One of the top destinations for families both in the US and abroad is Florida. From the sunny weather to the wide range of hotels to stay in, Florida has been deemed as the vacation capitals of the US. More specifically, the Disney World destination is appealing to vacationers because it offers non-stop excitement in a family friendly package. If you book your trip well in advance you can save a great deal of money and treat your family to the vacation of a lifetime.

Whether you want to be involved in every stage of planning your Florida vacation or you would rather have someone else do all the work, use the Internet to make the experience easy. Browse through hotel photos and instantly find out which ones have available vacancies. Best of all, working with an online vacation booking company will allow you to get access to discounted tickets to your favorite theme parks. No trip to Florida is complete without taking a picture with Mickey Mouse and spending a full day going on water rides and roller coasters. You and your loved ones will be able to look at your vacation pictures and recall fond memories of the time that you spent having a blast on your Florida vacation.

When most people think of vacationing in California, their minds usually take them to the busy streets of the L.A. and San Diego region, Hollywood, and Disneyland. Strolling around the busy streets of Los Angeles, shopping and perhaps catching the rare glimpse of a celebrity, or riding the world famous rides in one of the nation’s top theme parks at Disneyland. However, California has much more to offer. There’s the wide expanse of beautiful desert in eastern California, stretching out for miles of flat, beautiful terrain, famous for the sunsets that take up the entire sky. For those who loves the beach, but prefer not to wade through heavily populated stretches of sand that are usually notorious in L.A. and San Diego, year round, there’s also the central coast, and the beaches of Santa Cruz, and Santa Monica. The Central Valley region boasts wide expanses of plains, and bountiful stretches of green hills; a perfect destination for those who would prefer a quiet, sunny vacation getaway in a country atmosphere.

In Northern California, the possibilities are even more variable for activities. In the Shasta Cascade region, there are majestic mountains, for skiing and snowboarding, or mountain biking. As well as wildlife preserves, and enormous natural parks, where tourists and vacations can see the beauty of nature preserved, and flourishing before their eyes. On the North Coast of California, vacationers can travel through wine country, and sample some of the finest wines made right there on the coast, from the freshest source available; acres of vineyards, and wineries. As well as touring wine countries, travelers can also view one of the most famous attractions of that region; the Giant Redwoods found in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, or Del Norte State Park, hiking among some of the largest trees on the face of the Earth, as well as the oldest. Just standing beneath the Giant Redwoods, you can feel their ancient testimony of life, bygones past.

Cuisine in California is the probably the most diverse you’ll find in many places. In the urban areas you can find a melting pot of different foods and traditional dishes, such as a variety of Asian foods, sold from street vendors, as well as South American, Mexican, and Western foods. Because of California’s abundance of fresh fruits, and the perfect climate fruits and vegetables from around the world can grow here, whereas, in any other part of America, they wouldn’t be able to survive the climate. Not to mention other cultural foods such as Greek, Italian, German, and much more, available from all over the cities, as well as being prepared by the finest and most culturally diverse chefs. Eating out in California is a world tour for your mouth.

As far as getting around in California goes, traveling by car is the best way to go, either renting a car when you fly in, or driving there from wherever on the North American content you happen to be coming from. In the urban areas, such as San Francisco, San Diego, or Los Angeles, however, there is heavy traffic, and public transportation is cheaper and more reliable than waiting in traffic for hours. Taxis are also popular in urban areas, as well as renting scooters or motorcycles. Another popular choice for those visiting in California, more for the natural activities, and camping, are the RV rentals. Like a moving hotel, tourists can roam freely in Northern California, experiencing the best of both worlds; the hotel and the campfire.

Accommodations in California are numerous and very diverse as well; it all depends on what kind of visit tourists are planning to have. When it comes time to book and reserve a hotel, the choices are endless. Tourists can reserve campsites near the enchanting state parks, so that they’re close to their favourite activities. Those who prefer quiet vacations can book a reservation in a quiet lodge, or in a privately owned bed and breakfast in the Central Valley. For those vacationing in the city, or planning to spend their time in California’s various theme and amusement parks, there are luxury hotels, teeming with different options to pamper themselves, and have a relaxing spa experience. Also, are resort hotels, provided by the amusement or theme parks, that can be purchased as part of a vacation package, which takes some of the stress off of finding perfect accommodations.

