6 quick tips for unusual, exciting and fun activities in New York

New York is known for its high buildings, shopping areas, monuments, Broadway shows, restaurants and many other things. Because of those things, New York is the spectacular and popular city it is today. But when you are staying in New York for over a month, it is quite common to want to do something different for a change. That is why I will show you a whole other side of New York. I have listed some exciting activities in New York.

Skydiving

For those who are looking for a courageous thrill. Experience a free fall over Staten Island. You will have a spectacular view of the Hampton Beaches, Fire Island and the Atlantic coastline. This will be an experience you will remember for the rest of your life. You will jump out of an airplane that flies 2 miles above the ground. There is nothing like that feeling of the moment you are about the jump. Your heart pounds, adrenaline is pumping through your body and you experience freedom like you have never felt before. And when you´re done, the only thing you want is to get in that plane again.

Helicopter tour

The most exciting and spectacular way to see the great New York City is by doing a helicopter sightseeing tour. You will have the chance to see the great New York City landmarks. For the kids, this will be an experience they will never forget. Flying over the great city of New York, you will see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island, the New York bridges, the Statue of Liberty and other skyscrapers. New York City.

Six flax Darien Lake

If you are looking for a thrill, you should visit this theme park. It has 8 thrilling rides including some record breaking roller coasters when it comes to speed. This park has also lots of rides for children who are too young for the extreme roller coasters. The park has a great water park including  interactive water play structure, Flow rider, surfing ride, lazy river, activity pool, wading pool, hot tub, family raft ride,  tube and body slides.

Attend the skate board marathon

A first of its kind. It is a battle of fitness, endurance, and action.

The Adrenalina Skateboard Marathon is a 26.2 mile long board race set to promote health & fitness, as well as the lifestyle. The Start/Finish line will showcase an expo village where spectators and participants can purchase the latest and greatest in action sports and beyond. There will also be live music and other extreme sport demos.

NYC Balloon ride

A hot air Balloon ride is something that many may dream about for years, and remember forever. Whether you have chosen this adventure for you and your family, or for a special occasion, your experience will be unforgettable as you travel above the treetops and below the clouds.

Kayaking in the New York harbor

If you want to do something with a little more peace and quiet, just go kayaking on the New York harbor. You will have a beautiful view over the sparkling Manhattan and New Jersey skylines.

Article written by J.Besters, blogger and writer for apartime.com provider of vacation rental apartments in New York City.

French resorts ready to kick off

Winter season 2011-2012 is around the corner. Ski resorts are preparing to welcome you in the best conditions for the best ski holidays you’ll have all year!

This winter, the French ski resort of Châtel invested in a larger chair lift. Rochassons lift went from 2 to 6 passenger capability, which will carry 3000 skiers uphill in an hour. What’s more, to assure complete safety this lift is equipped with a safety bar. But that’s not all; Châtel also added 39 snow canons to ensure perfect ski conditions during the whole season. A new activity also appears in Châtel this season which is Airboard. There will be fun times to come on the slopes.

Val d’Isere also decided to invest in their facilities with now almost 160 slopes to ski on. The famous snow park, Valpark, now has a new chalet where you will be able to rest and eat between two jumps. Also for food lovers, the restaurant La Becca received its first star in the Michelin Guide, definitely a place to try this winter.

Les Arcs and its various villages have a lot to announce this season. Arc 1950 will open a brand new spa with baths, treatments and true relaxation as a great alternative to skiing. Arc 1600 replaced its two lifts with a brand new one. Novice skiers will also be able to ski on a new slope “Les deux têtes”.

Les Gets introduces Airbag Freestyle as well as a new boardercross named after Olympic champion Deborah Anthonioz who helped design it. It will also be able to host international competitions. Snow canons will provide more snow during the season if the weather isn’t up to scratch. Les Gets is also a great destination for original holidays; you can enjoy a meal for two inside a cable car, or even share starters inside an igloo.

While an airbag in Les Sept-Laux is ready to catch all the skiers and snowboarders willing to try crazy jumps in safety, Champagny en Vanoise reorganised its slopes from areas of Mont de la Guerre and Harakiri des Verdons. A new lift capable to carry 3000 people per hour has also been installed.

All the ski resorts in France are ready to start and the only part we are missing is the snow, but it will show up right on time this year! With brand new facilities and winter sports proposed, France is a great choice thanks to Eurostar it is easy to reach the Alps in a few hours on the train from the UK. There’s nothing like ski holidays!

Interested in UK Travel? Read more articles on the blog.

Experience the north of the UK with a city break

Although a large proportion of tourists coming to Britain probably think London is the only city worth seeing, northern cities like Leeds and Manchester have so much to offer and should not be forgotten.  With a wide range of shopping locations, cultural hotspots and loads more, here are a few ideas on where to go to get the most from your northern city break.

Things to do

With the Yorkshire Dales merely a stones-throw (or short train ride away), Leeds is perfectly situated if you do want to take a trip out, but there is also something for everyone in the city centre. For culture seekers Leeds has several options; art lovers will find The Henry Moor Institute and The Leeds Art Gallery which houses a world class selection of 20^th Century pieces, both situated on The Headrow. Leeds City Museum is a great place to visit for those interested in history and is perfect for a rainy day, along with The Royal Armouries which has a stunning collection of weaponry from all the ages.

Manchester also offers up a plethora of cultural and historical sites for you to visit. The Museum of Science and Industry is great for children and adults alike with lots of hands on exhibitions, along with the Imperial War Museum in Salford Quays and its striking architecture. The city also has several brilliant art galleries, the largest of these being Manchester Art Gallery on Mosley St and The Lowry, named after the famous painter who came from the city. Manchester has a thriving independent culture scene and smaller galleries The Whitworth and Corner House are both worth searching out.

Leeds City Museum

Shopping

Both Manchester and Leeds have some of the best shopping locations in the country and it is easy to lose a whole day just wandering round. Leeds’ Victoria Quarter is home to high fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton and Reiss as well as department store Harvey Nichols. Smaller boutiques can be found dotted around such as Each To Their Own.

The Northern Quarter in Manchester is a thriving community of independent record, clothing and art shops as well as some fantastic bars which we’ll get on to in a moment. Oi Polloi offers some incredible quality menswear that you won’t find anywhere else and Oklahoma is brilliant for those who like things a bit kitsch!

Bars and Clubs

The nightlife in these two cities is vibrant and ranges from alternative bars playing host to the best local talent to huge clubs with the latest dance music from around the world. Some of the best DJs in the world come to play at Leeds venues including Halo, which is a nightclub inside a converted church and The Cockpit attracts some of the biggest bands in existence. Those in-the-know head to Nation of Shopkeepers, where you can hear the freshest bands and electronic music from the cutting edge of the scene.

Similarly in Manchester, big clubs like Area 51 and Tiger Tiger attract the masses and big names, but the real gems are to be found in the smaller locations in the Northern Quarter and down Oxford Road. Hit and Run at the Mint Lounge is for the hardier electronic music fan and is always a late one, but a good one.  

Next time you’re considering a city break, think about Leeds and Manchester as you could be missing out on something amazing!

This was a guest article from One UK who specialise in apartments in Leeds