When you need a moment of calm, head to one of these hidden gems.
metropolis often get traduce for being too officious , too tawdry , and just too much . But trust it or not , it ’s entirely possible to notice heartsease and unruffled in any of the country ’s handsome urban center — you just have to know where to look . A silent museum art gallery , cozy subroutine library recitation room , or urban Mungo Park filled with birdsong can be just as calming as wide , open spaces — and you do n’t have to set base outside city limits to go there .
Next time you ’re crave some solitude , head to one of these peaceful places in major U.S. cities . pop out your solo day of the month with a cozy tiffin at home that ’s both nourishing and easy to make , like one ofPacific Foods ' new ready - to - serve hearty soups and plant - establish chili . Then , pitch up for an afternoon all your own — sometimes , enjoying your own fellowship is the undecomposed way to unbend .
The Treehouse at Pease Park
Austin , TexasThanks to late revitalization efforts , the southerly tip of Austin ’s oldest car park now boasts a few state - of - the - art feature — like the Treehouse . The two - report , open - air social structure was plan to mimic a seedpod on the woodland base , and climbing up into it brings you to the level of the crown canopy . you may even recline on the 2nd - story cyberspace to drop off yourself in the birdcall and wind whisper through the tree diagram branches .
Paley Park
New York , New YorkJust off Fifth Avenue , this midget 1/10 - Accho " pocket green " offer an oasis of calm from the hustle and hustle of Midtown . It ’s hemmed in on three side by buildings line with English ivy and a 20 - base falls that anchors the space with calming white noise .
Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens
Los Angeles , CaliforniaThis spiritual shopping centre in LA ’s Jefferson Park neighborhood was design for mindfulness . You might regain a spot to seat softly in the speculation garden with 16 H2O features , or walk the stone labyrinth for a moving meditation practice . Book a timed entry ticket in front of your visit for $ 6 .
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Another elbow room to go through some peace and subdued ? have a aware lunch by yourself . Resist the temptation to listen to a podcast or scroll through social media while you eat , and instead , try simply focus on your repast . Staying present not only helps you appreciate the flavors of your food more , but also gives your mind some time to just unstrain .
For a simple yet fulfill repast , heat up one ofPacific Foods ' new ready - to - serve hearty soups and plant life - base chilis . The recipes take cues from nature for their flavors , so whether you go forCarrot Ginger Bisque , Poblano Pepper and Corn Chowder , orPlant - Based White Bean Verde Chili , you ’ll have a meal that ’s both nourishing and tasty .
The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
Phoenix , ArizonaCreated through a collaboration between Phoenix and its sister city of Himeji , Japan , this serene 3.5 - Accho garden is an ideal spot for a tranquil stroll . Admire the koi pool and stone overcrossing as you walk the winding paths , or perhapsmake a reservationat the teahouse to experience a traditional tea ceremony .
The Wave Organ
San Francisco , CaliforniaOcean waves act music on the Wave Organ , a giant acoustical sculpture on a jetty behind Marina District Lighthouse . Built from granite and marble rescued from a demolished burial ground , the Wave Organ ’s PVC and concrete pipage widen into the water at vary height . When the wave barge in against them , the weewee create modest , gurgling note that are unlike any music you ’ve heard before . The euphony sounds well at high-pitched lunar time period , so be sure to check the lunar time period charts before you gossip .
Winter Garden at Harold Washington Library Center
Chicago , IllinoisIf reading is your idealistic peaceful pastime , the Winter Garden on the 9th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center might be your dream loosening place . The building ’s deoxyephedrine roof offers gorgeous born light all year around — a perfect environment for getting quietly absorbed in a good book .
Dumbarton Oaks Park
Washington , D.C.Beatrix Farrand , the country ’s first professional distaff landscape designer , contrive this 27 - Akka parking area as part of a commission for the owner of the nearby Dumbarton Oaks estate ( now a history museum ) . Today , the National Parks Service maintains the realistic gardens inside Rock Creek Park , and the meadows and woodlands are a lovely place to cuckold .
The Heidelberg Project
Detroit , MichiganArtists transformed this once vacate lot on Detroit ’s East Side into the open prowess environment know as the Heidelberg Project . Vacant houses became polka - scatter art installations , while found objects like rusted - out cars and old street sign organise the base of other sculpture . Take a ego - conduct tour of the space on your own using the Heidelberg Project ’s gratuitous app — it ’s barren to visit , but visitor are also encourage todonateto nonprofit if they ’re able .
Oakland Cemetery
Atlanta , GeorgiaAlthough more than 70,000 people are inter in Oakland Cemetery , it ’s anything but macabre . In fact , the grounds are rather peaceful : Mature 200 - year - old trees column over ornate gravestones and mausoleums , and the garden are attractively maintained in all four seasons .
Schlesinger Library
Boston , MassachusettsIndulge your academic fantasies with a visit to this research program library dedicate to the account of women in the United States . It ’s part of Harvard University ’s Radcliffe Institute , but undefendable to the populace . Take in the spread out exhibitions on art and cultivation , or ask a research bibliothec to pull in a book from the library ’s impressive collection of culinary story texts to peruse in the reading room .
The Singing Oak
New Orleans , LouisianaAn raiment of wind gong of different sizes hang from the arm of this hundred - year - honest-to-goodness tree in City Park , creating the Singing Oak . Sit in its shade for long enough , and you ’re guaranteed to get wind a tinkle symphonic music when a breeze cull up .
George Peabody Library
Baltimore , MarylandBuilt in 1878 , the George Peabody Library at Johns Hopkins Mt. Vernon campus is reckon one of the most beautiful in the world . The quiet inside the academic institution only makes the fanlight - topped reading material room lined with ornamental cast - iron balconies appear more olympian .
Shutterstock | The Wave Organ
Photo by Ashley Nava-Monteros, courtesy of Pease Park
Pacific Foods
Photo courtesy of the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix
Photo courtesy of Heidelberg Project Archives
