Leisure Markets

The state of New Jersey is a mix of a variety of different attractions including beaches, gambling, gardens and historic landmarks. The largest city in New Jersey is Newark which has the famous Newark Museum which has a large collection of fine art to enjoy. Then there is Jersey City which has the Liberty State Park and the Liberty Science Center. Jersey City also offers a number of amusement piers and shoreline scenes. For the arts scene an excellent option is the city of Asbury Park. The largest gambling town in New Jersey is Atlantic City. Or you can visit the state capital at Trenton. For skiing and hiking an excellent option is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan is Jersey City. There are some excellent attractions that you should see when staying in Jersey City. Among these are the Washington Rock State Park and Liberty State Park which have over a thousand acres and many recreational activities to choose from including walking, horseback riding and boating. Located within these parks is also the Liberation Monument, Liberty Walkway and Liberty Science Center. A large attraction is the Colgate Clock which faces towards the bay with a 2,200 pound minute hand that moves twenty-three inches every minute.

Since the late seventeen hundreds, Trenton has been the capital of New Jersey. Visitors can select a number of activities in this city, but the most attractions are for those who love history. Two of the most popular museums in this city is the New Jersey State Museum and the Old Barracks Museum. To visit preserved colonial buildings and historic sites you can take a walk through the State House and the Mill Hill Historic District. Or you can tour the William Trent House which is believed to be the oldest in the city and is still decorated with many period furnishings.

When it comes to hotel in New Jersey there are two excellent hotel options. The first of these is the twenty-six story W Hotel in Hoboken which features a five thousand square food spa, a fitness center and excellent view of Manhattan across the river. Another option is the Appalachian Hotel which is near the Vernon ski area for those who are traveling in the winter. This hotel is actually a part of the Mountain Creek Village ski resort and has an all season pool, two hot tubs, a fitness center and an excellent location right at the foot of the ski slopes. You can easily find an accommodation to meet your needs in New Jersey by going to http:www.njinns.com where you can find the location of every hotel in New Jersey as well as a schedule of the visiting attractions open during your travel period.

When you think New York, you imagine a city, full of taxis and blaring horns, right? Besides all of the skyscrapers, clubs and people in a giant city, New York has a whole other part to the state. New York is full of small towns, farmland and beautiful scenery that are often overlooked.

New York is home to many unique attractions, without having to load the kids up on the subway to tour. Here are some fun stops outside of the big city:

North Pole No, you read that right. There is a North Pole in New York. It may seem like the North Pole since it is so close to the Canadian border, but it is in the New York boundaries. What is the North Pole without Santas Workshop? An amusement park by that name was built and opened in 1949 for kids to enjoy all year long. There are shows, gift shops, an arcade and costumed characters and a parade for all to see.

Albany A giant statue of a white dog sits atop the RCA Building. He was placed there in 1954 and is named Nipper. Nipper has appeared as a real dog in versions of commercials for RCA on television. RCA has offices in Albany.

Oneida Need a quick prayer to help get you through a family road trip? Stop in to Oneida, where the Worlds smallest church is located. The church is actually a chapel, and sits on a small platform in a pond. It was built in 1989 and seats two people and a minister.

Jamestown Lucille Balls hometown. There is a museum full of memories from her and Desi Arnazs life together. Her wedding dress, a hairbrush, TV set items and other personal effects are on display for the public. There is also a gift shop to take home little bits of Lucy history as souvenirs.

LeRoy Whats that wiggling on your spoon? J-E-L-L-O? A museum dedicated to the history of Jell-O sits in LeRoy New York. It is full of all the promotions used by Jell-O in the past, as well as TVs that constantly air commercials. Jell-O happened to be manufactured in the town of LeRoy for sixty four years.

Lake George – Does Uncle Sam have an overwhelming presence in your life? In Lake George, a 36 foot tall statue of Uncle Sam will make that feat a reality. The statue was built in honor of Samuel Wilson, who became known as Uncle Sam. He spent his adult life in Troy New York, and is buried there.

