This is a sponsored gets post.
I’m done. I’m done with rushing out early to claim a lounger around the pool. I’m done with the same evenings sat in the hotel bar while the hotel entertainment (usually a singer) comes to another disappointing climax (usually the singer’s favourite song that no-one else knows the words to). I’m done with waiting for a table at one of those packed on-site restaurants that you’d avoid back home but yet seems to be a good idea when you’re sunburnt and the kids are moaning that they’re starving. This year things will be different. How so? Because this year we’re going to America. Yes, there will be touristy things on the agenda – truth be told I haven’t quite decided the destination yet – but I’m sure the huge difference in climate and culture will make me feel not so much touristy as fresh faced and intrigued. I’ve been checking out the options, and I’ve narrowed it down to three…
Niagara Falls
American, Horseshoe, and Bridal. Those are the names of the the three waterfalls that collectively make up the Niagara Falls as we know and love it. But why do these three esteemed falls bring in more than 30 million visitors per year? That probably has something to do with the boat tours, the helicopter tours, the walking tours that go behind the falls (yes, behind the falls!), and maybe the goat. Bet you weren’t expecting me to say that. Goat Island sits in between Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Falls. On it, you’ll find interesting attractions named things like Cave of the Winds (complete with a 175 ft elevator down to the up close and personal “Hurricane Deck”) and the Three Sisters Islands (a smaller island next to Goat Island, complete with stunning views and footpaths over the must-see rapids). Find out more info on package deals. Suffice to say, this sounds like the kind of place that could effortlessly fill a dozen family photo albums before even reaching the hotel.
Central Park
I can hold my hand up and say that my introduction to the fact that Central Park exists at all was the name of the coffee shop in Friends – which for those who’ve spent almost 30 years living under a rock, was called Central Perk. But what is it? And why does it top my list of things to go see in the Big Apple? Well, for a start, Central Park has been used as a backdrop in everything from childhood classics like Home Alone and Ghostbusters to modern fav’s like Avengers, Spiderman, and Men in Black. You can actually go and see all the places where these films were shot. Is it just me, or is that kinda like meeting a celebrity? There are boat trips on the lake, an ice skating rink (used for shows when the weather doesn’t suit icy conditions), there’s the Central Park Mall and even the Central Park Zoo. This whole place is 2.5 miles by 0.5 miles, and seems like a perfect little holiday waiting to happen.
Alcatraz
OK, this is my back up plan. If convincing the family to head for the Falls or the Park fails, Alcatraz it is. Not just Alcatraz, but an Alcatraz cruise. They take you on a tour, lock you in the cells, and show you were famous inhabitants stayed (including Al Capone). This mixes history with wholesome macabre fun – with a boat ride to boot!