One of the favourite activities to take part in is the submarine tours of the reefs that surround the island of Oahu, and the tours can be found in Honolulu, along with several other aquatic activities, such as diving, swimming in the beautiful waters of Hawaii’s hundreds of beaches, as well as taking private or public charter boats out into the ocean for fishing trips with family and friends. Other popular activities are summer festivals on the beaches with the Hawaiian locals, whom are always very welcoming to visitors of the island. Luxury resorts and waterfront spa treatments are also popular indoor activities in Hawaii, as well as more family oriented activities such as “Sky Adventures”, which are helicopter tours of the volcano and breath taking mountains. Another popular attraction to Hawaii is the nightlife; dance clubs, and live beach-front entertainment, including Hawaii’s famous scantily clad Hula dancers.

One of the most multicultural of all Hawaii’s many attractive properties, is the cuisine visitors will find there; some of the most prominent influences in Hawaiian food is Polynesian, Asian, and American. The most popular vegetables and fruits used in Hawaiian foods are coconuts, yams, macadamia nuts, guava, tamarind, melons, seaweed, kukui, sweet potatoes, breadfruit, pineapples, and bananas. The popular spices used in Hawaiian cooking are Five Spice, Char siu, soy sauce, jicama, fish sauces, Bagoong, Patis, and Wasabi. One of the most interesting choices of meat in Hawaii, while pork is very popular, is actually Spam. Believe it or not, Spam is used in almost everything in Hawaii; it can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hawaii is the planet’s second largest consumer of Spam, –the first is actually Guam. Tuna is another staple food of Hawaii, and used in many traditional dishes. Some of the delicious dishes you’ll definitely have to taste in Hawaii is Loco Moco; two fried, seasoned hamburger patties, topped with cooked eggs, and gravy, as well as, Kalua Pig, a favourite of natives and visitors, which is pulled pork, with marinated and steamed cabbage.

In Hawaii, when looking for hotels, your options are various to say the least. Choosing a hotel further inland can be cheaper, though further from the beaches. The hotels on the beach are picturesque but much more expensive; there are resort hotels, spa hotels, luxury five star getaways, and economically sound hotels as well, for those who prefer to spend their time outside their hotel rooms. Getting around in Hawaii is usually done by car, or scooter in city areas, or by bicycle. When traveling by car, visitors have more independence to travel the island freely. Travel back and forth to the islands is done either by ferry, or air.

In Canada, there are many different options for your vacation, depending on whether you’ve decided to keep it indoor, outdoor, or mix the two and enjoy a little bit of everything. There a rivers, lakes, deserts, prairies, forests, farm land, oceans, beaches, and parks, all waiting to be experienced by the average vacationer. Not to mention indoor leisure, with hundreds of different spa destinations, outdoor festivals for couples and family fun, as well as other attractions, such as amusement parks, indoor water parks, gaming and casinos, and science museums for individuals and families as well. For fun educational opportunities, families can visit Science World, in Vancouver, British Columbia, London Regional Children’s Museum, in London, Ontario, or Vancouver Aquarium, also in Vancouver, British Columbia. Festivals are a great way to mingle with natives and have fun with other tourists, whether at sporting event festivals, heritage festivals, food and wine festivals, theatre and art festivals, and music festivals. There’s always something going on, so before you travel, make sure to check the local calendar at your destination, to see what’s coming up in that area.

One of the highlights of Canada is the cuisine, and for lobster and crab lovers, there are few other places to travel to with better seafood. One of the most highly recommended places to try lobster, is New Glasgow Lobster Suppers, in New Glasgow, on Prince Edward Island, in Eastern Canada. In French and English areas, such as Quebec, you can find both delicious, and beautiful food made by real French chefs, in luxury dining atmospheres, such as at The Gourmet Route, in Québec, or taste the vintage French wines, bottled and aged on site in Nova Scotia, when you go on Nova Scotia Vineyard Tours. Outdoor markets, filled with vendors selling homegrown fruits, vegetables, as well as fresh pastries and baked goods, and much more, are also a favourite culinary attraction Canada. Visiting in late summer and harvest season is a great idea for those planning to sample the markets of Canada’s cities for a real taste of the country, and tourists should check to see what markets will be open in the area of their destination at the times they plan to visit.

