 |
|
Statue of Liberty © Judith Duk |
To many New York City is New York State, but there is much more to this historic and scenically diverse state than the Big Apple. Within an hour’s drive visitors can find the beaches of Long Island or escape to the Catskill Mountains to fish, hike or ski. A little further north, on the Hudson River, is the state capital Albany, which is a good base from which to explore 'upstate' New York. In the centre of the state the solitude of the Adirondacks region can be found – home to some of the highest and most dramatic mountains in the eastern United States, attracting the energetic with a range of activities including hiking, skiing, horse riding and mountain biking.
On the border with Canada, between Lakes Ontario and Erie is possibly the country’s most spectacular natural attraction, and certainly the most popular – the Niagara Falls. Located midway between Niagara Falls and New York City are the Finger Lakes, which despite being within 200 miles (322km) of the city remain one of the most unspoilt vacation areas in the USA, renowned for their picturesque lakes, wineries and lush forests.
Until the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, most of the area that is now New York was controlled by the Iroquois Confederacy, a group of Native American peoples. Henry Hudson discovered and named the Hudson River in 1609 and claimed the area for the Dutch, sixty years later the British took control and named it New York; the Indians prospered during this time, controlling the lucrative fur trade. A century later, during the French and Indian Wars the British defeated the French and took control of all of northeast America. The victory was largely thanks to the Iroquois allying themselves with the British and in 1763 all the new British Territory, extending as far as the Mississippi, was declared an Indian reserve. This was short-lived however, the Iroquois again allied themselves with the British during the War of Independence, and in the reprisals entire communities were wiped out and much of their land was deeded to the revolutionary war veterans.
George Washington was sworn in as the republic’s first president in 1789 in New York City. By 1830 the population had exploded to 250,000, but mass immigration did not start until the 1840s, with the arrival of the Irish. By 1880 the population was 1.2 million. With this abundant labour, vast natural resources and unfettered capitalism New York, and the other Mid-Atlantic States, became one of the most industrialised regions in the world. Great cities developed including New York, New York… king of the hill, top of the heap.
NEW YORK CITY
 |
|
Statue of Liberty | The problem with visiting New York is knowing where to start, but even if you don't immediately rush off to view the world-famous sights and icons of this most dynamic of cities, just being there is enough. The wonder of New York is in the energy and the diversity that emanates from its densely packed, multi-cultural population. The city vibrates with colliding cultures, languages and nuances; here high-life and low-life rub shoulders, and whoever you are and whatever your taste, there will be something to amuse and stimulate you 24-hours a day.
Whether lolling on a bench in leafy Central Park, watching the world go by from a French bistro in Soho, gazing up at 'Lady Liberty' from the deck of the Staten Island Ferry, most visitors will feel they've done it all before, simply because New York is so familiar to anyone who has ever seen a movie or watched television. There is something special however in actually seeing the familiar landmarks and experiencing the pulse of the clichéd, but true, 'city that never sleeps'.
New York City is made up of five boroughs - Staten Island, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan, but many visitors never leave Manhattan. There is a lot packed into this tiny area: the 24-hour pasta restaurants of Little Italy and the bustling sidewalks of Chinatown, the jazz clubs of Greenwich Village and the theatres of Broadway; and of course the iconic sights of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Times Square.
New York has been described as the best three-day city in the world, and that's about right. After a frenzy of museums, galleries, bars and clubs, some visitors are ready for a break. Fortunately there's a lot of choice, from the National Parks of Upstate New York, to the beaches of Long Island or simply the leafy oasis of Central Park. Whatever you're after, New York is ready and waiting to bewitch, bother and bewilder.
