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Archive for the ‘new york’ Category

New York is an exciting vibrant city; it’s the epicentre of fashion, food, culture and art.

It’s a sprawling multicultural metropolis that cannot be fully appreciated in a single trip. Visitors to the city are often enthralled and enchanted by the diversity and the excitement that the city offers with many being drawn back year after year.

New York is approximately a seven hour flight away from the UK and cheap flights to New York are fortunately available pretty much all year round. However, prices do tend to rise during the summer months, so it’s advisable to book well in advance to take advantage of the cheap flights available.

New York has so many instantly recognisable attractions. Here are just a few of the sites that you will find difficult to miss while in New York…

The Statue of Liberty is New York’s historic symbol of freedom and democracy. Ferry tours are available to Ellis Island but be aware that security to the statue has been extremely strict since the September 11th attacks, with access beyond the pedestal of the statue has been restricted indefinitely.

Brooklyn Bridge connects the island of Manhattan to Brooklyn. Its twin Gothic towers add to the architectural diversity of the New York cityscape. Crossing the bridge on foot provides a unique perspective of Manhattans stunning skyline.

Times Square is the host of possibly the most famous New Years Eve countdown in the world. It’s also the place to go for shopping and entertainment. From fine dining to Broadway theatre shows, Times Square has it all.

Central Park provides the perfect escape from the mayhem of Manhattan. Home to 26,000 trees, this 843 acre park offers a welcome respite away from the noise of the city.

The Empire State Building -the focal point of the Manhattan skyline-is New York’s most famous tourist attraction. No visit to the Big Apple is complete without a tour of the famous tower, which offers incredible panoramic views from its 102nd floor observatory.

New York is also renowned for its excellent museums and art galleries. It’s a city that has enough to keep even the most demanding of tourists entertained for the duration of their stay.

So, it’s worth taking advantage of any cheap flights to New York that you come across, as a visit to this amazing city is a guaranteed experience that you will never forget.

December is the most wonderful time of the year, and a wonderful time to visit New York City! Show off your best moves on the Rockefeller Center skating rink by the twinkling lights of the spectacular Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Shopping, shows and New Year’s Eve in Times Square are just some of the fun things to do in the city during the festive holiday season.

The Tree at Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at 50th Street and 5th Avenue is a beloved New York tradition and a must-see Manhattan holiday attraction. Located at Rockefeller Plaza (which spans from 48th and 50th Streets between 5th and 6th Avenues) the branches of towering tree are circled in thousands of twinkling eco-friendly lights. The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony typically takes place in late November or early December. The televised star-studded event features ice-skating performances on the ice rink and draws thousands of spectators.

Skating at Rockefeller Center

The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center opens in mid-October, but it’s a particularly wonderful winter experience for travellers visiting New York in December. That’s because in December, visitors and New Yorkers alike can glide and twirl around the ice under the towering sparkling beauty of the Rockefeller Center tree, just like a scene out of a movie! Rent skates or bring your own, and be prepared to wait during peak times as only 150 skaters are permitted on the rink at once. Skaters can stop for a bite at the Rock Center Café, located right by the ice. The world-famous rink is accessible from 5th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets.

Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular

Need to kick your Christmas spirit into high gear? Check out a performance of this renowned Christmas show to get you right into the spirit of the holidays. The Radio City Music Hall, located on 6th Avenue at 50th Street, hosts the annual Christmas Spectacular which features dazzling choreography and the world-famous high kicks of the Radio City Rockettes. From Santa’s workshop coming to life to the popular “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” this beloved tradition will delight the entire family.

New Year’s Eve in Times Square

Planning to spend New Year’s Eve in New York City? Consider heading to Times Square to watch the iconic New Year’s Eve Ball drop at 11:59p.m. This symbol of New York City draws a crowd of up to a million to Times Square each year, and the vibrant celebration includes fun freebies such as confetti bags, pom-poms and balloons. Revellers will enjoy a festive firecracker display and exciting performances by top entertainers. The new Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is covered in thousands of Waterford crystals, creating a stunning kaleidoscope of colours and patterns as it makes its descent from its perch on a flagpole at the top of One Times Square.

New York City is a fantastic shopping destination any time of year, but the bonus of visiting in December is getting to do your holiday shopping while taking in the incredible holiday storefront windows at shops like Macy’s, Sak’s Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s. A couple of tips – keep in mind that December is peak travel season in New York City, so arrange travel plans well in advance, and remember to bundle up as the weather is typically quite chilly.

Anyone who has ever owned a boat, or has just been on one, knows that there are many boaters out there who lack the basic seamanship skills required to operate their craft safely. Why is this the case, and what can be done to solve it?

The fact is, anyone who lives in New York with a checkbook can buy a boat and sail off into the sunset without so much as a how-to pamphlet. This is not the case, however, in Connecticut and New Jersey as both states require mandatory education for all potential boaters. The question we then have to ask ourselves is…

Will a New York State Boating License be required anytime soon?

The majority of boaters think so, and apparently the Coast Guard does too. In a recent interview with Rear Admiral David P. Pekoske, Assistant Commandant for Operations, United States Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Pekoske indicated that “The Coast Guard’s latest proposal on the issue now includes:

A form of government-issued photo identification which can be a photo identification card issued by a state (such as a motor vehicle driver’s license). We do not propose issuing a federal boater identification card.

AND

Satisfactory completion of a NASBLA-approved boat operator course or written equivalency examination that meets certain minimum national standards of boat operator education.

Is it enough? Well, it’s a start. As many know, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has pretty much set the minimum standards when it comes to Boating Education. However, are these standards too low to qualify a new boater? As one local Captain put it “In depth and hands on education is a must for boaters if we are going to maintain the safety of our waterways.” That sentiment was echoed by several Boating Safety Instructors in various States and of the members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and US Power Squadrons that we interviewed. All believe that some type of on-water training is needed and is the best way to qualify the competency of a new boater.

If you need to pass a written / road test in order to drive a car, why shouldn’t the same be expected of someone wishing to pilot a boat? The safety of our families and fellow boaters depend on the proficiency of our fellow boaters. What do you think? Let us know.