If you’re looking for the perfect place to spend the duration of your trip in Canada, then you’ll have no trouble at all; however, making a choice between so many great places to stay can be a bit more difficult. In the mountainous region of the Yukon territory in Canada, most recommend an intimate experience of the region that you’ll find more at a hostel, bed and breakfast, or guest cabins. In Quebec, there are numerous opportunities for lodging such as youth hostels, campgrounds, educational institutions for students, wilderness lodges, resort accommodations, tourist homes, and hospitality villages as well as conventional hotels.

Transportation and getting around in Canada is best done by car, but if you plan to go across water, they are water taxis and ferries available to those traveling across rivers or waterways to islands. When in city areas, if you plan to spend a day shopping, or strolling through an outdoor market, it’s best to walk, or even rent a bicycle, so that you don’t miss out on something you might not be able to experience in a fast-moving vehicle.

Nevada is not where one would expect to find one of the top tourist destinations in the world, but Las Vegas has been challenging expectations ever since being established as an entertainment capital in 1946. In just a few years, Vegas went from being a wide spot in the road to the playground for gamblers, Hollywood stars, and tourists from all over the world. Las Vegas legalized gambling in 1931, but it wasn’t until Bugsy Siegel opened the Flamingo Hotel on the day after Christmas in 1946 that the Strip, and modern Las Vegas, was born. In the following years, the smaller, ‘family-run’ hotels and casinos would gradually be replaced by mega-resorts and corporate hotels, and the city that was once based purely on entertainment for adults, began billing itself as a destination for the entire family.

Today, the action has moved from downtown Las Vegas to the Strip. The Strip is actually a four-mile section of Las Vegas Boulevard South, and contains most of the newer mega-hotels that Vegas offers. Many of these hotels are some of the biggest, most expensive properties in the world. Las Vegas is located in the Nevada desert, so the resorts and hotels are open year-round, the sun is always beaming, rain is almost non-existent, and fun is always in season.

Every year the hotels in Vegas get bigger, more lavish, and the entertainment choices more fabulous. On any given night, visitors can chose from old Vegas stand-bys such as Barry Manilow, David Copperfield, and Tony Bennett, to the biggest shows of today like the Blue Man Group, Spamalot, and Penn and Teller, to the more eclectic, like tribute show to Neil Diamond or the Rat Pack. Las Vegas, Nevada is also famous for its championship quality golf courses. Each year, the PGA hosts numerous events and tournaments in and around Vegas, and likewise for tourists, the courses are always in great shape, the sun is always shining, and the bunkers are always raked.

The Strip is home to the largest, most lavish, and luxurious casinos and hotels in the United States. Some of the most famous that tourists will encounter are:

• Circus Circus: Themed after its name, guests enjoy its daily acrobatic shows, clowns, and other amazing displays. One of the older casinos on the Strip, and a Vegas landmark.
• Bellagio: When it was built it was the most expensive and largest casino in the world. In addition to thousands of game tables and rooms, the Bellagio has a world-class art museum, and it features the nightly dancing water fountain in front.
• Ceasars Palace: An ancient Roman-themed affair, Ceasars has waiters working in togas, and is another of the most famous and well-known in Vegas.
• The Venetian: Set to become the largest hotel-complex in the world when its Palazzo section opens, this Venice-based resort features gondola rides along waterfront shopping, a Guggenheim art museum, and 17 award-winning restaurants.

Although Las Vegas has grown incredibly fast in the sixty-odd years since the city found its calling, the best may be yet to come. A monorail is slowly opening that runs the length of the strip—beginning at the MGM Grand Casino and passes the Convention Center, Las Vegas Hilton, before ending at the Sahara. When fully completed, the monorail will connect from the airport all the way to the Sahara. Plans are also under discussion to build the tallest hotel in the world, as well.