|
The Statue of Liberty
The universal symbol of freedom and democracy, the Statue of Liberty was the first sight to be seen by the 12 million immigrants who passed through the Ellis Island Immigration Centre. Sculpted by Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi and modelled on the Colossus of Rhodes, the statue was donated by the people of France in 1886 to commemorate the alliance between the two countries during the American Revolution. Visitors can climb the 354 steps to the statue's crown for a view over New York Harbour - the equivalent of a 22-storey building. Access to the monument is via ranger-guided tour only and a time pass is required for visiting the inside of the Monument; advanced reservations are possible by calling (866) 782 8834 or online at www.statuereservations.com. The ferry calls at both Liberty and Ellis Islands. |
|
Address: Liberty Island, New York Harbor; Telephone: (212) 363 3200; (212) 269 5755 (ferry information); Website: www.nps.gov/stli; Transport: Circle Line Statue of Liberty Ferry from South Ferry at Battery Park to Liberty and Ellis islands. First ferry 8.30am, last ferry 3.30pm; Opening time: Daily 8.30am to 5pm. The park service occasionally closes the line to the crown as early as 2pm; Admission: No fee is charged, but the ferry costs $10 (adults), $4 (children). Time passes are free, state a specific time that you may enter, and are available in limited numbers at ferry box offices |
| |
|
World Trade Center - Ground Zero
The six-hectare (16-acre) work site that has emerged from the rubble of the twin towers has come to symbolise the dreadful events of September 11, 2001 when almost 3,000 people lost their lives. The 1,350ft (411m) World Trade Centre towers were the tallest buildings in New York and symbols of the city's skyline. Millions now come to pay tribute at the site and witness the devastation from one of the viewing sites. In April 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation launched a worldwide competition to design a memorial at the World Trade Center site to honour the victims of September 11. The LMDC received 5,201 memorial design submissions from 63 nations and 49 states making this the largest design competition in history. In January 2004 Reflecting Absence by Michael Arad and Peter Walker was unveiled as the design for the World Trade Center Memorial, and will feature a landscaped civic plaza with two massive voids aligned with the footprints where the twin towers once stood. |
|
Address: Lower Manhattan, viewing area at Liberty Street and Broadway; Telephone: (212) 732 7678 (ticket information); Website: www.renewnyc.com; Transport: Take the subway to Fulton Street, Broadway-Nassau Street or Cortlandt Street. Walk to Church and Liberty Streets and follow signs; Admission: Free |
| |
|
Empire State Building
One of the enduring symbols of New York, and once again the city’s tallest structure, the Empire State Building stands 436ft (145m) high. Completed in 1931, this Art Deco behemoth remains one of the most impressive engineering feats of all time; it was built in just 410 days and remains the fastest rising major skyscraper ever built. The building has been immortalised in many films – most famously the classic King Kong. The observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors offer magnificent views of the city. |
|
Address: 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets, Manhatten; Telephone: (212) 736 3100; Website: www.esbnyc.com; Transport: Subway B, D or F to 34th Street; Opening time: Observatory:daily 9.30am to midnight; Admission: US$13 (adults), $8 (children 6-11), concessions available |
| |
|
Central Park
With great foresight, the founders of New York set aside 340 hectares (840 acres) of central Manhattan as a public space. Central Park was officially opened in 1873 and today provides an essential 'green lung' within the concrete jungle that is New York. Originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the park contains themed gardens, tennis courts, lakes and even a small zoo. Much of the park is infused by the city’s bustle and in nice days swarms with joggers, skaters, buskers and tourists, but there are areas beyond the range of baseballs and frisbees where tranquillity can be found in this beautifully landscaped park. During winter two ice-skating rinks open up in Central Park, the Wollman Rink (mid-Park at 62nd St) is one of the most picturesque in the world, set among the trees and rolling hills and against the backdrop of Manhattan's skyscrapers. |
|
Website: www.centralparknyc.org |
| |
|
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) owns the most important collection of modern art in the USA including works by Monet, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso, Max Beckman, Ansel Adams, and Kiki Smith. |
|
Address: 11 West 53 Street, Manhatten; Telephone: (212) 708 9400; Website: www.moma.org; Transport: Subway: E or V train to 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue, or B, D, or F train to 47–50 Street Rockefeller Center. Bus: M1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to 53rd Street; Opening time: Daily 10.30am to 5.30pm (until 8pm on Friday); closed Tuesdays; Admission: US$20 (adults), free for children under 16 accompanied by an adult. Free on Fridays from 4pm to 8pm |
| |
|
The Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R Guggenheim Museum was designed by US architect Frank Lloyd Wright and was completed shortly after his death in 1959. It is well worth a visit just to see this icon of Modernist architecture, which was designed specifically to showcase the modern art within. Inside, it features a highly commended collection of late 19th- and 20th-century art works, as well as touring exhibitions. From beneath the huge glass dome, a quarter-of-a-mile-long ramp spirals down the inside of the building, past the collection of art, including works by Camille Pissarro, Vasily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Cézanne, Robert Mapplethorpe and Robert Gober. |
|
Address: 1071 Fifth Avenue, at 89th Street; Telephone: (212) 423 3500; Website: www.guggenheim.org; Transport: Subway 4, 5 or 6 to 86th Street; bus M1, M2, M3, or M4 on Madison or Fifth Avenue; Opening time: Daily 10am to 5.45pm (until 8pm on Fridays); closed Thursdays; Admission: US$15 (adults), free for children under 12. Rates differ during special exhibitions |
| |
|
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum possesses one of the greatest, and largest, collections of art in the world; it is a cherished New York institution and a must see for any visitor. Banners above the Met’s Fifth Avenue entrance herald the current attractions – there are always a few exhibitions on-the-go displaying masterpieces from around the world alongside the Metropolitan’s own collection. The highlights of the permanent collection are numerous – American collectors having had the foresight, and cash, to buy up a large number of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from Europeans at the end of the 19th century. The Metropolitan Museum's collection now contains more than two million works of art from all points of the compass, from ancient through modern times, including great works by Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Cézanne to rival any gallery in the world. |
|
Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue, at 82nd Street; Telephone: (212) 535 7710; Website: www.metmuseum.org; Opening time: Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 9.30am to 5.30pm, Friday and Saturday 9.30am to 9pm. Closed Mondays, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas; Admission: US$15 (adults) is suggested; free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. There is no additional charge, beyond the admission contribution, to attend an exhibition |
| |
|
American Museum of Natural History
Possibly with the exception of its counterpart in London, the American Museum of Natural History is the largest and most important museum of its kind in the world. More than 30 million artefacts are packed into 42 exhibition halls - quite enough to keep anyone busy over a rainy afternoon. The most popular exhibit is a 50ft tall skeleton of a barosaurus in the Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda. There are three more spectacular dinosaur halls on the fourth floor. Other halls include the Hall of Biodiversity, the Hall of Ocean Life, the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution and the fabulous Hayden Planetarium - a 90-ft wide aluminium sphere that seems to float inside a massive glass cube, which in turn is home to the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Those tired of walking can check out the Museum of Television and Radio. |
|
Address: Central Park West, at West 79th Street; Telephone: (212) 769 5100; 769 5200 (tickets and programs); Website: www.amnh.org; Opening time: Daily 10am to 5.45pm, closes at 8.45pm on Fridays and Saturdays; Admission: Museum and Rose Center: $13 (adults), $7.50 (children 2-12); plus the Planetarium Space show: $22 (adults), $13 (children 2-12); plus special exhibition or Imax show: $19 (adults), $11 (children 2-11) |
| |
|
Chinese New Year
New York City's Chinatown is the largest in the United States and the site of the largest concentration of Chinese in the western hemisphere; a visit here feels like being in the country itself. It is a must-see on the opening day of the Chinese New Year celebrations when performers dance in the street in colourful costumes followed by a parade of dragon floats. Traditionally, the New Year marks the beginning of the spring and the rebirth of the Earth. It is a time for family togetherness, and begins with the "sweeping of the grounds" - a spring clean to sweep out the old and evil, which is followed by festivities and feasts. Chinatown has over 200 restaurants representing cuisine from all the regions of China, and at New Year the suspicious should eat a whole fish as, to the Chinese, this represents togetherness and abundance; also don't chop up your noodles, as their length represents long life! Colour is also important at New Year. The luckiest colours are red, orange, yellow, gold and pink. Black and white are unlucky. |
|
Date: January/February 2006, Manhattan Chinatown Parade January/February 2006, TBC; Time: Chinatown parade: 1pm; Website: www.chinatown-online.com |
| |
|
Central Park SummerStage
Summer Stage is one of New York's greatest institutions, and for three or four months every summer Central Park is filled with music, theatre, opera and dance. There is a different performance every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and also usually on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, and most are free. Bring a picnic if you don't want to pay for overpriced beer and french fries. For a list of events visit the Summer Stage website. |
