| 5 mins read
Silence is a luxury in New York, and the first ones to notice are visitors to the city. The constant buzz of the city, which to some is actually a part of the allure of New York, can be quite overwhelming if you’re not local. Noise has become harder than ever to escape, with roads full of loud horns and roaring engines encased by sidewalks brimming with people barking into their cellphones. Construction sites, home theatres, alarms and sirens, the list of offenders is endless. Look up to the skies for deliverance from the din, only to find giant rooftop heating and ventilation systems emitting a constant drone that is drowned by the clatter of the occasional helicopter taking off from a nearby roof. Don’t panic, there’s hope, even without leaving the city!
The New York Public Library
This 19th century library is situated above the Bryant Park subway station, which at 93 decibels is easily the noisiest spot in the City. Its beautiful upstairs reading room serves as a welcome escape when you want to leave it all behind. Select a book that catches your fancy, get a seat on one of the long wooden tables with its lovely brass lamps, and relax in the pool of golden light and silence. Though it is the size of two city blocks, this peaceful sanctuary can get busy at times. Another quieter option within the same building is the DeWitt Wallace Periodical Room.
The Ramble, Central Park
Central Park’s 38-acre woodland heart is easily one of the prettiest places to go to for a break from high decibel, urban life. With its winding paths, dense plantings and placid stream, it is an oasis of nature in the middle of New York City. Take a relaxing stroll, find a rustic bench or shelter on the way, and make it your home for a few hours. If walking is more your idea of winding down, search for the Azalea Pond, the Oak Bridge and a magnificent stone arch.
The Little Red Lighthouse
Under the George Washington Bridge sits the Little Red Lighthouse. Made famous by a children’s book by the same name, this lighthouse was moved from New Jersey in 1921. Around this area are grassy parks and river access that are used by locals to lounge around and to fish. A few quiet hours spent here and a traveler will have trouble remembering which city they are in. Roosevelt is best reached by a cable car; request your New York tour guide to organize a MetroCard for the same.
Newtown Creek Nature Walk
Strangely enough, this haven of peace is adjacent to one of the most polluted water bodies in the US. Set along an oil-slicked creek, this nature walk is a rare place where people might actually find themselves alone.
Roosevelt Island’s Points
Moments of quiet bliss can be found on either end of Roosevelt Island. Sit by the East River, or walk south to the South point Park. For more serious solitude, take a 20-minute riverside walk north to the North point Lighthouse.
Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Any city beach, except on weekends, can be a solitary refuge for the noise-heckled. Queens’ Jamaica Bay could be at the top of the list; an added attraction being that it is the best bird watching spot on the east coast. So once you’re out in the bay on a canoe, its “exit roaring JFK jets and enter chirping birdies”! Neighbouring Rockaway Beach has quite a few lonesome and peaceful patches plus restaurants with good food and a better view.
Inwood Hill Park
This is Manhattan Island’s only remaining native forest. The 200-acre green patch of oaks, dogwood, hickory and tulip trees covers the hilly north tip of the Island. Other than a few dog walkers, it is difficult to find company here. Best suited for anyone who needs peace or wants to spend exclusive time by themselves!
With New York noisier than ever, true silence may be elusive. But there is scope of finding little pockets of peace, if you know where to look! Or better still, check with a know all New York tour guide, and you’ll be pointed in the “quiet” right direction.
Photo Credits: New York City Daytime Landscape by Roman Iakoubtchik, CC BY-SA; The New York Public Library by The New York Public Library, CC BY-SA; The Ramble, Central Park by Barry Solow, CC BY-SA; The Little Red Lighthouse by b k, CC BY-SA; Newtown Creek Nature Walk by Dan DeLuca, CC BY-SA; Roosevelt Island: Lighthouse by Wally Gobetz, CC BY-SA; Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge by SandyResponseNPS, CC BY; Inwood Hill Park by Kristine Paulus,CC BY