Travel & Leisure

In a city of superlatives with so many wonderful things to see, listing “must do’s is an impossible task and a matter of personal preference. There are, however, classic venues, integral to the New York experience. Get your bearings and hop on one of the different New York tours. Gray Line New York Sightseeing is the oldest and offers the most types of tours and options.

See the city from the Empire State Building. Get a panoramic view of this remarkable city from the 86 th floor of the iconic Art Deco landmark, the world’s most famous skyscraper. Pick a beautiful day to maximize the view from the glass-enclosed observatory. Tickets can be purchased in the main lobby of the building, but be prepared for lines. Consider purchasing them online, in advance.

Discover the multitude of things to do in Rockefeller Center. Start out early, on the sidewalk across from the Today show, for a chance to be beamed back home; walk through lovely gardens; take in the major public art; ice-skate October - March in the rink that transforms in the summer into the Sunken Garden, an al fresco caf?. Shop in the underground “catacombs,” dine, visit the NBC studios, where you can go on a backstage tour (buy tickets ahead online or by calling), take a behind the scenes tour of the grand Radio City Music Hall, see the spectacular city from the Top of the Rock.

Get up close to the Statue of Liberty. Catch the ferry to Liberty Island from Battery Park. You’ll be amazed how big this globally recognized symbol of freedom really is. Or, see her how her assured presence dominates the harbor from one of many harbor tours, or by walking along the promenade at Battery City Park.

Walk through Ellis Island, the moving symbol of the American immigrant. Relive the personal experiences of the 12 million immigrants who first stepped onto American soil on this small island. Exhibits and oral histories in the Immigration Museum movingly express the hardship of the voyage, the anxiety of walking into the Great Hall for processing, the feeling of being displaced, the missing of those left behind, and the anxiety of facing the unknown. While there, find personal family entry information through multimedia technology in the American Family Immigration History Center. Get there on the same ferry from Battery Park that goes to the Statue of Liberty.

Get caught up in a Broadway show. It’s the best theater in the world. You’ll find yourself singing after a musical, chuckling after a comedy, contemplative after a serious play. Purchase tickets in advance, by phone, online, or it may be difficult, expensive or impossible to get them. On the day of the show, try the TKTS booth at Times Square or at South Street Seaport. You’ll wait in line, and shows you want may not be available, but what they do have is at discounted prices. In a move of desperation to get into sold out shows, go to the theater ticket booths about 6pm before the 8pm curtain, to see if they have unclaimed seats available.

Shop ’till you drop along Fifth Avenue , where there is no end to dazzling stores - Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks, Tiffany’s, Henri Bendel, the boutiques in Trump Tower, and countless boutiques and shops in between. For a change of pace along New York’s ” Main Street,” enter into the calm of two of America’s grandest architectural structures: the majestic New York Public Library, whose glorious, gilded Main Reading Rooms are masterpieces themselves, and the awesomely beautiful and serene St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Stop for lunch at any restaurant you pass that appeals to you or, for a really special treat, end your walk with afternoon tea in the elegant Astor Court in the St. Regis Hotel or stop for a classy cocktail in the hotel’s luxurious King Cole Bar.

Spend a day in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere, whose collections span cultures of the entire globe. While on Museum Mile, visit other stellar museums along the way. For great modern art, see the world’s most comprehensive collection in the Museum of Modern Art.

Take a trip through space in the Hayden Planetarium in the impressive American Museum of Natural History, itself a day’s visit. The Planetarium, part of the Rose Center for Earth and Space is a dramatic, state-of-the-art, multimedia, multi-sensory experience housed in a 3-story 87 foot wide sphere. It’s an awesome “big bang.”

Attend at least one performance at Lincoln Center, City Center, or Carnegie Hall. Dance, music, and opera run the gamut from classic to cutting-edge and the abundant selections are dazzling. You’ll be moved to your feet by the quality of the performances.

Kick back in Central Park, particularly in March through November. See it on a horse-drawn carriage ride, on a gondola ride in Central Park Lake, at a performance at Shakespeare in the Park, from the Boathouse Caf?. See it creatively on specialized tours: Central Park Movie Sites Tour takes movie buffs to over 40 Central Park locations where scenes were shot for well-known movies; the Central Park 4 Hour Photo Tour places you in the center of the scene inphotos take at well-known park sites.

