Storm King, New York

To plan your trip ahead, visit the Metro North train lines to pick your destination and schedule. Try to avoid peak hours as this commuter rail gets heavily packed in the late afternoons and tickets are more expensive. Instead, choose an off day such as a Sunday morning with a return ticket that evening to guarantee you a seat, quieter ride up the Hudson (the farthest stop goes to Poughkeepsie and rounds out at about 2hrs north of NYC), and cheaper tickets. Also worth noting is the seasonal options the Hudson River Valley boasts including summer water sports, fall leisure walks, and winter hibernation. Regardless of the time of year, however, its waterfront is a great way to discover restaurants, salons, cafes, and stores which are enjoyed for both daytime and nighttime fun. Boats and jet-skis line the docks, music plays from nearby bars, and drinks are toasted by outside diners. You can also pop in newly opened wine bars and art galleries, or see an independent movie at one of the boutique theaters.

Here are recommended points of interests to visit in the Hudson Valley:

Bear Mountain

A guaranteed good day with nature and wildlife, Bear Mountain State Park appeals to families seeking to explore off the beaten path Upstate. This Hudson Valley attraction offers a wonderful historic inn for overnight accommodations, spectacular mountain and lake views from a number of recreation locations including a network of multi-use trails available year-round. The park has fishing opportunities including boat rental, swimming opportunities, and a variety of winter sports including a beautiful ice rink, trails and ski-jumps. There is even a zoo at this state park. It’s a favorite amongst children as this is a huge open field to do just about anything you want.

Storm King Art Center

Storm King Art Center is a museum that celebrates the relationship between sculpture and nature. Five hundred acres of landscaped lawns, fields and woodlands provide the site for postwar sculptures by internationally renowned artists. At Storm King, the exhibition space is defined by sky and land. Unencumbered by walls, the subtly created flow of space is punctuated by modern sculpture. The grounds are surrounded by the undulating profiles of the Hudson Highlands, a dramatic panorama integral to the viewing experience. The sculptures are affected by changes in light and weather, so no two visits are the same. It is truly a jaw-dropping collection of outside standing sculptures in the Hudson Valley.

Storm King Art Center

Dia:Beacon

Another great art museum outside of New York City, located in Beacon, the Dia houses a renowned permanent collection of major works of art from the 1960s to the present. Occupying a nearly 300,000-square-foot historic printing factory, Dia:Beacon has been dedicated to supporting individual artists and to providing long-term, in-depth presentations of their art. Be sure to also explore the neighborhood as Main Street nearby hosts a ton of delicious food options including cafes and grills with great views of the river to fill your appetite.

Mohonk Mountain House

This National Historic Landmark, a mammoth mountaintop Victorian castle, is one of the country’s great old hotel resorts. Like a mountain lodge in the great West, it commands huge views of the serene Shawangunk Mountains. The resort was built in 1869 by two brothers on a 2,200-acre rocky ridge overlooking a large glacial lake, pristine gardens, and the 6,400-acre Mohonk Forest Preserve, and its setting is incomparable. This is more than just a lodging house, it’s an experience all its own. Activities abound: ice-skating in the beautiful new open-air pavilion, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing in winter; hiking, boating, tennis, and golf in warm-weather seasons; and plenty of children’s programs and entertainment, including theme weeks and weekends. It’s a hiker’s paradise, with more than 85 miles of woodland trails. However, Mohonk is also a fabulous place to relax with a book in a rocker on the veranda, taking in the views, or at the luxury full-service spa with a massive, indoor heated pool. Families and couples populate this location during the summer months.

Washington’s Headquarters

For the history buffs in your family, Washington Headquarters is a great trip back in time. As the former home base of General George Washington, you’ll see up close and personal remnants of his former military home. Tours are offered throughout the year by appointment for all age groups, guiding you through the house, the burial of revolutionary war veterans, monumental statuary, the Tower of Victory, and a revised production of the Minute Man reenactments. When outside, take in the views of the Hudson River backdrop with colorful peaking mountains, and Victorian homes. Inside you’ll experience education that brings to life your textbook history days.

For more information on traveling Upstate to the Hudson Valley, visit NileGuide’s top itineraries, travel tips, and guides here.

Images by Paul Brady

It’s not only a fun waterfront destination but a central piece to the formation of New York City and now a national monument serving tourists and locals alike. Everyone will discover a reason to love Governors Island and once you spend a day here, it’s easy to understand why. Photographers bring out their best camera equipment to capture the perfect shot, cyclists bring whole families out for a day’s bike ride, and history buffs come here for guided tours to dig deeper into America’s coming-of-age story. And when the heat rises this summer, you’ll find city dwellers escaping the populated streets of Manhattan for a cool-off at the island.