The South is proud of its history, and although its past certainly has some checkered moments, modern Alabama has come to grips with the worst parts, while embracing the future at the same time. Certainly no city demonstrates this juxtaposition more than Huntsville. Located an hour and a half north of Birmingham, the Rocket City is home to Alabama’s high tech industry. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center is there, along with the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and others. The Space and Rocket Center is one of the largest museums in the world dedicated to space travel, and home to Space Camp. Each year kids from all over the world come to learn about humanity’s continuing journey to the stars, operate mock-ups of NASA equipment, and undergo some of the same training that real astronauts do.

For outdoors enthusiasts, Alabama is chock-full of rivers, trails, lakes, parks, and beaches. Canoeing is very popular in the state, and the numerous river and streams offer challenges for all skill levels. The Coosa River in Wetumpka offers seven miles of rapids, calm waters, and gorgeous scenic views as paddlers make their way through the canyons and hills of central Alabama.

Golfers will find few destinations that can offer the passion for the sport as well as the quality of courses that can be found in the Heart of Dixie. The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail offers ten public courses spread throughout the state, all of championship quality and affordable prices, and all showcasing the beauty of the state. Many tourists to the state spend days, if not weeks, traveling up and down the state stopping at each spot on the trail and lingering over their putts.

Most people don’t think of Alabama as a beach destination, but the same coastline that millions travel to Florida to enjoy is present in Alabama, if on a much smaller scale. Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Dauphin Island all provide visitors the chance to dive, ski, swim, or just laze about under the sun. The cuisine is also second to none, featuring fresh fish and shellfish, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables from one of the best growing regions in the U.S. Mobile showcases its antebellum past with its forts and historic battle sights of the Civil War.

Alabama does things its own way. It could be the heat, but things seem to get done on a different schedule than the rest of the country. They still get done, but never in a hurry, and rarely without a smile and a ‘Thank You’ or ‘You’re Welcome.’ People interested in seeing what the south has to offer will find it all in Alabama.

Utah, the 13th largest state in the country, was admitted to the union in 1896. Most of the state’s residents, known as Utahns, live in urban areas. Among these urban areas is the state’s capital and largest city, Salt Lake City. Utah, which means “People of the mountains,” is known for its religious and hardworking people hence the state’s motto “Industry.”

Activities

Each year Utah attract thousands of tourists looking to indulge in outdoor recreational activities. And Utah delivers just that. Among the outdoor activities are skiing, golfing, hunting, kayaking, fishing, whitewater rafting, houseboating, biking and hiking. Whatever you choose to do there’s an adventure waiting for you. For nature lovers the state offers a wide mountain terrain and beautiful scenery as most of the state’s land is uninhabited.

Museums

Utah is rich in history and culture as evident in the variety of heritage and art museums throughout the state. Many cities have museums that focus the state’s history, traditions, natural resources and art. Some of these museums include the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum, John Hutchings Museum of Natural History, Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts, Fort Douglas Military Museum, Hellenic Cultural Museum, Museum of Utah Art & History, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Springville Museum of Art, Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum and the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. Whatever your area of interest you’re sure to find a museum suited for your tastes.

Shopping

While outdoor activities are popular in Utah there are also plenty of places to shop. Those looking for shopping in Utah will find a variety of venues including quaint stores, specialty shops, malls and outlets. The state’s largest mall is the South Towne Center in Sandy, Utah.

Sports

Utah has all the competitive action sports enthusiasts need. Those in town for a basketball game can watch the Utah Jazz play at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City. Football fans can watch the Utah Blaze, the state’s newest professional team. The state also has a professional soccer team, Real Salt Lake as well as a hockey team, the Utah Grizzlies. There two minor league baseball teams as well as a variety of college sports.

