Main Attractions of New York City

For many people, New York is like the most important or fun place to be. Because of its metropolitan nature, New York is where most suburban dwellers want to go visiting. Besides this, it is also a hub of business activities as you have the famed Wall Street located there, and the twin towers. Recent estimates have shown that New York generates more than some third world countries budget per year. It also has the highest number of skyscrapers concentrated in one territory.

Often dubbed an ‘urban jungle’, it is home to more than 20 million people and amazingly, the metropolitan state seems to have more room for visitors, business executives, vacationers and tourists. New York City has a lot of attractions. In fact, it is said that you could spend three years in New York doing nothing except sightseeing and still not see every vacation spot or attraction sites. Some of New Yorks main attractions are partly responsible for its global popularity and these include:

1. Statue of Liberty This statue represents or symbolizes democracy in the modern world. According to history, the statue signified hope for the immigrants who crossed through Ellis Island. A gift from the French government over a hundred years ago, it was meant to signify freedom which America stands for. Sculpted by the Frdric-Auguste Bartholdi, the steel Framework was built by the creator of the Eiffel tower, Gustav Eiffel and is about 305 ft altogether. To get to the top of the statue, a visitor would have to climb three hundred and fifty four steps. Tourists interested in getting into the monument can purchase one time tickets.

2. Empire State Building The empire state building is possibly the most popular building in New York. Once called the tallest building in the world -it is about one thousand, two hundred and fifty feet high -and named the 8th wonder of the world, many say it signifies or represents what was meant to be carried out when man decided to build the tower of Babel. The empire state building became extremely popular after the movie King Kong was shot in 1933. At the time, it was dubbed the tallest building. However, the mystery surrounding it still counts for visits from over two million visitors annually.

3. Central Park This major tourist centre occupies three hundred and forty one hectares of land is synonymous with its name in its location at the centre of Manhattan. Located between 5th and 8th avenue, central park consists of ice rinks for those who want to skate, theatres, baseball fields, fountains, lakes, a Zoo, a museum, tennis courts and a host of facilities. And the best part of central park is access to it is free of charge. A must see as part of a New York City vacation package.

4. Fifth Avenue For those who love shopping, 5th Ave is an awesome place to be. Located between the 49th and 59th streets, its like a concentration of designer stores such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, Prada and Versace. If you are looking for jewelleries, you will find Bulgari shops, Cartier and a host of other jewellers.

Tattoo History — World History of Tattoo

A tattoo is a permanent setting made by introducing ink into the layers of skin, to change the pigment, usually for ornamental reasons. Skin was the first canvas for art. Sticks and other pointy objects were the 1st paintbrushes, and tattooing was a form of building scars. This involved injuring oneself and jamming dirt or ashes into the wound to discolor it permanently. It is believed that prehistoric man cut holes in his skin, charred sticks in the fire, let them cool and then applied the black content to the injury to create tribal markings.

Primitive man believed the process of tattooing released sacred life forces, since it involved pain, blood and fire. The flowing of blood was also associated with a sacrifice to the Gods. Tattoos were also used to bring one’s soul in alignment with God’s purpose, increase virility and fertility, and ensure the preservation of the body after the death.

Tattooing has been a Eurasian practice since at least Neolithic times. Otzi the Iceman (dating from the fourth or fifth millennium BC), found in the Alps, had approximately 57 carbon tattoos consisting of simple dots and lines on his lower spine, behind his left knee, and on his right ankle.

Pre-Christian Germanic, Celtic, and other central and northern European tribes were often to a great extent tattooed, with detailed designs. Tattooing in Japan goes back to the Paleolithic era, probably, approximately ten thousand years ago. Between 1603-1868, Japanese tattooing was only exercised by the ukiyo-e (the floating world culture). Generally firemen, manual workers and prostitutes wore tattoos, that communicated their status. Between 1720-1870, criminals were tattooed as a visible mark of penalty.

Tattooing features prominently in Chinese literature, in addition, Chinese legend has it that the mother of Yue Fei, the most famous general of the Song Dynasty, tattooed the words jing zhong bao guo, on his back with her needle before he left to join the army, reminding him to repay his country with pure loyalty.

Tattooing in the Western world originates in Polynesia, with the uncovering of tatau by eighteenth-century explorers. Henna and Mehndi were popular in ancient India and ancient Egypt, and continue to be popular in some parts. An antediluvian practice of tattooing in the Middle East required people cutting themselves and scratching in ash (from the deceaseds funeral pyre) throughout a period of mourning, after an individual had died. It was a sign of honor for the dead, and s symbol of reverence, as well as a sense of profound loss.

Summer Camp Questions

So you are thinking of sending your child to summer camp! Here are a few questions you need to ask that may affect your child’s stay at camp. If an area is really important for your child and you can not find the information be sure to call the camp Director and ask for more information.Summer Camp

Facilities Be careful to look at the condition of the facilities. Do the buildings well maintained,? Or do they show signs of neededf maintenance. Rustic buildings are perfectly ok, make sure that they are not being neglected. Specific things you’ll want to look for and ask about include:

Bunks: * Do children live in cabins, tents, or dorms? * How many beds are in each cabin? * Are they bunk beds or individual cots? * How do the campers choose which beds they want? * Where do the campers store their belongings? * Are the cabins to crowded? Is there enough storage space? Has the camp overbooked and crowded extra campers in? * Are the cabins clean? Are beds made by the campers and belongings stowed? * How many counselors sleep in each Cabin?