See the city by water. Marvel at the formidable buildings seemingly balancing on a sliver of land. On the New York Water Taxi’s Hop-on/Hop-Off Tour see the city from the water and hop off at any stop along the way to see sights on foot. The venerable Circle Cruise Line offers the Semi-Circle Cruise, a 2-hour city highlights tour. Enjoy a harbor tour, along with brunch or dinner, on the sophisticated Bateaux New York Cruise, the high energy Spirit Cruise or the elegant World Yacht Cruise. Get up and personal with your favorite celebrity or historical figure at Madame Tussauds New York. Fun for the whole family and a great indoor activity during the Summer heat or Winter cold.

Have a drink in a venue with a view: the Rise Bar at Ritz-Carleton Battery Park Hotel, the Top of the Tower on the roof of the Beekman Tower Hotel, the rooftop terrace of the Metropolitan Museum, the revolving View Lounge in the Marriot Marquis at Times Square, 230 Fifth, near the Empire State Building, the Pen-Top Bar in the Peninsula Hotel, the Stone Rose Lounge and Caf? Gray in Time Warner Center.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - the view is astounding. The most fascinating of Manhattan’s five major bridges, it spans the East River. The elevated pedestrian walkway above the traffic, which begins on Park Row, just across from City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan, makes the 30 minute walk possible. Once on the Brooklyn side, before turning around to go back, lunch at the River Caf? at the foot of the bridge, or to enjoy homemade ice-cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

Article is Copyright 2007 by Trusted Tours and Attractions.

When Steve Wynn opened The Mirage in 1989 no one could have foreseen that he was actually paving the way for what the Las Vegas Strip has become today. Huge impressive resorts with thousands of rooms and every imaginable amenity anyone could need (or desire). At the time it was the largest and most expensive resort ever built anywhere in the world. People began flocking to Las Vegas just to see what Steve Wynn had created. Today The Mirage may no longer be the largest, but a two-year, multi-million dollar renovation has given new life to The Mirage and made it one of the most exciting resorts on the Strip.

If you haven’t visited The Mirage in the last few years or have never visited you may think you have stepped into a brand new resort. Of course, the signature volcano, located along Las Vegas Boulevard in front of the hotel, still erupts nightly. Siegfried & Roy may longer be there, but their white tigers still occupy the Lion Habitat. The 53-foot aquarium still lines the area behind the front desk. The 100-foot domed Tropical Rainforest continues to flourish and welcomes guests upon arrival. And Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat to this day occupies the lush and tropical landscaped area behind the hotel. But that is really all that remains of the ‘old’ Mirage.

Today all 3,044 guest rooms and suites have been refurbished to give them a serene south seas feel. All rooms are now outfitted with the upmost in comfort and convenience. Marble topped vanities, dual phone lines with high speed internet, and you will certainly enjoy the dramatic views of the mountains surrounding the Las Vegas valley and of the Strip itself.

The Mirage now has so many entertainment options that you could literally see a show each night and never have to travel to another resort. Cirque du Soleil opened The Beatles LOVE in 2006 and the show has been sold out since day one. It is without a doubt one of the few must-see shows in Las Vegas. If you wish to attend be sure and purchase your tickets well in advance. The show is so popular that some people have planned their vacation around the dates they were able to secure tickets to LOVE. Danny Gans continues to amaze audiences with his singing, comedy and multitude of impressions in this ever-popular show. And The Mirage has developed a reputation for bringing some of the funniest comedians to the Strip. You will regularly find the likes of Ray Ramano, Jay Leno, Kevin James and Brad Garrett making audiences laugh.

When it comes time to sit down, relax and enjoy a meal, The Mirage has more options than ever before. Some of the newer additions to the resort include STACK, a cutting-edge American bistro. You might even describe it as a restaurant with a nightclub atmosphere. Fin is an absolutely stunning restaurant serving contemporary Chinese cuisine. Onda offer rustic Italian dishes and was voted ‘Best Italian Restaurant’ by the Las Vegas Concierge Association. And Onda also has a wine lounge where you can indulge in wine tasting and sample some antipasti. Kokomo’s is still located under the beautiful tropical rainforest but the restaurant and menu has undergone a major update. The décor is more contemporary and the menu features prime steaks and fresh seafood flown in daily from all over the world.