Accommodation

There are plenty of places to stay during a trip to Utah. In addition to the traditional hotel accommodations Utah offers lodging at charming bed & breakfasts. For those looking for destination lodging try campgrounds and ski resorts. Popular hotels in Utah include the Stein Eriksen Lodge, the Garden Cottage Bed And Breakfast, Marriott Salt Lake City Center and the Canyons Resort.

Transport

If you are looking for a way to get around and enjoy all that Utah has to offer there are a variety of travel methods to suit your needs. Options include renting a vehicle, using a private transit service or taking advantage of the state’s public transportation system.

The Alamo
The Alamo is where the Texas army was attacked by the Mexican army. Although there were thousands of soldiers in the Mexican army the 182 Texans stood strong and fought for their independence. They lost to the bigger army, but their fight for independence was well documented at the Alamo. This is an amazing place and full of Texas history, so it is a great place to visit.

El Mercado
El Mercado, or the Market, is an astonishing place where tourists can buy handmade goods and get a real feel for the Mexican influence in Texas. Being so close to Mexico there is a lot of culture mixing and in El Mercado this is very obvious although at times it seems to bend more towards the Mexican influence than the Texan.

The Riverwalk
If you are in San Antonio then you should definitely check out the Riverwalk. A great walkway that winds along the river sets the stage for dining and shopping. This is a very popular place to visit and is really beautiful and enjoyable at the same time.

Houston Space Center
NASA’s Johnson Space Center is another place that is worth a visit if you are in the Houston area. Learn about space exploration, see items and footage from space, and if you are lucky you might even meet an astronaut or see a launch!

Sea World
If you are in San Antonio then Sea World should definitely be on your list of things to do. There are many aquariums, exhibits, and shows for you to take in and see plenty of live marine life. You will love the killer whales and dolphin shows. This is a great destination for couples with or without children!

Of course, these are not the only things to do in Texas. In a state that covers more than 262,000 square miles and has more than 600 miles of shoreline there are hundreds of activities to keep you entertained. Enjoy golf, the beach, shopping, fine dining, and more when you visit Texas!

The town is named after two important figures: San Miguel, the monk who founded the town in 1542, and General Ignacio Allende, one of the key leaders of Mexican independence from Spain. For years, San Miguel was nothing more than a stop over for travelers headed to and from the silver mines of Zacatecas, but it always lie in the hotbed of Mexican intellectualism—the state of Guanajuato. Though it was home to independent thinkers, artists, writers, and wealthy citizens from Mexico City, San Miguel found itself fading away in the early 1900s. As is the case with many dying neighborhoods and towns, the artists were responsible for bringing the town back to life.

In the 1930s two important events took place. The Bellas Artes art school was founded, and an American artist and teacher, Sterling Dickinson, moved there. Dickinson spent his time teaching children and serving the community by assisting with many public works. Today, his name is found all over town, while the Bellas Artes school draws students from all over the world.

The American invasion began in earnest following World War II, when G.I.s discovered (partly through the efforts of Dickinson) not only the town and its many art schools, but also that their education grants would go much further. Soon the word was out, and the 60s brought such characters as Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters, Jack Kerouac, Neil Cassidy, Alan Ginsburg, among others. And the visitors keep on coming. In addition to the numerous retirees that call the town home, students still come for summer courses, and even Hollywood has recently gotten into the act. Numerous music videos have been shot in San Miguel, along with the recent hits, The Mexican, starring Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, with Johnny Depp and Antonio Banderas.

The town center of San Miguel is a Mexican national historic monument, and features the Parroquia, the famous pink, Gaudi-inspired church that dominates the plaza and the downtown area. Laws are in place to keep out too much commercialism, and you won’t find too many American chain restaurants. If you’re looking for quality Mexican home cooking, though, San Miguel offers a wide variety of cuisine—from tacos on the street, to five-star restaurants to satisfy even the most demanding palate.

Much has changed recently. Today, land and property prices are booming, and San Miguel boasts some of the more pricey real estate in Mexico. Visitors wishing to spend time in this charming town, can find hotels to fit any budget. If you are planning on a long-term stay, furnished houses and apartments are available for affordable rates. For as little as $400/month, one can find fully furnished and remodeled old houses with gardens, cable, internet, and all the amenities of home. The internet is full of offerings, but they are usually much higher than what one can find asking around on the streets and tiendas. Local expats will tell you—the best way to find bargain housing is by asking in the neighborhood shops.

