New York's Quiet Places | The Parks
There is no such thing as quiet in New York. It is the city that never sleeps, after all. Sirens go on all day and all night long, the loading of trucks and constant chatter from the millions of visitors each month. But there are some places where you can just sit, soak up your surroundings, and just relax for half an hour or so.
Washington Square Park
Now I'm starting off with this park because it was my least favourite green area to visit. It was slighlty on the busier side however wasn't overly crowded. Lots of people queue up to get pictures of the famous arch, which to be honest isn't worth the time unless perhaps you were a photogrpaher... which I'm not. I wouldn't sitting here for 5-10 minutes however not much more than that as there surroudning area is a bit rough and there are better areas around the city.
Little Island at Pier 55
This island is nothing short of an engineering genius. Essentially, it's a park on stilts, and wow, it doesn't fail to deliver. The island is free to visit and has many interactive features. This uneven island has perfect views of the One World Trade Centre from the highest point of the island, a seating area full of smaller tables and chairs, as well as an amphitheatre which is free to sit at if you want to just take a break. I sat there for about 45 minutes.
My favourite part about the island is the shortcuts. The designers added Little Rock cut-throughs, which you can walk on and use as there are gaps in the railings for you to cut through. If you are in the area, Little Island is a stop, and even if you aren't in the area, this floating park should be on your list of places to visit when in the city.
The Highline
This old above-ground rail line was converted to become a walkway in 2009 and continuously expanded and is still expanding now with the addition of a massive statue of a Pidgeon to the walking route. The Highline stretches from Hudson Yards down to Gansevoort St and is a total length of 2.3km or 1.45 miles.
This was potentially my favourite part of the city, the quietness and peace you get from the ruffling leaves on the trees and bushes really make the Highline a work of art. Where 10th Avenue meets the Highline, there is a viewing platform that gives you incredible views and pictures of Hudson Yards and the rest of 10th Avenue.
The platform in the photo above is Edge - The highest outdoor observation deck in the western hemisphere.
Central Park
Welcome to Central Park, potentially New York's quietest and best area. Everybody has been, seen, heard knows about this man-made park. Potentially the most picturesque part of the city. I have photos of this place without a soul in sight.
In Central Park, you get views like these and small coffee shops and restaurants and countless areas which you'll recognise from hundreds of movies. As far as quietness goes, This is by far the best place to take a break. Grab a hot chocolate and a brownie just like I did, and sit and watch the world go by. It is easy to spend hours on end here there is so much to do, from the zoo to sightseeing, you can easily lose track of time in this wonderful piece of nature.
So there you go! I hope that helps you decide on where to visit and take a break when in New York City. If you want a map of everything available in the city, a free map can be found on my posts page.
The home for unique & authentic travel