Cherry Valley What is a vacation without buying a bunch of rubber tomahawks for the kids? Rubber tomahawks, in case you need a definition, is a term for cheesy, easily-falls-apart, memorabilia that the kids must have before going home. The TePee in Cherry Hill is full of such trinkets for every age. The fifty foot metal teepee replica signals to those highway bound pull over! We have what you need to remember this vacation!

It’s easy to forget how massive Walt Disney World Orlando actually is. Even the most frequent of visitors to Disney World are impressed by what changes each year when they return to the parks. If you think about it though with the scale of Walt Disney World, with it’s host of theme parks, water parks, hotel resorts and restaurants it isn’t really that surprising.

So where has the most change taken place recently. I think you don’t have to look any further than Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see a park being rejuvenated. Formerly known as MGM Studios has a number of new rides and shows that have been added to in the last year. The biggest introduction has to be the opening of Toy Story Mania. This is an exciting 3D ride where you take part in shooting arcade from your car as you make your way around a Toy Story themed shooting arcade. The ride has been opened within the Pixar Place area of the park, so we can expect more Pixar themed attractions in that area. Parades and shows have also been introduced, including Block Party Bash which is a parade featuring characters from the Toy Story movies. Another movie franchise is a High School Musical show which also takes part in the park. Another permanent feature is the Jedi Training Academy. Originally only at the park during Star Wars Weekends, this is now a full time attraction at the park.

On the resort front, the Contemporary Resort has been going through one of the biggest remodelling phases since it opened. The Contemporary is one of the original Walt Disney World hotels, opening along with the Magic Kingdom back in 1971. A recent addition to the hotel is The Wave restaurant, which is focusing on the healthy-eating conscious visitors to the resort. Another resort that has gone through a lot of change is the Animal Kingdom resort, with the addition of the up market Animal Kingdom Villas.

San Diego has lots to offer. On the one hand it is home to state-of-the-art amusement parks and museums and on the other hand, the place boasts of first Spanish mission in California. Whether you are on a family vacation in San Diego, or a beach vacation with your beloved, make sure you dont miss the following attractions to make your trip exciting.

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is Americas largest urban cultural park. It contains diversified museums ranging from horticultural to astronomical. The place is home to Botanical Building’s sublime lily pond, El Prado etc. Balboa Park is also home to Children’s Museum, and the Fleet Science Center.

Sea World

Sea wWorld is home to the famous killer whale named Shamu and several other stunning marine animals. Watch the acrobatic skills of Shamu and her buddies. There are various exciting and spine-tingling rides too like Journey to Atlantis, Shipwreck Rapids, and many more.

San Diego Zoo

The world-famous zoo has two parks in San Diego: one located in Balboa Park is a traditional Zoo, and the other is Wild Animal Park located north of the city. Spare one full day to explore the zoo. The entire San Diego zoo accommodates more than 4000 creatures ranging from giant pandas, kangaroos, and gorillas all housed in natural environments.

La Jolla

The charming seaside town of La Jolla has lots to offer. The town is expensive, and filled with stunning mansions. Shopping malls and dining restaurants are situated along Prospect Street. Stroll along Coast Boulevard or the La Jolla Cove for the most scenic views.

Old Town

If you are a history lover then head to Old town. Its full of traditional Mexican restaurants and shops. Enjoy the mariachi players strumming the sounds of Mexican music.

The Gaslamp Quarter

Enjoy the nightlife of San Diego at Gaslamp Quarter. It is lively and always buzzing. Enjoy live music after dinner at restaurants which are mainly housed within restored Victorian commercial buildings.

Cabrillo National Monument

A restored lighthouse and the statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first Portuguese explorer to land in San Diego rest here. Its an amazing vantage point to see migrating gray whales or enjoy magnificent views of San Diego’s harbor and skyline. During winters you can also spot Mexico in the distance.

Mission Beach Boardwalk

Check out Belmont Park, an amusement park at the Mission Beach boardwalk. It features two major landmarks: the Plunge and the Giant Dipper.

