The Hudson Valley of New York state extend north ward from New York City to Albany. It is defined as any area in which the waters end up in the Hudson River. This include out to Binghamton to the west and into Connecticut to the east. The Hudson Valley is lush and green in the summer. The hills roll away from the river endlessly and hide in their nooks and crannies many small towns bergs and villages. Much of the modern history in NY centers around migration of the Europeans beginning in the 15Th centuries with the early explorers of Verrezano and Hudson. A beautiful way to see this history is by driving the roads up along the river. Many spectacular views quaint towns and villages and early US history are every where. Your boutique hotel in New York will have a lot of information on seeing the Hudson Valley. Going north from NY city there is Yonkers the first city established north of NY. The urban sprawl is continuous from NY to here but not too much further north the setting is much more rural and more forest. Old pre colonial towns dot the river banks. Today many are full of antique, curio, gift shops and galleries fun places to eat and explore. Many have B and B’s for a quaint place to stay. Accommodations can be limited in some towns so you may want to plan a head. Sitting by the river is nice it is about a mile wide in most places and is very deep the force of the river can be felt when down by the river. In Cold Spring NY is a pier where you can get out far enough to look up the river north toward the cities Beacon and Newburgh. Both have revitalized water front areas with fine river views and walk
Tag Archive for 'New York'
The second largest pop culture convention has made its yearly appearance in New York City. Thousands of fans of comics, science fiction movies and television have arrived at the 2009 New York Comic Con. Though not the largest convention in the US, this is the one that takes place in the comic book capital of the world — not to mention the capital for media, publishing and licensing. Instead of bringing the industry to the fans, this is the one Con that brings the fans to the industry. New York restaurants and hotels are braced for the added business which is welcome during the current economy.
Like most Cons, New York Comic Con is a mecca for geeks and fanboys. Offering a huge marketplace throughout the weekend, its the perfect place to find that mint-condition comic book issue to complete a collection or to get the newest fan swag.
With its prime location in New York and sheer number of attendees, this Con can attract big names in the film, television, and comic industries. Interviews and panels feature comic writers, movie directors, and casts of favorite scifi programs. Sneak peaks of upcoming TV shows and movies are shown months before the official release dates, allowing word of mouth to start growing long before even the regular previews are out.
This year’s event features appearances by Adam Kubert (Superman, X-Men), Brian Micahel Bendis (Avengers, Ultimate Spider-Man), and Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman, Final Crisis) as well as dozens of other comic book stars. Screenings feature the new “Wonder Woman,” Joss Whedon’s new series “Dollhouse,” and sneak peaks at the upcoming “Watchmen” and “Terminator: Salvation” movies.
Comic Con also features a Star Wars Trivia Contest, a Kids Costume Contest, and a performance by the New York Jedi association. There is also a large charity auction of original artwork put on by the Hero Initiative.
New York city is the most popular tourist destination in the United States. Visitors are drawn to the city’s numerous landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the World Trade Center Site, and Central Park. New York is perhaps the leading city in the world for art, fashion, diplomacy, finance, theater, dance, and food. One of the easiest ways to get a feel for this vibrant, multicultural city is to look at the five boroughs that make up the city.
Manhattan is probably the most well-known of the five city boroughs. Here is where you’ll find the many skyscrapers that define the New York skyline. It is the financial center of New York and is home to the United Nations, several universities, and the world headquarters of many major corporations, including the major television and cable networks. Wall Street, the New York Stock Exchange and a variety of museums and galleries are housed here. Central Park, Madison Square Garden, Greenwich Village, Times Square, and Broadway are all located in Manhattan as is the famous Harlem neighborhood. Manhattan is also home to a number of five star New York hotels, world-famous restaurants, and some of the best shopping and nightlife in the world.
The Bronx is the only borough that is not on an island. If it were an individual city, the Bronx would be one of the ten most populous US cities (along with Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens). However, this borough has managed to preserve extensive parkland. The Bronx Zoo is the largest US metropolitan zoo. It houses over 6000 animals on 265 acres. The New York Yankees call the Bronx home. The Bronx is also the recognized birthplace hip hop culture and rap music.
The most populous borough is Brooklyn, which remained an independent city until 1898. As a former city, Brooklyn maintains its own downtown area and an independent art scene from the rest of New York. This borough is known for its diversity, social, ethnic, and cultural. Brooklyn is the home of New York’s famous brownstone architecture and its various neighborhoods are also distinct. Here you’ll find extensive beachfront, including Coney Island, which is one of the oldest amusement parks in the country.
The largest borough by size is Queens, which also holds the distinction of the most ethnically diverse county in the US. Queens was originaly a collection of Dutch-founded villages and towns. Today it is mostly middle class and residential in nature. It is the home of the New York Mets and the US Open tennis tournament. Both of New York’s major airports, JFK and LaGuardia, are located in Queens.
Staten Island is a more suburban and rural borough. In 1984 the Greenbelt was designated to protect the island’s natural environments. It includes seven individual parks, an undisturbed forest, and around 35 miles of walking trails. The Staten Island Ferry provides stunning views of lower Manhattan, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty, making it one of the most popular New York attractions. The ferry is free and is the only way of reaching Staten Island from Manhattan.