Adventure Travel Overseas

Known as the city that never sleeps; you will need to have at least seven days in New York City if you want a real taste of what it has to offer the visitor. For those people that enjoy a view it would be foolish to miss out on the Empire State Building. Of course, many people prefer the view form the Rockefeller Center which is a little higher, but it can be difficult to see anything when there is bad weather.

The Top of the Rockefeller Center probably has the better view and who’s arguing at more than 250m up, but expect to queue and be prepared for times when you cannot see anything in bad weather. Most people’s first proper view of the Statue of Liberty is from a tour boat but increasing numbers of people often mean it is better to land at Ellis Island.

As an alternative why not go to Staten Island via the free ferry and look at the Statue of Liberty from there; it is also worth walking around the terminal as well as there are many excellent street performers there. Probably on everyone’s list is where the World Trade Center Towers once stood; it has become an obligatory stop and no seven day trip to New York would feel complete without a visit to this tragic site. Despite the moving nature of this place where over 3,000 people lost their lives, most people do not wish to take a picture of it. World famous stores are plentiful in New York with names like Tiffany’s to the many discount stores along Broadway.

Bloomingdales is another famous store (for the wealthy) to look around but it is Maceys, who will give 11 percent discount on production of a tourist card where most people will head for. Another popular visitor destination, which is currently closed for refurbishment is the ISASM or the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum which will be opening it’s doors again late in 2008; this attraction is highly recommended and worth putting on your list of places to visit. There is a great deal there with the USS Intrepid taking center stage being a Second World War aircraft carrier but there is a Concorde and other underwater vessels there too. The real New York City Police Museum is open for visitors and whilst admission is free; donations are expected of around five dollars to help with running it; it contains a great deal of information about the World famous Police Department and you can buy souvenirs too.

Then it is worth seeing some of the older history of New York back when there were huge numbers of migrants entering the city and the Lower East Tenement was where most of them ended up; this is now a museum and a time capsule.

On Central Park is the fascinating Museum of the City of New York with millions of objects for researchers but for tourists, an ever-changing program of exhibitions showing the past, present and future of the Big Apple. The museum is in a beautiful building which is free to enter but a nine dollar donation is normally given with plenty of souvenirs available. There is a huge amount to see and do in this city and if you are staying anything less than seven days in New York, you will hardly scratch the surface! p>

When choosing an outdoor sport to spend some time in the great escapes of the world, backpacking and hiking are the best of all possible choices. Getting in touch with nature and viewing the world from a spot that is secluded and wonderful are great choices for individuals and families. When preparing for backpacking or hiking, it is important to being along some true essentials in order to make for the safest possible trip one can prepare for.

The suns rays. The sun can be very damaging to many parts of the body. When backpacking or hiking, the sun can be in contact with the skin and eyes the entire day spent walking. Sunscreen that is waterproof and of an SPF of 30 or more can provide just enough protection for the skin. The eyes, on the other hand, are the body parts left unprotected. Including a pair or two of sunglasses in every pack will help to make the trip easy to see and safer for the eyes.

Safety First. Many people forget about safety when backpacking or hiking, but there can be problems and when there are, a whistle can help. Depending on where you are backpacking or hiking, a whistle with no “pea” (the small ball in the center) may be the best choice. If the backpacking or hiking is taking place during cold months, the “pea” could freeze. Along those same lines, a plastic whistle will be sure to never stick to your lips in the cold.

Bring lots of water. Water is one of the heaviest things you will pack into your bundle when backpacking or hiking, yet it is essential to life. When backpacking or hiking, it is always better to have more than you need and a filtration device is the best way to ensure a constant supply of water. In case of emergency, a filtration device designed for the outdoors can filter any water supply making it drinkable.

Bring the heat. A firestarter or waterproof matches are essential when backpacking or hiking. A fire will be needed for those backpacking or hiking trips that last overnight. But, even for the day trips, matches and / or a firestarter are needed if only as a safety precaution. Safety is the number one concern and it is always better to be safe than sorry when backpacking or hiking.

First aid out of doors. A first aid kit is needed for every pack. Backpacking and hiking takes places in environments that can lead to cuts, bruises and other forms of injuries. A first aid kit in every backpack can help to ensure the safety and health of all backpacking and hiking team members. Within these first aid kits should also be a pocket knife and a pocket tool set.

Know Your Way. A map and a compass are two things that no backpacking or hiking can do without. These will keep you going in the right direction when things get turned around. Each pack should have their own set for guidance. On a more advanced tip, many backpacking or hiking trips are being centered on the new GPS technologies making getting lost even more difficult.

Hiking and backpacking are great ways to get a little physical activity and become better acquainted with nature and life outside. Together as a team, the backpacking and hiking group needs to make sure that every pack includes these essentials as a base and build the pack from there.