We New Yorkers have already experienced the glory that is this greenery, but for first-time visitors, mark your calendars for opening season on Friday, May 27th, and follow this list to get in on Governors Island fun:

1. Figment Fest

Figment Fest at Governors Island

One of the island’s long-term exhibits, Figment Fest is a celebration of the creative arts. Throughout Governors Island you’ll find installations on display, plus interactive classes like stone carving and this year’s Burble Bup, a “constantly shifting colored light” inflatable roof. Emerging artists take over the island presenting their post-modern ideas, intriguing visitors along their route and creating buzz for the island’s reputation as a crafters’ hub.

2. The Etsy House

Etsy House

Continuing with the arts and crafts theme, Governors Island is also home to Etsy, a global marketplace for DIY (do it yourself) craftsmen and women. Inside you’ll find an array of boutique and one-of-a-kind items such as jewelry made from kitchen utensils, ceramics and textiles, and fashion inspired by New York itself as presented by the New New group on Etsy. This is also one of several houses in which the public is invited to explore.

3. Picnic Point

Picnic Point

Located in the southwestern section of Governors Island, Picnic Point is where families go to lay out and take in views of the harbor. Here you can see Lady Liberty up close while the Staten Island Ferry carries passengers to and from Manhattan and sail boats glide along the Hudson. Children pass by riding along the bike path and make pit stops for Blue Marble ice cream, which serves seasonal and delicious organic ice cream, and others take advantage of a big lawn by setting up picnics with loved ones. It’s one of the best places to sit and stay a while.

4. Parade Grounds

Green Pavilion

The Parade Grounds is a huge open lawn where various pop-up attractions make their home each week. Throughout the summer, outdoor activities are offered to the public including free kite giveaways, trapeze lessons, and circus workshops. Most activities are free and their calendar of events is regularly updated with new all-ages happenings as well. When the pavilion isn’t used for events, you’ll find folks taking up recreational sports like tossing a frisbee or setting up a makeshift baseball field. Anything fun goes here!

5. Concerts

Punk shows, jazz concerts, indie rock bands, and singer/songwriter talents are just a few of the musical performances you’ll catch on the beach at Governors Island. Just about every weekend there are big names getting on stage for fans and making way for up and coming musicians. With free ferry rides from New York’s lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge Park, concert attendees can plan ahead to see their favorite bands perform while taking in some of the best views in the city. Party at your own risk!

With the weather lightening up, it’s the perfect time to set aside a weekend to visit Governors Island. It’s easily a place to pack a New York City day trip with endless opportunities of outdoors fun. Pack a lunch, grab your bags, and hop on the ferry. It’s the season for Governors Island.

For a full event calendar on Governors Island 2011 season, visit www.govisland.org.

Images provided by author

Coney Island

Coney Island & Brighton Beach

Grab your beach set, call the kids, and prepare for a trip down memory lane. Coney Island and Brighton Beach are two of the oldest, most historically significant, and culturally-filled beach destinations in Brooklyn, New York. Coney Island’s boardwalk features an amusement park that’s seen generations of visitors and received a new facelift in recent years, attracting more families than ever. Plus, you can’t beat eating at the first Nathan’s Hot Dogs!

Brighton Beach

Not too far down the boardwalk is Brighton Beach located in what’s known as Little Russia, as it’s heavily populated by Eastern Europeans. If you’re looking for a more peaceful sunbathing time with international food as your afternoon snack, head to Brighton instead.

Rockaway Beach

Rockaway Beach

Wave riders take note: Rockaway Beach is open for business. New York City may not be known as surfers’ paradise, but Rockaway Beach is becoming the go-to spot for ocean lovers. With dive bars and taco stands attracting hungry beach bums, this Queens beach is a must for summer weekend hanging. You’ll find surfers trotting the boardwalk in search of the biggest waves, families playing in the sand, and ladies laying out for a tan. Take the A train out early on a Sunday morning and breeze through some views of the city you may not see elsewhere.

City Island

Way uptown there’s an island filled with yacht clubs, sailing schools, marinas, sail makers and some great seafood restaurants. Yet still mainly frequented by nearby residents from the Bronx and Upstate, New York. It’s about time everyone else catch on to City Island‘s hype. Enjoy the water, fresh air and art galleries on the island, plus some great crab dishes. For those interested in the history of Native Americans, a Siwanoy Indian burial ground can be found at the island’s highest point.