Coronado Beach

Take a leisurely walk along Coronado Beach and enjoy the sunset.

Embarcadero

Roam around the Embarcadero, home to watercrafts, aircraft carrier, Seaport village, and a maritime-themed shopping area.
San Diego is full of activities and thrills. When planning a trip to San Diego rest assured, it has something for both adults and children alike. You can check out online the hotels which provide affordable vacation packages. Its best if you check into San Diego motel or a hotel which is near by to all these attractions, so that you dont waste much time in commuting.

Florida is one of the most popular states to vacation in due to the fact that Florida has the most popular vacation attractions. Disney World, Universal Orlando and Sea World are the most popular and sought after vacation spots, but Floridas attractions go far beyond these. Kissimmee, Florida has multiple attractions in itself that are not related to Disney World.

Kissimmee has its own popular and family oriented attractions that entice thousands of tourists into returning each year. When planning your next visit to Florida, check out a few of these top rated attractions in Kissimmee that has had visitors boasting and eager to return.

1. SkyScapes Balloon Tours specialize in private hot air balloon rides for couples and groups. Advance reservations are required because they only schedule one flight per day. Flight amenities include a Champagne Toast, when you will learn about ballooning and how it all got started. The After Flight Celebration will include a light snack of fruit and cheese and a First Flight Certificate to commemorate your first flight. Weekends fill up fast so its best to reserve at least two weeks in advance.

2. Flying Tigers Restoration Warbird Museum has a fabulous collection of restored WWII planes. There are many aircrafts on display and available for flight. Some of the aircrafts include: B-52, B-25 Mitchells, P-51 Stearmans, C-47 Dakota, a Vampire and many more. This would be a wonderful and educational experience for everyone.

3. Reptile World Serpentarium invites you into a world of creepy crawlies. Featuring a large collection of snakes from around the world and kept in their own natural environment. You can attend a venom harvest demonstration, where you can learn about the process of harvesting venom that benefits international medical research.

4. Gatorland is fun for the entire family and is located near the border of Kissimmee and Orlando. Come visit Alligator Island and observe the alligators as they live and nest in a natural environment on this 110 acre theme park and wildlife preserve. Gatorland is also home to several crocodiles, flamingos and a variety of other animals as well. Come enjoy the train ride, petting zoo, nature walk, shows and so much more!

5. Old Town is home of the largest weekly car cruises with over 300 classic cars. Old Town is a great place to visit for shopping at 75 specialty stores, taking on 18 thrilling ride and dining at 8 delicious restaurants. Old Town has had visitors raving about their phenomenal experiences and eager to come back.

6. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament where you can experience life as it was in the 11th Century. Enjoy feasting on a hearty dinner that is served to you by a wench, as you watch a Princess profess her love for her Knight and a betrayal is unveiled as the King addresses his audience. During intermission you will see an outstanding performance of horse tricks and falcon show.

7. Arabian Nights, the most honored dinner attraction in the world. You are invited to a wedding of a Prince and a Princess. Come into the Palace of Horses and meet your humble servant that will cater to your every desire. Enjoy a bountiful meal as you watch the story unfold as the wedding is threatened by an uninvited guess. The show is filled with many surprises and full of majestic costumed horses and riders.

8. Fun N Wheels Fun Park provides the best value for go-cart racing and arcade fans of all ages. There is a snack bar loaded with food and beverages. Best of all the admission is always free.

9. Water Mania is a water park full of fun for the whole family. Attractions include swimming, rafting and golf. This water park is great for the younger children in your family.

10. Green Meadows Petting Farm is a fantastic place to take the kids for a two hour guided tour through the farm of over 300 animals. Milk a cow, ride a pony or go on a hay ride. Expect plenty of fun and education for all ages.

All these attractions are suitable for families and are deemed very affordable. You can always make the most out of a vacation in Florida without going to Disney World. Kissimmee is truly a wonderful place to be all year round.