New York Main Tourist Attractions

Liberty Island
Liberty Island

What would cross your mind when you heard about New York City? Metropolitan city, high population, and traffic jam are what people might first think of. However, the state of New York itself actually has many vacation spots for the individual, couple, or family who are searching for a place to spend holiday with. Where would you like to visit in New York? Obviously, there are quite many that we can’t cover it all, but below we give you some areas and activities which you might not want to miss during your holiday in New York.

Liberty Island

One thing that might be the most iconic statue that symbolizes the whole of New York City would probably be the Liberty Statue. The statue is situated in Upper New York Bay on Liberty Island, South of Ellis Island. While entrance to the Statue of Liberty National Monument is free, there is a small fee needed for the ferry service that all visitors must use to dock at the island. The colossal statue of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, was a present from the people of France to the United States. The statue bears a torch and a tablet upon which is inscribed the date of the American Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. The liberty statue is a representation of freedom and of the United States which also might be used as a welcoming signal to immigrants arriving from abroad.

Empire State Building

This is one of the most famous and most visited buildings in the entire New York City. This 102-story skyscraper, which is often used as a tourism spot, is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. This building is generally considered as a popular American icon. This could be seen as this building is often used in various genres, such as in film and literature. Perhaps, one of the most memorable times of the use of Empire State building is used in the King Kong the movie in 1933. In the film, the main character, King Kong the giant ape, climbs to the top of the Empire State to escape from his captors but falls to his death after being attacked by airplanes. One thing that you might not want to miss while spending your holiday in New York is the building’s beauty that came to life when night arrives. The floodlight used in the entire building is one of the most attractive lightshow in New York. This floodlight usually generated according to seasons or certain events, such as Christmas or Independence Day.

Central Park

This is one of the largest parks in New York City which covers 843 acres (about 341 ha) of land. Central Park, which has been a National Historic Landmark since 1962, is located in Manhattan. Receiving approximately thirty-five million visitors annually, Central Park is the most visited urban park in the United States. This unique park built around a high-rise building, making it one of the most expensive lands to build. While it might appear natural, the whole park is actually landscaped with several artificially natural lakes and ponds. This park boasts many kinds of activities that many visitors might need more than a day to enjoy all of them. The facilities that Central Park have such as extensive walking tracks where people used for jogging, two ice-skating rinks (one of which is a swimming pool in July and August), the Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Conservatory Garden, a wildlife sanctuary, a large area of natural woods, a 106-acre (43 ha) billion-gallon reservoir with an encircling running track, and an outdoor amphitheater. In addition there are also many grassy areas in which some of them are used for informal or formal place to host sport events and some quiet areas with a number of enclosed playgrounds for children.

Adventuring in Downtown Chicago

Downtown Chicago
Downtown Chicago

Chicago, Illinois is without a doubt, one of the most popular and exciting vacation spots in all of North America. Forbes magazine states that Chicago’s Navy Pier is the tenth most visited tourist attraction in the United States of America, making it more popular than both Hawaii’s famous Waikiki Beach and the Grand Canyon in Arizona! Overall, over 45 million people visit the Windy City per year.

While rides, entertainment, exhibits and the overall family fun atmosphere of the Navy Pier are a top pull, there are plenty of other options to keep you busy during your stay to Chicago.

Rising 1,454 feet over the downtown area, the Willis Tower just may be Chicago’s most noticeable sight and a popular tourist destination in its own right. Previously called the Sears Tower, it stands 110 stories tall – making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Tourists to the Willis Tower can take a short elevator ride up to the 103rd floor sky deck. The famous skyscraper is positioned near the famous Chicago River in the heart of the “Loop” area and is within close proximity to several of the many Chicago hotels downtown. The views of sunsets from the top of the Willis Tower are incredible, so be sure to take advantage of this speedy elevator ride. (It closes at 8 p.m during the winter, and 10 p.m. in the summer). Continue reading “Adventuring in Downtown Chicago”

All Inclusive Hawaii Vacation Packages

The Lahaina Whaling Museum
The Lahaina Whaling Museum

If a visitor spent a month on Maui, and did something different every single day, there wouldn’t be enough time to do everything. Maui will always be a “doer’s” mecca!

From November until April the giant humpback whales spend the winter in Maui’s offshore waters. They congregate here to mate and birth their young. This endangered species is known for its gentleness, its oceanic gymnastics and its haunting song. The Pacific Whale Foundation offers whale watching excursions aboard both power and sail boats. Fees are used for cetacean research. There are three whaling museums: the Carthaginian, anchored in Lahaina Harbor, The Lahaina Whaling Museum, and the outdoor museum in the Whaler’s Village shopping complex in Kaanapali. Planning your Hawaii Family Vacation in November could be a sure way too please the entire family.

Ho’okipa Beach is the windsurfer’s mecca, and so the lovely little town of Pa’ia is its “cool” capital. The perfect waves and brisk onshore breezes are perfect for the fleets of neon-bright sails streaking across the waves. Once a plantation town, Paia now has gotten hip. It now has boutiques, antique shops, art galleries and many excellent restaurants, to add to its windsurfing shops. Look for Hawaii Hotels at 3DHawaii.com and plan your windsurfing holiday now.

Wind Surfing
Wind Surfing

Walk through a rainforest echoing with birdsong heard no place else on the planet, or along a rugged lava shoreline spewing giant geysers, or into mysterious sea caves steeped in ancient legend. You will discover trails to waterfalls with plunge pools for swimming, and walks into valleys so deep they never see a sunrise or even a sunset. There are actually even trails into the dramatic lunaresque landscape of Haleakala crater.