City Island

Brooklyn Bridge Park

On the shores of Brooklyn, between two great New York City landmarks – the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges – lie 85 acres that have been transformed into one of the city’s best outdoor spaces. Brooklyn Bridge Park consists of four different sections, including Pier 1 and Pier 6 (both opened in summer 2010), the Main Street Lot and the Empire-Fulton Ferry area, all of which boast tremendous views of the Manhattan skyline and the New York City harbor. The park offers abundant opportunities for sunbathing, picnicking, walking and biking, as well as a wealth of activities both educational and fun. Kids of all ages can partake in this modern playground that includes rope swings, a “slide mountain” with two-story high slides, a water-play area, a climbing structure, and a “boulder mountain.” Head out and jump in!

Brooklyn Bridge Park

For a full list to beach guides to New York City throughout the five boroughs, visit NileGuide’s Things to Do directory.

Images by author, dougtone, @mikepick

Tom’s diner, Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Museum, Grand Army Plaza, Vanderbuilt – these are a few places you’ll be pointed to when you ask a Brooklynite about the beloved neighborhood of Prospect Heights.

Less than thirty minutes of a subway ride away from Manhattan, nestled above Prospect Park , “a 585-acre urban oasis” located in the heart of Brooklyn, Prospect Heights is home to West Indian expats and corner stores, proud African American families, Latino-run bodegas, and now an influx of gentrified pop up bars, coffee shops, and community spaces frequented by young professionals. Considered one of the top 10 places to live in the city according to Time Out New York last spring, there are plenty of reasons to believe this when visiting the neighborhood. It’s a laid back – “homey” – feel here, with colorful dated brownstones lining many blocks and residents out and about enjoying their day along Franklin Avenue and Eastern Parkway. One of the perks of being here is the ability to soak up its independence during the day, with so many boutiques, cafes, and art shops that dot Washington Avenue, and a vibrant nightlife along Vanderbuilt Avenue where locals stop by nightly to catch up with friends and check out the latest sports game.

Not to mention the standard go-to weekend itinerary that has given Prospect Heights its reputation of a beautiful, budding neighborhood, all of which are a must when you’re in the area: bar crawls along Vanderbilt, painting classes and wine sipping at Beast, brunch at Tom’s, wifi cafe hopping, taking strolls through Eastern Parkway, evening yoga classes plus community events at Launchpad,  and children’s entertainment at the Brooklyn Public Library and Botanic Gardens.

Target First Saturdays at Brooklyn Museum

Greenmarket outside of Grand Army Plaza

Recreation at Prospect Park

Though its also sometimes considered the sister neighborhood to Park Slope, don’t confuse it as such. Prospect Heights is a neighborhood all its own and one to watch in the coming year as the community continues to grow and embrace new changes. It’s the perfect pocket neighborhood to get to know and love on your next trip to New York City.

Get to know Brooklyn with NileGuide’s neighborhood guides.

Images provided by author.

Here are a few sites to follow when looking for travel tips, coupons to great restaurants and attractions, and upcoming events:

Travelzoo Local Deals

Travelzoo offers daily local deal alerts to international travelers on popular entertainment at major destinations. Travelzoo is perfect for New York visitors as they break down their deals by highlighting the face value of tickets, the offered discount, and your total savings. They also tell you how long you have left to grab the code to purchase tickets and how to contact them for more info. Plus, their lists of deals seem endless!

Sign up here for New York City Local Deals.

Scoutmob New York

By far one of the coolest and newest mobile deal groups, Scoutmob sorts dining and nightlife deals based on your location in the city. Download their free app on your smartphone and as you walk through the city finding yourself hungry, scroll to the neighborhood you’re currently in (i.e. Soho) and Scoutmob will pull up a long list of every establishment around you with up to 50% off dining deals. What makes Scoutmob such a great tool for travelers is that it provides content created and curated by locals so you’re scoring deals at beloved places by New Yorkers.

Join the mob here.

Voice Deal of the Day

The Village Voice is the people’s newspaper here in New York City. The Voice understands that this city is full of people who are on the lookout to cut their costs in any and every way possible. That includes travelers like you, so that’s why Deal of the Day is great at announcing the latest sales on beauty, entertainment, food, and more. Once you sign up for their deals, you’ll receive a daily email alert with savings of up to 90% for New York City attractions.

Sign up for local deals here.

Happy travels, New York deal seekers!

Museum enthusiasts now have access to exclusive events and behind the scenes exhibits that let you inside the creative minds of curators and artists. Not just closed off for members only, institutions like the American Museum of Natural History are opening their doors to the public for sneak peeks at upcoming shows as well. But if you are looking for unique museum experiences, then mark your weekend calendars because MoMA PS1 and Brooklyn Museum are inviting you to the party of the month.

