Catoctin Bike Tours

Family vacations are times for bonding and memory building.  They’re also a time when dreams of exotic locations, or one in a lifetime opportunities/challenges are realized.   All of these are possible at Discovery Cove, Florida.  Situated beside the more typical theme park of SeaWorld, in Orlando, this isn’t a cheap excursion, nor is it a park full of rides, shows and tours.  Instead, here you will experience something that you won’t find in many other places.  You’ll get to swim with dolphins.

Another contrast to the larger parks is that at Discovery Coves visitors are put into small groups, each with its own staff member to lead it around the park.  There’s an age limit to the dolphin swim so if you’ve got under 6’s you’ll need to consider that before deciding on a visit to this park.  Another “housekeeping” tip is that trips to Discovery Caove must be pre-booked, and lunch is included – as is all of the equipment hire such as wet suit, snorkel and even a towel if required.

Apart from being taught how to communicate with the dolphins and being allowed to swim with them in your small group, you will be able to spend the rest of the day enjoying the birds that fly over beautiful beaches on the property, together with snorkeling off the various reefs packed with marine life, and exploring hidden grottos.  It’s an unforgettable experience!

For anyone who is… Read the rest

Situated at 350 Fifth Avenue is one of the most famous of New York’s impressive buildings.  Instantly recognizable from such movies as King Kong, An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle, the Empire State Building stands as one of the most well known skyscrapers in the world.

With its art deco architecture, the Empire State Building’s observation deck on the 80th Floor is where most visitors head.  There’s a charge to enter the observation deck but it’s not too expensive, especially considering the unique view of New York and the surrounding area you’ll get from the top.  There are 73 elevators in the building – these can take you from ground level to the 80th floor in a matter of seconds – but those who are more active, or like a challenge, the alternative is a 1,575 step climb – of course you could just take the elevator up and walk down if you prefer!

The Empire State Building is open daily from 9.30am until midnight – make sure you arrive in time to be allowed access as the building may shut at midnight, but they like the observation deck cleared prior to then.  Despite its closing time, it’s just as good an experience to see New York from the Observation Deck at night as it as by day.  Although you can’t see as far as you can in daylight, the lights of New York make the night visit special in its own right.

Although the… Read the rest

One of the most recognizable statues in the world, the Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York.  It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in the US, as well as one of America’s most prized reminders of the ideals it represents.  Many of present day Americans can trace their roots back through the generations and find a relative who first sailed past Lady Liberty’s welcome before disembarking in New York harbor.

As part of stricter security measures, tourists are no longer allowed access to the statue’s crown and torch, but there are two ranger guided tours around the island.  The first of them lasts between 30 and 60 minutes and is a gentler informational tour that doesn’t require much exertion.  The second tour however is a little more strenuous but if you’ve got the energy, the view from the 10 story high pedestal observatory will be a memory you will carry with you for the rest of your life.

It’s only possible to travel to the Statue of Liberty by ferry.  The return visit allows visitors the opportunity to disembark at Ellis Island before returning to the mainland.  The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is an interesting array of artifacts, and photographs, which have been displayed amidst personal oral history stories, and which together create a great overview of what awaited most of the immigrants who arrived at America’s shore.  For most of them, they would eventually be allowed admittance to… Read the rest