|
Venue: Central Park; Date: 17 June to 18 August 2005; Website: www.summerstage.org |
| |
|
ING New York City Marathon
As the world’s largest marathon with more than 35,000 runners from around the world, only London ranks alongside New York in terms of prestige. The race passes through all of New York City's five boroughs before finishing in Central Park and is an entertaining spectacle with many runners in fancy dress; it is also a good opportunity to see some celebrities offer their best. |
|
Date: 6 November 2005 (1st Sunday of every November); Website: www.nyrrc.org |
| |
|
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Thanksgiving (originally a harvest festival) is celebrated across the United States as families get together and feast on huge helpings of roast turkey. Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is one of the Big Apple’s most dynamic and colourful events that takes the celebrations one stage further. Its origins date back to the 1920s when the city’s European immigrants decided to celebrate the American Thanksgiving Day holiday with the sort of festivities they had known in their homelands. Hundreds of people marched from 145th Street to 34th Street in costume; accompanied by floats, live animals (on loan from the zoo) and musicians. The parade attracted over 250,000 spectators and quickly became an institution. Today the colourful parade features clowns and marching bands, but the biggest attraction are the Floats and Falloons (a Macy's hybrid of a cold air balloon and float) that tower over the crowds; they usually include Angelina Ballerina, The Statue of Liberty and of course, the man of the season, Santa Claus on his sleigh. The parade starts on 77th Street and proceeds down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, then down Broadway to Macy's at 34th St, finishing on Seventh Ave. Good places to watch it include Times Square and Columbus Circle, but get there early as by the afternoon the crowds are thick. |
|
Date: 24 November 2005 (4th Thursday every November); Website: www.macysparade.com |
| |
|
St Patrick's Day Parade
On St Patrick’s Day every year thousands of Irish Americans head down 5th Avenue in New York’s largest street parade. The day begins with a morning mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, after which the parade marches up 5th Avenue, clan by clan, from 44th to 86th streets. Green face paint, green nail polish, and green clothes are on display in the crowds but the parade itself is marked by more formal Irish pageantry, led by the 165th Infantry (originally the 69th Regiment of the 1850s). The annual parade honours the patron saint of Ireland and is a New York tradition that dates as far back as 1766, many years before the Declaration of Independence was adopted. After the parade New Yorkers of all origins dress in green and head to the nearest bar for a pint of the black stuff. |
|
Date: 17 March 2005; Time: 11am to 3pm; Website: www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/NYC/newyorkcity.htm |
| |
|
Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular
Independence Day is celebrated throughout the States but nowhere more than in New York City. Although many locals leave to spend the holiday on Long Island or Upstate New York, thousands of others stay behind to watch to Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular. This is the probably the biggest and best firework extravaganza in the country that ends up in a massive party. More than 10,000 fireworks explode from barges along the west side of Manhattan, synchronized and choreographed to music. It starts at sunset and the best place to watch it from is the banks of East River. |
|
Venue: The spectacle will take place from barges positioned in New York City’s East River; Date: 4 July 2005; Time: 9pm; Website: www.ny.com/holiday/july4 |
| |
|
Gay Pride Week and March
Rainbow flags flutter in Greenwich Village during New York's Lesbian and Gay Pride Week, with numerous events arranged to commemorate the Stonewall Riot. Highlights of the week's festivities are a massive rally, the dance on the pier and the culminating march. |
|
Venue: The march which follows a route along 5th Avenue, right onto 8th Street, on to Greenwich Avenue and along Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.; Date: 19 to 26 June 2005; Website: www.hopinc.org |
| |
|
Times Square New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Times Square boasts one of the largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the world and the biggest party in New York. The famous lowering of the New Year’s Eve Ball signifies the 60-second countdown to midnight and the tradition has become a worldwide symbol of welcoming in the New Year, viewed by millions across the globe. The festivities include the raising and lighting of the Ball, music, an hourly big screen video countdown, the lowering of the ball and a spectacular burst of fireworks. Revellers are showered with colourful confetti and are given celebratory hats, pom-poms and balloons to welcome in the New Year. |
|
Venue: Times Square; Date: New Year; Time: From 6pm; Website: www.timessquarebid.org |
| |
|
US Open Tennis Tournament
The top names and top seeds vie for victory in the final Grand Slam event of the season in New York each year. Singles or doubles, this is tennis action at its most tense.