Brooklyn Museum

Target First Saturday at Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum has put culture on the map for this city since its opening in the last century. A favorite amongst its Prospect Park neighbors, this architectural wonder showcases a vast collection of decorative art, European, American and contemporary painting and sculpture. Not only it is a must-visit for those who are interested in historical art, but Target First Saturdays are all the rage for Brooklynites. Sponsored by the popular shopping brand Target, the Brooklyn Museum entertains thousands of visitors with live music and entertainment once a month all evening long. Inside the party keeps going with food and drinks from the Museum Café at $4 from 5-11pm. Check their calendar for next month’s event.

MoMA PS1

Warm Up at MoMA PS1

The quintessential cool museum of Queens, MoMA PS1 takes contemporary art to the next level. Dubbed exhibition space rather than art collection, PS1 profiles experimental art from all over the world in addition to representing independent and emerging artists of unique retrospectives. Today, the museum acts as studio, performance space, and dance hall with the help of its Warm Up music series. Notable musicians and artists including LCD Soundsystem, The Scissor Sisters, and Fischersponer have graced the PS1 stage presenting a “multisensory experience for music fans, artists, and families alike.” MoMA members get free admission, while regular admission runs $15 which includes access to all museum exhibits and public programs from 2-9pm. Watch for the next dance party this spring.

Don’t miss Saturday nights this spring at Brooklyn Museum and MoMA PS1!

Images by semarr, Christopher Newhard

NYC - Spring

Visiting New York City in the spring can make you fall in love. The streets swell up with dog walkers, joggers, photo takers, and sight-seekers as everyone is eager to enjoy the first taste of sunshine. Window shoppers scout out bargains, food trucks come out to serve fresh off the grill snacks, and colors start to shine again. From Manhattan to Queens, and Brooklyn to the Rockaways, here’s where to find spring in the air this year.

Bohemian Hall Beer Garden – Astoria, Queens

traveling beer

Happy hour lovers will get a kick out of outdoor beer gardens, and a favorite amongst New Yorkers is Astorian institution, Bohemian Hall. One of the originals in the city, Bohemian Hall brings the flavor of the old country with an affordable bar menu serving Czech delights inside. Kielbasa and other grilled favorites are available along with pitchers of Czech beers, like Staropramen. A must at least once, visit on a calm night when locals like to play cards and board games.

Governors Island – New York Harbor

Governors Island

Former military post turned favorite warm weather hangout, Governors Island is the perfect choice for a day out on a sunny day. Free ferry rides take you on a short trip along the Hudson where you’ll pass close ups of Lady Liberty and drop you off on a plot of historic land where families, couples, and the outdoorsy congregate. There is plenty of activity fun on this five mile stretch including car-free biking and acres of green space for picnics, art exhibitions, performances and other events. Check their calendar for weekly happenings as it’s quickly becoming a go-to spot for escaping the concrete jungle.

Bryant Park – Midtown, Manhattan

Bryant Park

Had a long day? Midtown workers know how you feel. That’s why you’ll catch businessmen and laborers sprawled along this great lawn in the middle of the afternoon. Some nights you’ll find dozens of people taking a unison yoga class, other times you can catch a rival game of chess or ping pong. There’s room for everyone to enjoy a little break at Bryant Park. Grab a spot on the lawn in the early evening and take in a pre-dinner snack with a loved one by your side, you’ll fit right in.

Yankee Stadium – The Bronx

Opening Day

Not only is it spring but it’s also baseball season. Batter up! With the new stadium turning heads of hardcore fans everywhere, this is the year to see the Bronx Bombers take home a win at Yankee Stadium. No better way to soak in a quintessential New York experience than snacking on a hot dog and slurping ice cream in a hat while watching future legends score a home run. Get your tickets now and hop on the 4 uptown, your seats are waiting!

Prospect Park Zoo – Brooklyn

Red Pandas, Prospect Park Zoo

For family-friendly fun, head to the lovely Prospect Park Zoo off Flatbush in Brooklyn. Modeled after Central Park set in what feels like the suburbs of this outer borough, this is a wonderful zoo for young children as toddlers can see animals up close. It maintains mostly domestic animals and small creatures in addition to a petting zoo with cows, sheep and goats. Some of the larger and more exotic creatures include sea lions, baboons and emus. Don’t miss the chance to see a sea lion feeding and meet and greet with a keeper!

Images by gsz, karlnorling, Global Jet, shinya, dandeluca, affiliate

St. Germain des Prés - Cefé Le Procope

New York City can be a haven for foodies. In recent years, the culinary scene has boomed with food bloggers and celebrity chefs popping up in countless press mentions, influencing our every dining decision. Though many cuisines have changed to adapt to new kinds of eaters’ appetites, one cuisine remains a classic staple: French.