But back to September…

If a month-long, wild party is what you are looking for, then September is the month to be in San Miguel. This month is the month for Mexican Independence, and since General Allende is from here, the celebration goes on and on. The town begins filling up at the beginning of the month and by the time the 16th (Independence Day) rolls around, the party is in full swing with up to 200,000 in the small town. On the 23rd, is the Pamplonada, or Sanmiguelada—the annual running of the bulls, in which, like its famous cousin in Spain, thousands take to the streets to celebrate and chase the bulls in a dangerous, yet popular, festival. If you are thinking about going in September, you must book reservations far in advance. The towns population triples or even quadruples in this month, and people can be seen sleeping in their cars, tents, alleyways, and anywhere else due to the overflow of visitors.

History

Long before the arrival of European settlers, the New York City area was inhabited by the Lenape people, including such tribes as the Manahattoes, Canarsies and Raritan.

Major events in New York history include

• In 1524 the first European explorer enters New York Harbor
• European settlement begins with the following the 1609 voyage of Henry Hudson
• Founding of the Dutch fur trading settlement in Lower Manhattan in 1613 later called New Amsterdam
• English ships captured the city without struggle in 1664
• The Dutch formally ceded New York to the English in the Treaty of Breda at the conclusion of the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667
• The city was renamed New York, after James, Duke of York, and became a royal colony in 1685
• After the Civil War, the rate of immigration from Europe grew steeply, and New York became the first stop for millions seeking a new and better life in the United States, a role acknowledged by the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886
• In two separate actions in 1874 and 1895, New York City (and New York County) annexed sections of southern Westchester County known as the Bronx
• In 1898, New York City took the political form in which it exists to this day.
• 9/11 changed the political map of the world

Place of interest

Tourism is a major local industry, with hundreds of attractions and 39 million tourists visiting the city each year on average. Many visitors make it a point to visit Ground Zero, the Empire State Building, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street, United Nations Headquarters, the American Museum of Natural History, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, and the Brooklyn Bridge, among other attractions. There are over 28,000 acres (113 km²) of parkland found throughout New York City, comprising over 1,700 separate parks and playgrounds. The best known of these is Central Park, which is one of the finest examples of landscape architecture in the world, as well as a major source of recreation for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Other major parks in the city include Riverside Park, Battery Park, Bryant Park, Prospect Park, Flushing Meadow-Corona Park, Washington Square Park, and Forest Park.

Museums & Art Galleries

New York is a city of great museums with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s assemblage of historic art, the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum’s 20th century collection, and the American Museum of Natural History and its Hayden Planetarium focusing on the sciences. There are also many smaller specialty museums, from El Museo del Barrio with a focus on Latin American cultures to the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum of Design. A number of the city’s museums are located along the Museum Mile section of Fifth Avenue.

In addition to these museums, the city is also home to a vast array of spaces for opera, symphony, and dance performances. The largest of these is Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, which is actually a complex of buildings housing 12 separate companies, including the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the New York City Ballet, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Other notable performance halls include Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

New York City boasts a highly active and influential theater district, which is centered around Times Square in Manhattan. It serves both as the center of the American theater industry, and as a major attraction for visitors from around the world. Broadway theaters are considered to be of the highest quality in the world.

Shopping

Shopping is popular with many visitors, with Fifth Avenue being a famous shopping corridor for luxury items. Macy’s, the nation’s largest department store, and the surrounding area of Herald Square are a major destination for more moderately-priced goods. In recent years 23rd Street has become a major location for “big-box” retailers. In southern Manhattan, Greenwich Village is home to hundreds of independent music and book stores, while the East Village continues to prevail as purveyors of all things “strange” and unusual which you can’t find anywhere else. The “diamond district” (located on 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) is the city’s main location for jewelry shopping, and SoHo, formerly the center of the New York art scene, is now famous for high-priced clothing boutiques, and the art galleries are now concentrated in Chelsea. There are also large shopping districts found in Downtown Brooklyn and along Queens Boulevard in Queens.