|
|
Venue: Arthur Ashe Stadium, Flushing Meadows; Date: 29 August to 11 September 2005; Website: www.usopen.org |
| |
|
Ninth Avenue International Food Festival
More than a million hungry people descend on the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood for two days each May to sample the delights offered at one of New York's finest street fairs. Ninth Avenue's restaurants and food stores cover a vast range of ethnic cuisines, which have made it the city's most famed food district. |
|
Venue: Midtown Manhatten, along 9th Avenue between 37th and 57th Streets; Date: 21-22 May 2005; Time: 9am to 7pm; Website: www.hellskitchennyc.com/html/9thavefest.htm |
| |
|
Triple Pier Antiques Show
The internationally renowned Triple Pier Antiques show takes place over two consecutive weekends. Around 600 dealers display their treasures to the delight of locals and visitors alike. It has been said that "if you can't find it at Triple Pier it doesn't exist"! |
|
Venue: Piers 88, 90, and 92 in Manhattan, 12th Avenue, 48-55th Street; Date: 5-6 and 12-13 November 2005; Time: 11am to 6pm; Website: www.stellashows.com |
| |
|
Barnum & Bailey's Circus
It is always exciting when the circus comes to town, and when New York City hosts the 'greatest show on earth' it does it in style. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus transform Madison Square garden into a breathtaking arena of traditional thrills and fun each year. |
|
Venue: Madison Square Garden in Manhattan on Seventh Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets; Date: March/April 2006, TBC; Website: www.ringling.com |
| |
|
Broadway
Going to the theatre is one of the most popular tourist events in New York and the shows on Broadway are world famous, boasting some of the best shows in the world from musicals to drama. There are ongoing shows that have been running for years, such as Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, The Producers and RENT. Current shows include Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, Primo and Wicked. |
|
Website: www.broadway.com |
| |
|
Winter Solstice Concert
Making use of the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, the interior is turned into a stage for the musical, theatrical, dance and environmental spectacle that is an annual holiday tradition in celebration of the shortest day and longest night of the year. The performance is one of the city's biggest and showiest Christmas events and takes the audience on a symbolic journey, each year with its own unique style and special affects. For more information contact the cathedral on +1 212 316 7540. |
|
Venue: Cathedral of St John the Divine; Date: December 2005, TBC; Time: 7.30pm |
| |
LONG ISLAND
 |
|
Long Island © Long Island CVB and Sports Commission | Long Island extends 100 miles (161km) east of New York City into the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular weekend destination for New Yorkers and tourists wanting to escape the sweltering city. The south shore is fringed by glorious white, sandy beaches including Jones Beach, a six-mile (10km) stretch of ocean where tens of thousand of people converge to soak up the sun. Fire Island, a short ferry ride away, is the east coast’s leading gay resort. The more exclusive beaches are on the north shore where the cliffs are crowned with stately homes and luxurious manors. The showy Hamptons is in the far east, its miles of pristine beaches attract the rich and famous from all over America. The heart of the Hampton scene is East Hampton, which has some excellent shops and restaurants and a lively nightlife. In Long Island’s North Fork, around the town of Cutchogue, are the winelands. Of the 13 vineyards the best known is Pindar, which has tours and tastings every day. Nearby, the pretty, 17th-century town of Orient is worth a visit for its white clapboard houses and unspoilt beaches. There are hundreds of museums, attractions and sporting facilities scattered around Long Island to suit all tastes; for more information see www.licvb.com. Buses depart for Long Island regularly each day, although the quickest way to get there is via the Long Island Railroad from Penn Station. If driving visitors should head east on the Long Island Expressway from Manhattan.
WESTERN NEW YORK STATE
 |
|
Niagara Falls © Judith Duk |
The 11 narrow lakes that stretch north to south below Lake Ontario are known as the Finger Lakes. The lakes are popular for boating and fishing, and the rolling hills in-between are interspersed with waterfalls, gorges and parks and are ideal for hiking, cycling and cross-country skiing. The Native Americans believed the Finger Lakes were formed when one of their Gods reached out to bless their region and left behind an imprint of his hand; but it is more likely that they were formed by glaciers during the Ice Age. The Finger Lakes are one of the most important wine growing regions in the United States. Most of the vineyards are located on the rolling hills of the Cayuga Wine Trail, overlooking the Cayuga Lake, and many offer tours and tastings. For more information see: www.cayugawinetrail.com
Dubbed "the biggest small town in America", New York's second largest city, Buffalo, is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, and is a good base for visiting the Niagara Falls and for exploring the Finger Lakes region. The town was established by the French in 1758 (it is believed that the name derives from beau fleuve - beautiful river), and became an important port for trade with the eastern US. The town has some noteworthy Victorian architecture and some good museums. The Albright-Knox Art Gallery contains an impressive collection of works by American artists and hosts many great touring exhibitions. Details at: www.albrightknox.org Buffalo Zoo is home to elephants, gorillas and Siberian tigers. The nearby Letchworth State Park is popular with hikers and offers wonderful views over the Genesee River Gorge, promoted as the 'Grand Canyon of the East'.
