Most Relaxing Parks in America
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Life can get hectic. When you need to unwind from the grind, a nice park in the city can be just what the doctor ordered.
The United States has thousands of urban parks across the country. They are beautiful, unique and ideal for a friendly hangout or just chilling out in peace.
These are the most relaxing parks in America.
Zilker Park
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Location: Austin, Texas
What Makes Zilker Park a Great Place to Relax
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Zilker Park is located right in the heart of downtown Austin.
This place has everything that park dreams are made of, including picnic areas and scenic views of the city.
Barton Springs Pool, where people can sit back and enjoy the water in a tube, is an added treat.
Boston Common
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Location: Boston, Massachussetts
What Makes Boston Common a Great Place to Relax
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Boston Common is the oldest city park in America dating back to 1634.
The park is nestled in downtown Boston and is comprised of a frog pond that is used for ice skating in the winter, softball fields, and an open grassy area for events.
It's also a great place to just take a pause.
Belle Isle
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Location: Detroit, Michegan
What Makes Belle Isle a Great Place to Relax
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Belle Isle has numerous attractions, including a conservatory, an aquarium and a fountain.
Many folks head to Belle Isle Park to sit along the Detroit River and take a break.
Douglass Park
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
What Makes Douglass Park a Great Place to Relax
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Douglass Park, formerly known as South Park, continues to be a nice place to relax.
It is known for its recreational facilities and variety of trees, lagoons, and greenery.
Add everything up, and this park is perfect for many things.
Dolores Park
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Location: San Francisco, California
What Makes Dolores Park a Great Place to Relax
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Dolores Park is located in the Mission district of San Francisco.
This park has tons of fields, playgrounds, and open space for people to set down a blanket and lay down for a while with beautiful scenery right in front of them.
South Mountain Park Preserve
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Location: Phoenix, Arizona
What Makes South Mountain Park Preserve a Great Place to Relax
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What? Parks in a desert? Yes, indeed.
South Mountain Park Preserve is the largest municipal park in the United States and is a great spot for a nice hike, bike ride, or walk.
See all of the cacti and natural elements Phoenix has to offer. You won't be disappointed.
Balboa Park
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Location: San Diego, California
What Makes Balboa Park a Great Place to Relax
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Balboa Park is a historic urban park.
It is filled with museums, theaters, the San Diego Zoo, gardens and natural vegetation, walking paths, and large vacant areas ideal for a light day.
Socrates Sculpture Park
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Location: Astoria, Queens, New York
What Makes Socrates Sculpture Park a Great Place to Relax
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Often considered a hidden treasure, Socrates Sculpture Park is a super quirky park located on the border of Astoria and Long Island City.
Local sculptors submit their ideas for timely pieces to be placed in the park.
When you go to Socrates Sculpture Park, you get art, a place to rest easy on a blanket, and an aesthetically pleasing view of Roosevelt Island.
Rock Creek Park
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Location: Washington, D.C.
What Makes Rock Creek Park a Great Place to Relax
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From trails to sport venues to concert venues to picnic areas, Rock Creek Park provides a lovely natural setting for alleviating the stress of daily life.
City Park
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Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
What Makes City Park a Great Place to Relax
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City Park in New Orleans is one of the largest and most visited urban parks in America.
Known for a gorgeous lily pond, as well as mature live oak trees, this park is the perfect place to be at peace.
Piedmont Park
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Location: Atlanta, Georgia
What Makes Piedmont Park a Great Place to Relax
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Piedmont Park is located to the north of downtown in Atlanta and has many amenities.
They include fields, pools, paths, and expansive lawns that make for a nice respite.
Gas Works Park
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Location: Seattle, Washington
What Makes Seattle Gas Works Park a Great Place to Relax
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Seattle's Gas Works Park is a unique place that once was a coal gasification plant. It was converted into a park with some of the structures still intact. These structures are used for picnic shelters and playgrounds.
The picturesque park with a city view backdrop also is great for photos and lazing about.
Fairmount Park
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Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
What Makes Fairmount Park a Great Place to Relax
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Fairmount park, located in Philly, is known for its large collection of art that the public can enjoy, while being at ease in the space.
Griffith Park
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Location: Los Angeles, California
What Makes Griffith Park a Great Place to Relax
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Griffith Park is located at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles and is an instant classic and featured in many films.
Though the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory are key features, one can sit back and catch quite the sunset from scenic viewpoints.
You also can enjoy acres of grass and fields, Los Angeles Zoo, the Harding Golf course and more. All of it makes Griffith Park one of the largest urban parks in North America.
Central Park
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Location: Manhattan, New York
What Makes Central Park a Great Place to Relax
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Manhattan is the city that never sleeps. But in the midst of the hustle and bustle and skyscrapers, you can turn to Central Park.
This large park is located between the Upper West and Upper East side, and it's perfect for relaxation.
Kerry Park
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Location: Seattle, Washington
What Makes Kerry Park a Great Place to Relax
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In terms of beautiful views, Kerry Park offers quite the stunning one.
The park includes benches and a railing facing one of the most iconic perspectives of Seattle's skyline.
Discovery Green
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Location: Houston, Texas
What Makes Discovery Green a Great Place to Relax
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Lakes, fountains, stages, trails, promenades, and lawns. Discovery Green has all of the features to make it a great and distinctive park that many residents and tourists frequent daily.
Hampton Park
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Location: Charleston, South Carolina
What Makes Hampton Park a Great Place to Relax
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Hampton Park is a popular place for joggers, bikers, walkers and anyone looking to take a load off underneath the big gorgeous trees that Charleston has to offer.
Smale Riverfront Park
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
What Makes Smale Riverfront Park a Great Place to Relax
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Smale Riverfront Park spans along the Ohio River and has many alluring things.
One of them is a great lawn that's ideal for sitting.
Golden Gate Park
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Location: San Francisco, California
What Makes Golden Gate Park a Great Place to Relax
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This large urban park is over three miles long and includes a beautiful botanical garden, lakes, windmills and a conservatory of flowers. Also nestled in the park is Hippie Hill.
Hippie Hill is very much representative of the culture of San Francisco, where people can gather and connect with one another on the lawn.
Lincoln Park
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
What Makes Lincoln Park a Great Place to Relax
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Located along Lake Michigan on the North Side of Chicago, Lincoln Park is identified by harbors, gardens, art, museums, and much more.
The beaches and lakefront trail specifically are a solid destination for relaxation.
Orange County Great Park
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Location: Irvine, California
What Makes Orange County Great Park a Great Place to Relax
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Orange County Great Park converted a decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station to create a park.
This park is defined by its arts, the Great Park Balloon, and a terraced lawn where people can settle in and get comfortable.
Upton Hills Regional Park
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Location: Arlington, Virginia
What Makes Upton Hills Regional Park a Great Place to Relax
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Within Upton Hills Regional Park, you can find places for relaxation (such as picnic areas) or recreation (such as a waterpark).
Highland Park
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Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
What Makes Highland Park a Great Place to Relax
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Highland Park is a fan favorite destination to sit/lay and view the picturesque downtown skyline of Indianapolis.
Prospect Park
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Location: Brooklyn, New York
What Makes Prospect Park a Great Place to Relax
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Situated in Brooklyn, New Yorkers and tourists come to Prospect Park for its long meadow, picnic house, boathouse and concert grove.
It's an ideal spot to escape New York's fast-paced lifestyle.