Few places are as committed to bikeways as Maui. It is possible to bicycle from the East End of the island at the Wailea Resort to Kapalua on the West End. Much of the ride is along spectacular shoreline road. Presently you will find guided downhill bicycle tours from the summit of Haleakala Volcano along the flower farms and little towns of Upcountry right to the beach at Pa’ia. In 38 miles the elevation drops 10,000 feet.

Dive and snorkel sites are world class. There are two marine conservation areas, one at Honolua Bay on West Maui and the other at Molokini, a partially submerged volcanic crater offshore at Wailea. Because of the contours of the crater, it’s like swimming in an aquarium. The nearby Lana’i Cathedrals is considered to be one of the most beautiful dive sites in the world. In addition, there is also a sunken US submarine to explore. Glass bottom boats including a pleasure submarine open up the wonders of the Hawaiian reef to non-swimmers.

6 Fun Things To Do In Medford Oregon

Bear Creek Bike Path
Bear Creek Bike Path

Everyone always complains that there is nothing to do in Medford. The reality of the situation is that there are lots of fun things to do in Medford. Below are some fun things to do in Medford Oregon.

1. Bear Creek Bike Path

The bike path stretches all the way from Ashland to Central Point and there are lots of entrance points in Medford. The bike path is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy nature. Walk, run, bike, skateboard you way along Bear Creek. You can even take your dog on the nice long walk he has been begging you to do.

2. Get A Beer

There are a wide variety of bars you can visit in Medford and they are all very different. You have the local taverns all the way up to the swanky hipster hang outs. My favorites include Elements which offers upscale tapas and bar. Howies which is just a fun place to go with all of its personality. And I love going to Porters for happy hour and sitting outside in the patio.

3. Visit A Park

There are parks scattered all over Medford. There are some smaller parks which have nothing more than a couple of picnic tables. Others offer tennis and basketball courts. Others have play grounds. And there are a couple of water parks for the kids as well.

4. Join A Sports Team

The city of Medford offers all kinds of different sports leagues through out the entire year with softball being one of the most popular. In fact I believe there were something like 112 different softball teams last year. But they also offer soccer, volley ball and basket ball.

5. Take A Class

There are all kinds of classes being offered through out Medford. Rogue Community College (RCC) offers all kinds of classes on a variety of topics. The city of Medford also offers a variety of classes. But there are also lots of non-profits and other businesses that offer free and paid classes.

6. High School Events

If you are budget conscious when it comes to things to do I would highly suggest checking out the local high schools to see what’s happening and when. For a few bucks you can often time get into see a play or sporting event.

There you have it. Six fun things to do in Medford Oregon. Most of them are free. And the few that you do have to pay for are minimal in cost. There is plenty more to do in Medford as well. You just need to put your mind to work and I am sure you will come up with all kinds of good ideas for fun things to do. Keep in mind you don’t gave to limit yourself to just Medford. There are plenty of things to do in all of the other cities in Southern Oregon as well.

Joyland Amusement Park, Lubbock, Texas

Joyland Amusement Park
Joyland Amusement Park

There is probably no place that sparks the mind with sights and sounds as wonderful as those remembered when someone mentions the words, amusement park. Folks from all ages enjoy amusement parks, and if for some strange reason you don’t, then your the exception when it comes to being human.

When it comes to amusement parks, one place that is sure to make for a very fun filled day for any visitor is Joyland Amusement Park, in Lubbock, Texas.

Joyland Amusement Park has over thirty amazing rides to please even the most discriminating amusement park patron, and has rides suited for every age. For the young ones that come to visit, there are numerous rides they will enjoy, such as becoming the pilot of a helicopter.

Grab the controls and pilot a helicopter as it flies across the skies, as far as your imagination can go. Take a ride back in time, as you drive an antique automobile. Become the captain of a boat, and ride on this wonderful attraction over a water filled area, and there are many more ride for the kiddies to enjoy.

For the family and those older folks, that enjoy the more slower paced, relaxing rides, why not climb aboard the carousel and enjoy the music and sights. Take a relaxing yet exciting ride around the park aboard a train, or enjoy the other family rides. For visitors that want all of the scares and thrills of the fast paced terror style rides, there are plenty that are sure to please anyone.

Experience falling to the ground from over a hundred feet in the air, without actually crashing into it, on the Dare Devil Drop. Hold onto your stomach and everything else as you enjoy spinning, turning and moving around at great speeds on the Tilt-A-Wheel. Besides the rides I mentioned, and the many others that I didn’t, there are Water Rides too, as of this articles writing, Joyland Amusement Park has over thirty rides.

Besides all of the rides, don’t forget the treats to eat and drink while visiting Joyland Amusement Park. Just a few of the food items they offer are; funnel cakes, cotton candy, popcorn, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and lots of other great food items.

For drinks and treats, why not try shaved ice, in one of the many flavors offered, or how about a coffee, or hot chocolate. If it’s too warm, or not the time of day for you to want a hot coffee or hot chocolate, then enjoy a cold soda, or a wonderful milk shake, or one of the other delicious drinks.

Joyland Amusement Park, offers options to save some money, such as armbands, as well as several offers and discounts held on different days, and times of the week. There are also discounts, and special offers and more, for school trips, groups, birthday parties and whatever else you and your groups needs may be.