|
Niagara Falls
Straddling the United States and Canadian border, 340 miles (547km) north west of New York City, the Niagara Falls are one of the most popular natural attractions in the country attracting about 12 million tourists a year. The Niagara River has been flowing for about 12,000 years but the eroded escarpment over which the falls flow today is much older, having been formed during the ice age. The river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale to make it the second largest waterfall on earth, after the Victoria Falls in southern Africa. The mighty torrent is best appreciated from a spray-filled boat tour. The falls have attracted daredevils over the years, who have gone down them in various contraptions – most have survived. The most famous stunt was done by the Frenchman Jean François Gravelot who crossed the Niagara Falls on a tightrope in 1859. The falls are a major honeymoon destination. |
|
Website: www.niagaraparks.com |
| |
ADIRONDACKS
 |
|
Adirondacks © New York State Tourism | The Adirondack Park begins 150 miles (241km) north of New York City and covers an area larger than the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone national parks combined. This two million hectare (six million acre) wilderness is full of natural attractions and historic sites and is a nature lover's haven. Thousands of miles of streams and rivers cross the park attracting canoeists and kayakers; and the hundreds of lakes and glassy ponds are ideal for boating, windsurfing and swimming. There is also good fishing, particularly salmon, trout and pike, but be aware that in summer flies can be a nuisance.
The Adirondack Mountains are among the highest and most dramatic in the eastern United States. In the summer they attract hikers, horse riders and rock climbers and in winter nine ski resorts open up. The best ski resort in the region is Whiteface, nine miles (14km) northeast of Lake Placid, which has some challenging skiing and spectacular views, but visitors should be aware of the icy winds which regularly whip up the valley. Lake Placid is a major cross-country skiing destination with 283 miles (455km) of trails and has plenty of other activities including ice skating, tobogganing and bobsleighing - $40 a run and a must for braver visitors. Some lifts remain open in the summer months - ideal for idle mountain bikers.
For more information contact the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council on (518) 846 8016, or at www.adk.com
HUDSON VALLEY AND THE CATSKILLS
 |
|
Rockefeller Estate © Historic Hudson Valley | Just north of New York City, the Hudson Valley is surprisingly rural and is littered with charming towns, picturesque farms and old mansions. Many New Yorkers head this way at the weekend attracted by the slower pace of life and the scenic drives. The region’s capital, Albany, was founded by Dutch fur trappers in the 17th century and made its money by controlling trade along the Erie Canal. There is not a great deal to do or see in Albany but sights include the New York State Museum and the Albany Institute of History and Art, which has a good collection of Hudson River School paintings.
Forty miles (64km) north of New York City is Tarrytown, known to Washington Irving fans as Sleepy Hollow, setting for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The town is packed with historic homes including the impressive Rockerfeller residence; Irving's home can also be visited. Over of the east bank of the river is Hyde Park, where Roosevelt was born and spent much of his adult life. The Franklin D Roosevelt Home and Library contains hundreds of photos and artefacts, including the specially made car he drove after being struck with polio in 1921, and the letter from Einstein that led to the development of the atomic bomb. Two miles (3km) outside Hyde Park is the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site - a spectacular Beaux Arts mansion.
On the western bank of the Hudson River, 70 miles (113km) from New York City, lie the Catskill Mountains a surprisingly wild area filled with small farms and towns. The region offers good hiking, mountain biking and river rafting and is particularly worth visiting in fall when the maple and beech turn orange, ochre and gold. There is also some good fishing and even skiing in the area, the best resort is probably the Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl, which has one or two challenging runs. Places of interest include West Point - the United States Military Academy where officers from Grant and MacArthur to Eisenhower and Tommy Franks trained. The Academy was established in 1802 when Congress realised that the troops that had won the Revolutionary War has been commanded almost exclusively by European officers, and home-grown leaders needed to be trained in case foreign help wasn't so forthcoming in the future. The free West Point Museum houses some interesting artefacts including pistols that belonged to George Washington, Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler. In contrast Woodstock, 10 miles (16km) north of Kingston, was immortalised in the psychedelic sixties when half a million hippies descended on a nearby farm for three days of 'Peace and Music'.
Basics
Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 between the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 110 volts, 60Hz. Plugs are mainly the two, flat-pin type, though three-pin plugs are also widely used. European appliances without dual-voltage capabilities will require an adapter, which can be purchased in most major departure airports.
Money: The US Dollar ($) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.
|
Currency Exchange Rates |
| USD 1.00 |
USD 5.00 |
USD 10.00 |
USD 100.00 |
USD 1,000.00 |
| GBP 0.57 |
GBP 2.85 |
GBP 5.69 |
GBP 56.92 |
GBP 569.20 |
Note: These rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only. Language: English.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: UK passport holders require a valid passport for travel to the USA. Under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP), most British citizens do not require a visa for holiday, transit or business purposes providing the stay does not exceed 90 days and a return or onward ticket is held. Note: Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Protected Person, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do require a visa.