Food & Drink

New York is the best restaurant town in USA and one of the finest in the world. New York has literally thousands of restaurants to choose from (more than 25,000, in fact), encompassing nearly every cuisine in the world. Some of the big names are Eleven Madison Park, The River Café, Boat Basin Café, Veritas. Like restaurants, thousands of bars and cafes are there in the city. A few old noteworthy among those are: McSorleys Old Ale House, Revival, Push Café and White Horse Tavern.

Universities

New York City is served by the publicly run City University of New York (CUNY), the largest urban university in the United States, which has a number of campuses throughout the five boroughs. The city is also home to a number of other institutions of higher learning, some of national or even international reputation, including Columbia University, Fordham University, Manhattan College, New York University, the Juilliard School, The Cooper Union, Marymount Manhattan College and The New School. New York City is also a major center of academic medicine. Manhattan contains the campuses of the world-class Rockefeller University, Weill Cornell Medical College, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, as well as Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and NYU Medical Center and their medical schools. New York City is home to several of the nation’s top schools of art and design, including Pratt Institute, the School of Visual Arts, the Fashion Institute of Technology, and Parsons School of Design

Sports

Although in much of the rest of the country American football has become the most popular professional sport, in New York City baseball arguably still stirs the most passion and interest. A “Subway Series” between city teams is a time of great excitement, and any World Series championship by either the New York Yankees or the New York Mets is considered to be worthy of the highest celebration, including a ticker-tape parade for the victorious team.

Hotels & Accommodation

The City of New York is known as the “city that never sleeps”, but its visitors have to. The city hosts a large number of accommodations options.

Luxury Hotels

New York has many “grand dames,” classic elegant hotels that have been around for years and endured majestically. The St. Regis, the Waldorf, Tribeca Grand Hotel, Ritz-Carlton New York, Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers - are some to mention about.

Budget Hotels

Besides all those luxury hotels, a large number of budget hotels are available in New York City. They are comfortable, homely and light weight for the pocket. Some of them to mention are - The Whitehouse Hotel of New York, The Pioneer, Chelsea Center, Guesthouse and Harlem YMCA. Except these hotels and guesthouses, Skyline Hotel and Travel Inn are rare exception among affordable hotels for their services and facilities.

Tours and Sightseeing

To know and see the New York City with no tension way, a number of tour operators are there for travelers help. These tours contain city and outskirt of the city sightseeing. Tours may vary from its contents or theme. It may be a helicopter tour of Big Apple or may be a double-decker bus tour. Some fair tour agencies are there in the city. Tours can be booked from tour agencies or some hotels arrange them for its patrons. Another easy way to book any of these tours is online tour ticket booking. Some helpful websites for this purpose are: http://www.newyork.com/.

http://www.allnewyorktours.com/

http://www.thereservationcenter.com/

Transport

The airport authority owns and operates the four major airports in the New York City area, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Jamaica, Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, La Guardia Airport in Flushing, and Teeterboard Airport in Teeterboard, New Jersey.

Taxicabs are operated by private companies and licensed by the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission. Other than cabs, New York City has a mass transit system. Unlike most of America’s car-oriented urban areas, public transportation is the common mode of travel for the majority of New York City residents. The city is served by an extensive network of parkways and expressways, including four primary Interstate Highways enter the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. The world-famous New York City Subway is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). It is the most extensive subway system in the world. The subway system connects all boroughs except Staten Island, which is served by the Staten Island Railway via the free Staten Island Ferry. In addition to these, city residents rely on hundreds of bus lines, both publicly and privately operated.

Many private ferries are run by NY Waterway, which provides several lines across the Hudson River, New York Water Taxi, with lines connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan, and other operators

About The Author
Nivedita Balamurugan

Occupation: Traveler

Website: www.thereservationcenter.com

Biography: Nivedita is with The Reservation Center - providers of discounted tours to make your vacations and sightseeing trips in various cities across the world as comfortable and enjoyable as possible