Upstate NY? No, the nethermead in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. A quiet place
to meditate, relax, breathe in some (relatively) fresh air or toss a frisbee.

Still your mind. Here are some of my favorites to take a break, relax, breathe deep, clear you mind, feel good and not choke diesel fumes:

I like to do simple meditations here. Just look and breathe in and out slowly and see what I see, feel whatever I feel.

Manhattan:

St. Mary's Peace garden - You don't have to be Catholic to enjoy this tranquil oasis complete with bowed bridge over pond, benches and plants. 315 East 47th St, between 1st and 2nd. part of the Holy Family Roman Catholic church.

Metropolitan Museum of Art hidden gems - Ditch the throngs and head to The art of  Asia, especially Southeast Asia. Meditate in near seclusion with peaceful gods and goddesses from Cambodia to India while the crowds jam the latest Van Gogh or mummy exhibit. Also check out the under-appreciated arts of the Pacific Islands section on the opposite end from the Temple of Dendur. Awesome, mysterious and soul refreshing (suggested donation).

Central Park hidden gem: The Pool. Certainly Central Park tops any list - but go to Central park north of 96th st. where the crowds thin out. At The Pool on the west side near 100th st, you can see water bubble forth from the earth and flow into the pond, complete with weeping willows. Follow the rivulet to a hidden waterfall and into the forest primeval.

Brooklyn:

The Nethermead is Prospect Park's hidden gem - The counterweight to the highly trafficked Longmeadow, the Nethermead, hidden in the southeast corner of the park, is an open rolling field home to occasional dog walkers, frisbee players, drummers and dreamers and for the most part, barely touched by crowds.

The Native American collection at the Brooklyn Museum is unparalled and mysteriously soothing and stimulating at the same time (suggested donation).

Staten Island

Historic park and hidden gem - I love getting off at Tottenville,  the last stop on the Staten Island train. Here, the journey is half the trip, but when you get here, oh my.

Walk about 10 minutes or so south of the train until you stumble upon the southernmost point in NY state, the 265 acre oasis Conference House Park overlooking Raritan Bay. In addition to peace, quiet sand, sea and sky you can visit the oldest building in NYC, the historic  Conference House built in 1680, where the Americans and British unsuccessfully tried to negotiate an end to the Revolutionary war.

When I discovered it, I was like, "Holy cow, who even knew this place existed?" A stroll along the isolated dunes did reveal the burned out remains of a 1970s Buick and some tires in the rushes, but don't let that disturb your reverie. 

Imagine you are a father or mother of the Revolution or even a Native American looking for whales, dolphins and seeing dense flocks of birds overhead. You will be amazed that this is modern day NYC.

For more info: St. Mary's Garden; Met museum Asian art, arts of the Pacific Islands; Central Park, The Pool; Prospect Park's, Nethermead; Conference House Park map (click plan a visit)