Passport/Visa Note: Visitors entering the country under the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP) must have a machine-readable passport (MRP) that has a bar code on the photo page. From 26 October 2006 eligible travellers under the VWP must include biometrics in their machine-readable passports if they wish to enter the country without a visa, containing unique personal data such as fingerprints or iris details. Due to new security measures, all visitors to the USA will have a photograph and two fingerprints taken by an inkless scanner on arrival, including those travelling visa-free under the Visa Waiver Programme.
Health: There are no specific health risks associated with travel within the USA. Medical facilities are excellent, but expensive. Only emergencies are treated without prior payment and treatment can be refused without evidence of insurance or proof of funds. Good medical insurance is essential.
Tipping: A 15% tip is expected by taxi drivers, bartenders, hairdressers and waiters, but don't tip in fast-food or self-service restaurants. In expensive restaurants or for large parties tip 20% of the bill. It is normal to tip staff in hotels. In more expensive accommodation there is sometimes a bed tax, often as high as 15%, and it is worth checking that this is included within the quote.
Safety: Travel within the United States is generally trouble-free, however travellers should be aware that the US shares with the rest of the world an increased threat from terrorist incidents. Security has been heightened particularly at airports. Visitors are cautioned that terrorist attacks in the past have occurred in public areas and there is a risk of being caught up in any future incidents. Travellers should also be alert to the dangers of car and street crime in cities and should use common sense and take basic precautions. Visitors should avoid wearing expensive jewellery and walking in run down areas and try to stick to main highways and use well-lit car parks. Do not sleep in your vehicle on the roadside or in rest areas and avoid leaving luggage on display in cars. If hit from behind while driving, indicate to the other driver to follow you to a public place and call for Police help. Authorities are concerned that Mt St Helens volcano in Washington State may erupt in the near future and visitors to the area are advised to follow local advice and keep up to date with reports on its activity. Lighters are now officially banned from all domestic and international flights. The ban means that no lighters will be allowed anywhere on the airplane, not even in the baggage hold.
Customs: Laws vary from state to state, including speed limits, the age of consent and the age at which you may legally buy and consume alcohol, but this is usually 21 years.
Communications: The international country dialling code for the US is +1. The outgoing code is 011, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom). Mobile networks cover most of the country, including all urban areas, however unless you have a tri-band phone it is likely your cellular phone from home will not work in the United States. A better option is to hire a phone for the duration of your visit. Internet cafes are available in most towns and cities.
New York Contacts
John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Location: The airport is located 15 miles (24km) southeast of central Manhattan. Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 between the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October) Contacts: Tel: +1 (718) 244 4444. Transfer between terminals: Passengers can travel between JFK's nine terminals on free red, white and blue buses, taking between 5 and 30 minutes, depending on the terminal. Transfer to the city: Ground Transportation Information is available in the baggage claim/arrival areas of all terminals. The New York Airport Service provides a transportation service to and from Manhattan (New York City), JFK Airport, LGA Airport, and Midtown Hotels. The buses leave regularly and cost $13. Travellers can also get to the city centre on the subway ($2). A free yellow, white and blue Long-Term Parking Lot Bus takes passengers to Howard Beach Station, from there take 'A' subway train to the centre. To JFK from Manhattan, use 'A' train to 'Far Rockaway'. 'SuperShuttle Manhattan' is a 24-hour, shared, door-to-door service which costs between $15 and $19 to anywhere between Battery Park and 227th including all hotels, the service also operates to Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island. Taxis are available and cost $35 plus tolls; journey time to Manhattan is between 40 and 60 minutes, longer in peak hours. Car rental: Avis, Budget, Hertz and National are represented at all terminals. Facilities: All terminals have ATMs, bureaux de change, bars, restaurants and a selection of shops. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline or travel agent in advance. Parking: There are two kinds of public parking at JFK. The Long-Term Parking is four miles from the terminals and is served by a free shuttle bus ($3 for the first 12 hours, $10 for up to 24 hours and $5 for each 12-hour period or part thereafter). Passengers are advised to allow 30 minutes to reach their terminal. The Central Terminal Area (CTA) Parking is adjacent to the terminals ($3 for the first half hour or part, $5 for up to 2 hours). Website: www.kennedyairport.com
New York La Guardia Airport (LGA)