As the basis of many chefs’ cooking career, french food remains a strong force in upscale restaurants all over New York. Lovely cafes line the West Village while romantic and roomy restaurants dot the Upper West Side, making for a perfect Culinary Tour de France. Thanks to a restaurant group by the same name, New Yorkers can enjoy a taste of Paris right in their backyard:

Making a gastronomic tour of France does not necessarily have to involve an airplane and calculating the exchange rate- the Tour de France Restaurant Group brings the varied and celebrated cuisines of France to Manhattan, without ever requiring a trip over the Triborough Bridge. The eight restaurants each transport diners to a different region, inviting them to experience the atmosphere and flavors of France right here in New York City.

Here’s where to get your French fix in the city -

1. French Roast

A lively cafe in the Village, this Parisian restaurant offers up affordable barista crafts in addition to a full menu and bar. Great dishes include, steak frites, croque monsieur and fruit tarts. Surprisingly, they grill good burgers too. Daily specials vary and where else can one easily find escargot at 3a?

2. Le Monde

An Upper West Side Francophone experience, Le Monde offers a world of dishes for the glory of France. From es cargot to poisson to bouillabaisse (at least on Sundays), to pommes frites and legumes, Le Monde has it covered for all things French. Avoid the fancy stuff and keep it simple: their salade de fromage de chèvre is unbeatable with its warm goat cheese cake, tomato
confit, arugula and pesto bread. Brush up on your Franglais and snootiness and enjoy.

3. L’Express

At L’Express, the diverse French menu and good food will satisfy you at all hours, but the real party does not begin until 4am—that is when the bars close, and those still on the go need a place to gather and re-energize. Expect a loud room of diners and fabulous french fries.

4. Maison

Located in the heart of the theater district, this casual French Brasserie is open 24/7, and lined by a picturesque garden featuring indoor/outdoor dining areas, a smoking section and the largest (climate-controlled) umbrella in the U.S., ensuring enjoyable all-weather events. Seated under the umbrella one has a clear view of Time Square to the right, and Central Park to the left.

5. Marseille

This no-fuss, theater district restaurant offers some authentic French and Mediterranean cuisine. The bistro-like ambience is complimented by orange walls and red leather seating. Try the Lasagna of Crab meat, mussels and shrimp served in a punchy bouillabaisse. End your meal with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Tart with celery sorbet.

6. Nice Matin

Located on the ground floor of the Lucerno Hotel, Nice Matin is named after the largest daily newspaper in the South of France. It offers French and Mediterranean cuisine in casual elegance. The menu is diverse; there’s everything, from vegetables stuffed with braised beef to Roast Codfish and Pissaladiere. You can never go wrong with the Monday Night special – Aioli Montre. In fact, go ahead, try anything! All dishes are superb and very well-presented.

7. Pigalle

Populated by theater lovers seeking a good dinner before their show (or a drink after the show), this is a bustling French restaurant offering up the typical fan fare at inexpensive prices. Expect a bit of snude but walk away with a full stomach and unique dining experience. Plus, the location couldn’t be better.

8. Cafe D’Alsace

With a chef originally from Brittany, this place knows Alsace. Serving features such as his tarte flambée (onions and bacon) to Upper East Siders, this restaurant is brings French expertise to another level, showcasing an extravagant beer menu, too. Check for seasonal menus which include generous comfort dishes of German and French heritage.

Tour de France NYC

*Images by Tour de France, checco

Enter: Pillow Fight Day. A time where it’s perfectly okay to let out your grievances with your fellow residents through an innocent game of pillows smashing against other people’s faces. Talk about stress reliever!

Pillow fight!

Want in? Grab those pillow sacks off your bed, it’s time to get down and fluffy! April 2, 2011 marks the 6th annual New York City Pillow Fight Day where:

“Pillows fly and teddies soar as you converge for a giant urban pillow fight! Swing and whack as you evade pillow-wielding assailants. Bring a soft pillow and wait for the signal. Pillow fight!”

Created by the Urban Playground Movement, Pillow Fight Day is a congregation of organized chaos. The group hosts fun, all-ages, public events around the globe turning outdoor spaces into social sites, and cult followings. In New York City, a location is announced each year and word spreads as friends – even small children – come together ready to wreak havoc upon each other. This year is no different.

Join New Yorkers at Union Square on East 14th Street on Saturday, April 2nd. Make sure to bring only soft, feather-free pillows only. Pajamas welcome.

Images by jefflagasca