Taking off Travel blog

It’s time for another roundup of what’s happening in travel.

Empire State Now On NYC Explorer Pass

If you’re planning a trip to New York, then you will be happy to hear that Smart Destinations has added the Empire State Building Observatory to the NYC Explorer Pass. The pass allows you to visit between three and seven attractions at an affordable pre-paid price. You can use it any of 40 attractions during a 30 day period and can get restaurant discounts as well.

‘With millions of visitors from around the world, the Empire State Building is the ‘must-see’ attraction in New York City,’ said Jean-Yves Ghazi, Director of the Observatory at the Empire State Building. ‘We have recently renovated our 86th and 102nd floor observatories with aesthetic and modernization improvements. By joining with the NYC Explorer Pass, we encourage people to get the most out of their visit to the world’s most famous office building.’ Read more »

Albany International Airport (ALB) has come a long way since its origins as the first municipal landing site for planes on a polo field three miles north of the city. The airport played host to many of the most famous aviators of the early 20th century, including Charles Lindbergh. These days, it is a busy commercial airport, with around 180 arrivals and departures each day. We’ve already looked at attractions around JFK and LaGuardia, but what do you do on a layover in Albany?

State Capitol Staircase, Albany, NY

Exploring History

One of the best things to do in Albany is to explore the city’s history. As the oldest surviving European settlement from the original 13 colonies, it has a lot to explore. Options include the Georgian home of Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler, which dates from 1761 and includes 18th century furniture and art. The Albany Institute of History and Art is another must see. It is one of the oldest museums in the US and was founded in 1791.

From Shakers To Slater

The Shakers played a major role in the area’s history, including providing some of the land that became part of the airport. The Shaker Heritage Society preserves this history and offers you the chance to visit America’s first Shaker settlement – a 770 acre site. Explore history from a different perspective by visiting the USS Slater, a refurbished Cannon Class destroyer escort. Also worth a look when it’s reopened is Cherry Hill, which houses a collection amassed by the Van Rensselaer and Rankin families over 176 years.

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When it comes to flying into and out of New York, JFK Airport is not the only game in town. If you’re on a domestic flight or are planning a trip to Aruba or the Bahamas (wouldn’t that be nice), then you’re likely to use LaGuardia Airport. The smallest of the New York Metropolitan area’s three airports, La Guardia has been run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey since 1947. Its relatively central location means that there are lots of opportunities to enjoy a layover in LaGuardia. Make sure you sort out offsite airport parking so you don’t have the hassle of looking for a parking space in Manhattan. Read more »

New York City has always been a major center for entry into the US. It was true in the days when most people arrived by ship, and it’s true now that many arrive by air, most of them via John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK). There’s no shortage of things to do on a layover in JFK. In fact, your problem will be deciding what to leave for next time. If you’ve driven into the city to catch a flight, take advantage of an offsite airport parking deal. It will save you money and you won’t have the hassle of driving in New York. Instead, start your layover by taking a cab ride to the first attraction; it’s all part of the New York experience. Here are some ideas for things to do on a layover in JFK.

Less Than 10 Miles From JFK

A good summer stop is Rockaway Beach, about five miles from the airport. Located on the south shore of Long Island, this was once a prime summer family resort. It’s nice to stroll along the boardwalk beside the ocean and breathe in that sea air. You’ll see volleyball, skating, surfing, fishing and swimming. This is a great spot to relax with a bite to eat while waiting to catch your connecting flight.

An unusual sight just over eight miles away is the Ganesha Temple, home to the Hindu Temple Society of North America. Located in Queens on the former site of a Russian Orthodox Church building, the temple was designed and constructed in India and then shipped over. It’s an ornate building, with carved elephant heads and other stunning architectural features. Read more »

What do you do when you’re an intrepid traveler short on cash? Get creative. I recently had to travel to New York for a conference and since most of my money was tied up in paying for a cross-country move, I had to make it work on the cheap.

Tip #1: Keep Up On Airfare Deals
Luckily I knew this conference was coming up in advance, so I had time to book a cheap deal. I looked through all my point sources but was just shy of the amount needed to book a flight. Suddenly Northwest Airlines (the hub flying out of Minneapolis) started offering PerksChoice, a program that lets you use points for half a ticket! Bang! $110 off my flight! A great forum I discovered to keep up on things like this is flyertalk.com.
Airfare cost=$110 Read more »