Location: The airport is located 8 miles (13km) east of central Manhattan, in the borough of Queens. Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 from the first Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October). Contacts: Tel: +1 (718) 533 3400. Transfer between terminals: There are two bus routes serving the LaGuardia Terminals. The Route A Bus is a free service running every 15 minutes between 5am and 11.30pm stopping at all terminals in the central terminal area as well as the Marine Air Terminal. The Route B bus runs every 10-15 minutes from 6am to 2am between all five terminals except the Marine Air Terminal/Delta Shuttle. The journey time is between 5-15 minutes. Transfer to the city: Ground Transportation Information is available in the baggage claim/arrival areas of all terminals. All service arrangements can be made at these counters. The New York Airport Service Express Bus leaves regularly for all areas in Manhattan between 7am and 11pm (cost: $8-12; journey time: 30-45 minutes). 24-hour buses connect with the New York subway (Bus: $1-$1.50 exact fare; Subway: $1.50). The SuperShuttle Manhattan is a 24-hour, shared door-to-door services which goes to all areas of the city between 7am and 11.30pm ($15-$22). Taxis are available at all hours, they cost $16-$26 plus tolls and take 20-30 minutes to central Manhattan, longer at peak hours. Car rental: Car hire companies include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. Facilities: All terminals have ATMs and a selection of bars, shops and restaurants, but the best choice is at the US Airways, Delta and Central Terminals. There are business facilities at Laptop Lane (tel: 718 424 1301) in the Central Terminal including meeting rooms, dataports, Internet access, fax, phones, printers and photocopiers. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should ideally contact their airline or travel agent in advance. Smoking is prohibited in all public areas inside the passenger terminals at LaGuardia Airport with the exception of specifically designated areas within the bars, where smoking is permitted. Parking: Short-term parking is available next to the terminals. Long-term parking is available in Lot 3, although there are limited spaces. Additional long-term car parking is located very close to the airport and can be accessed by following the 'P' to the airport exit. There are also a number of alternate off-airport long-term parking locations which are not operated by the airport but are listed on their website and cost between $13-18/day. For further parking information call (718) 533 3850. Website: www.laguardiaairport.com
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Location: The airport is located 2 miles (3km) south of Newark, 16 miles (26km) southwest of New York. Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 between the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October) Contacts: Tel: +1 (973) 961 6000. Transfer between terminals: The AirTrain is a free service that ferries passengers between the three terminals. Transfer to the city: Newark Liberty International Airport offers travellers a wide range of Ground Transportation services. There are taxis, buses, shuttles, and limousines available in front of and beside all three terminals. Ground Transportation Information counters, located on the lower baggage claim level of all terminals provide information and reservations for buses, shared-ride vans and limousines. New Jersey Transit bus #302 leaves for Newark’s Penn Station every 20-30 minutes from where PATH trains leave regularly for downtown Manhattan and 33rd Street, taking around one hour. The Olympia Airport Express leaves regularly for the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central Station and downtown Manhattan. The journey to Midtown Manhattan takes 30-60 minutes and costs US$14. SuperShuttle Manhattan is a shared minibus service which goes to all areas of Manhattan, including hotels, and costs $15-$19. Taxis are also available and cost between $34 and $55. Car rental: Car rental companies represented at the airport include Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National. Facilities: All terminals have ATMs and bureaux de change, a selection of bars, shops and restaurants and business facilities including fax, Internet, photocopying and courier services. Data ports can be found next to most public telephones in all terminals. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should ideally contact their airline or travel agent in advance. Parking: There is Short-Term Parking next to the terminals. Daily Parking is a few minutes away on the Free AirTrain ($20/day) and Economy Parking is 20 minutes from the terminals via a free shuttle bus ($10/day). In addition to the on-airport parking lots listed above, there are a number of privately operated parking lots located near the airport; see the airport website for details. Valet Parking is also available. Website: www.newarkairport.com
Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)
Location: The airport is located 9 miles (14km) east of Buffalo. Time: GMT -5 (GMT -4 between the first Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October) Contacts: Tel: +1 (716) 630 6000. Transfer to the city: There are a number of bus services which operate between the airport and Buffalo and Niagara. Taxis are also available. Car rental: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National are all represented at the airport. Facilities: There are ATMs, a bureaux de change, post office and various bars, shops and restaurants in the terminal. There is a business centre, open weekdays, with meeting rooms, fax, Internet and photocopying facilities. Disabled facilities are good; those with special needs should contact their airline or travel agent in advance. Parking: Short-term car parking is adjacent to the terminal. Long-term is a little further away and is connected to the airport by a free shuttle bus. Website: www.buffaloairport.com
All rights reserved. None of the information may be reproduced without prior permission. By its very nature much of the information in this guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they"re relying with the relevant authorities. Travelup cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above. |