If you are ready to do a little partying after that meal, The Mirage has two fantastic options. The first is JET, a 15,000 square foot multi-level nightclub. What makes JET different from other nightclubs in Las Vegas is that fact that it is actually three nightclubs in one. JET has three distinct rooms, each with it’s own unique look and sound. Party-goers can move from a room filling the air with rock music, to one room with more of a hip-hop vibe, to yet another featuring popular dance and house music. The other nightspot is The Beatles Revolution Lounge. The lounge is not a tribute to the band in that you won’t necessary hear The Beatles greatest hits, but was instead, designed by Cirque du Soleil to inspire the spirit of The Beatles. The interior is has many interactive and almost psychedelic elements for the guests to enjoy. If your imagination allows, the décor and music evolves over the course of the night.

This is only the beginning of what The Mirage has to offer it’s guests. There are many more restaurants and bars, the waterfall flanked pools, the topless (adults-only) Bare pool and bar, the fitness center, shopping, one of the best buffets on the strip and the newly renovated Spa & Salon.

The Mirage has surely been transformed into one exciting destination in Las Vegas and the center Strip location couldn’t be any better. You’ll find yourself literally next door to Treasure Island and the massive Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. You’ll find yourself across the street from Harrah’s and the Venetian. And a leisurely walk away from Wynn Las Vegas and La Pallazo (the Venetian sister property slated to open late-2007 or early-2008) and the Fashion Show Mall. The room rates will be somewhat lower than the rates offered at some of the newer resorts. But with this dramatic and much needed transformation you’ll feel like you are staying at a new Las Vegas resort, not The Mirage resort that Chevy Chase and family stayed at during his ‘Vegas Vacation.’

Lance Taylor is a Las Vegas resident and writes for Las Vegas Vacation Spot the free and comprehensive source for everything Las Vegas has to offer! You’ll find information on hotels and resorts, restaurants, shows, nightclubs and getting the best package deals in town! Visit: Las Vegas Vacation Spot and start planning your Las Vegas getaway today!

Disney Cruise Ports of Call

While the Disney cruise ships themselves are a fabulous vacation destination, they are also a floating ‘Fantasyland’, traveling to beautiful and exotic ports of call. If you can manage to tear yourself away from the activities and amenities of the Disney cruise ships for a few hours, many wonderful adventures await you when the ship docks.

The Disney Wonder departs each Sunday from Port Canaveral for a 4 night cruise, and again each Thursday for a 3 night cruise. Both itineraries include stops at Nassau, Bahamas and Castaway Cay, Disney’s own private island paradise. The 4 night cruise also includes either one day at sea, or an additional stop at Freeport, Bahamas.

The Disney Magic departs from Port Canaveral each Saturday for a 7 night cruise, and it alternates between cruising the eastern Caribbean and the western Caribbean. The Eastern Caribbean cruise includes stops at St. Thomas/St. John, St. Maarten and Castaway Cay, while the Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops at Key West. Cozumel, Grand Caymen and Castaway Cay.

This summer of 2007. The Disney Magic has departed from its usual journey around the Caribbean, and instead has traveled across the Atlantic to cruise the Mediterranean for the summer months. It is departing from Barcelona, Spain for 10 and 11 night cruises to beautiful cities on the Mediterranean, with stops in Italy, France, Spain and Sicily. Next summer, the Disney Magic will travel through the Panama Canal to spend the summer on the Mexican Riviera, with stops at Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallerta and Mazatlan.

Beware that the passport rules for American travelers have changed, and may or may not affect your travel plans. As of today, passports are required for all travel across borders by air - including Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, but not for travelers who arrive by cruise ship. They are planning to make passports required for cruise ship travelers soon - perhaps as early as January, so be sure to keep posted as to the rules. Even when passports are not required, having one certainly makes disembarking much quicker, and the wait for passports is extremely long due to the changing rules, so if you need a passport, be sure to apply sooner rather than later.

Stephanie Larkin is the editor of http://www.WaltDisneyCruise.net, as well as http://www.CruiseNewsOnline.info. She and her family love to cruise - her 3 children especially love the towel animals and chocolates left on the beds at night!