday windows at Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany Co., Henri Bendel and FAO Schwarz.

The pond Holden visited is northwest of the park entrance at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. Chances are you'll see the ducks. "Some migrate,fake oyster perpetual rolex watch, but mostly they're around," said Miller, the park historian.

The zoo entrance is near 64th Street and Fifth Avenue. Although the zoo closed temporarily in the 1980s to replace old fashioned cages with more space for fewer animals, you can still see sea lions and polar bears, just like Holden did.

He also took his little sister to the carousel, west of the zoo in the middle of the park. The carousel there today replaced one that burned down in 1950, but it is considered "a masterpiece of American folk art," Miller said.

Grand Central: Holden checks his bag at Grand Central and chats with some nuns over breakfast there, but you'll want to check out the architecture and shopping.

To help you appreciate Grand Central's Beaux Arts design, cathedral windows and vaulted ceiling decorated with a starry sky of twinkling lights,fake rolex oyster, take the Municipal Arts Society tour.

Grand Central Partnership tours of the station and neighborhood are offered on Fridays.

American Museum of Natural History: New York City kids grow up visiting this museum's dinosaurs,rolex oyster collection imitation, blue whale and planetarium. "I loved that damn museum," says Holden, whose favorite exhibits include the Great Canoe.

The vessel, carved from a single cedar tree by Northwest Coast tribes in British Columbia, Canada, in 1878, measures 63 feet as long as a six story building is tall. The canoe first went on display in 1884 and today it hangs suspended from the ceiling of the Grand Gallery, 7 feet off the floor.

Holden's description in "The Catcher in the Rye" mentions people in the boat, but those sculpted figures have since been removed. "It was an aesthetic design change," explained Stephen Quinn, senior project manager for the museum's Department of Exhibitions. "Some feel it has greater dignity as an object."

Also on the first floor (which is actually one floor below the entrance at 79th Street and Central Park West) is the museum's holiday tree, decorated with origami.

Elsewhere in the building you'll find the butterfly conservatory, the "Mythic Creatures" show through Jan. 6,replica rolex oyster perpetual air king, and another special exhibit called "Water: H20Life."

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Holden described the museum's Egyptian Wing as "pretty spooky," but most kids (and grown ups) are fascinated, not frightened, by the mummies.

On the same floor, Christmas minded visitors will want to head to the Medieval Sculpture Hall to view the museum's tree and Neapolitan Baroque creche, an annual tradition. The brightly lit 20 foot blue spruce decorated with 18th century angels and cherubs and a Nativity scene is on display through Jan. 6.

Grand Central: The Grand Central Kaleidoscope, a holiday light show, is a free, seven minute show that runs through Jan. A holiday gift fair with 70 vendors continues through Dec. 31. from the information booth on the main concourse (suggested donation $10, (212) 935 3960).