Bathrooms: *Does each bunk have it’s own toilets or is there a common bathhouse? How far away are the toilets? * Do children have to walk alone at night? Is the path lighted? * Where are the showers? * If the camp is coed, how separate are the shower and toilet facilities? * Who cleans the bathrooms, and how often?

Waterfront or Swimming Pool: *Can pool accommodate all of camps swimmers? * Is the waterfront areas for swimming, boating, water skiing and diving separate and clearly marked? * What waterfront equipment is provided? * What is the supervision and ratio of lifeguards to swimmers? * Are life jackets worn during water activities? * Is swimming areas marked? * How are swimmers counted and watched? Buddy board?

The Grounds: * Are playing fields freshly reseeded and mowed? * Are the trails clearly marked? * Is the equipment in good condition?

Dinning Hall: Believe it or not this one of the most important areas at camp. Nearly 25% of their day is spent in the Dinning Hall. So the Camp needs to understand this and work to make it a clean, exciting and nutritious experience Will the camp meet your dietary needs. Don’t be forget to make sure they can accommodate you Kids Summer Camp * Are there alternatives if your child does not like the offering? Is there a salad bar? * When, how and what Are the snacks? Is there a canteen/camp store? * What does a typical menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner look like?* Is there enough space for the whole camp to be served in one seating? * Do cabins eat together? This is your child’s friends. * Are meals buffet style or are campers served family style? If they are served, who serves the food? * Who is the kitchen director and what are his or their credentials? How long have they been at this camp? * What are the safety and cleanliness standards? Who inspectes the state and local codes?

Remember this article has to do with the comforts of camp and not with safety at camp. The American Camp Association has a certification program that looks at over 300 different aspects of camp. It is always best to select a camp that has been ACA Accredited. ACA CAMPS

You can learn more about selecting a wonderful Teen Summer Camp by visiting Summer Camp Advice Finding a Summer Camp

Finding Fish

For the avid fisherman, a fish finder is a wonderful tool for you to take with you on your expeditions out on the ocean. The fish finder that you choose can greatly increase your odds of finding and catching all the fish that you want when you are fishing for sport or even as a commercial fisherman.

Finding where the fish are is the most important part of having success on your fishing trip. While some fishermen just use their instinct and search the sea for the best place to fish, others prefer to use a fish finder. Originally the technology was designed to allow the military to find submarines on the bottom of the ocean floor. Now the same technology can provide a fisherman with all the information that they need to find where the fish are located.

Fish finders use sonar technology to detect the area between your boat and the ocean floor and obstacles that are in between the two. Usually this means fish. Today’s fish finders are much more advanced than the original equipment that was used by the military. With a modern fish finder, you will have the information displayed to you with a map to help you locate exactly where the fish are above the ocean floor.

Fish finders make great tools for commercial fishermen who depend on the number of fish they catch for a paycheck. They’re also great if you’re just an amateur, though, and want to find more fish every time you go on a fishing trip. Fish finders are simply things you can use so that you get the best results you can when you go fishing. They’re also wonderful to take with you if you have others fishing with you, because guests, too, can then be successful when they fish. How’s that for being a good host and showing someone a good time?

As advances continue, fish finders will only get better. Technology continually improves, which means the fish finders themselves will also improve. Eventually, it’s expected that fish finders will be pretty much “foolproof.” It can be expensive to buy a fish finder if you choose a model with all the bells and whistles. Eventually, though, just about every fisherman, professional or amateur, will have this on their boats. One of the most popular is a handheld model that you can take with you wherever you go, so that you can use it even on someone else’s boat, not just your own.

There are a lot of different types of fish finders on the market, and lots of brands. It’s easy to choose the model that best meets your needs. If you fish occasionally and just for fun, you don’t need a terribly expensive model. If you fish for a living, though, you’re going to want to invest in a much more expensive model that’s going to get you good results so that your paycheck, too, is much improved over what it might be otherwise. Rest assured, though, that what you pay will come back to you many fold in profits. There are a lot of models on the market, so choose the one that’s best for you based upon your needs.

Areas of Interest in Tropical North Queensland

If you are looking to go to the only place on earth where the Rainforest meets the sea, Tropical North Queensland is your destination. Here you can explore the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest and the Atherton Tableland

One of the seven natural wonders of the world is Queenslands Great Barrier Reef. At a 2300 km stretch it can been seen from space.The great Barrier Reef is a popular choice for those who like to scuba dive. They can get to look at over 2,000 species of fish and a countless number of hard and soft coral species. The Great Barrier Reef is monitored at all time to ensure that this breathtaking spot is preserved for generations to come. Above water also has it beauty with spectacular wildlife, such as tropical bird life (in various species), whales, dolphins, turtles and more. So if you do not enjoy scuba diving you can still enjoy the beauty the the Great Barrier Reef has to offer.

While many people will visit the Great Barrier Reef , just as many go and experience the World Heritage Listed rainforest .Rainforest’s are defined by high rainfall ” up to 2000 mm per year and are home to two thirds of the world animal and plant species. The most well known in this area is the Daintree Rainforest located 110 km north of Cairns and is around 1200 sq km making it one of Australia’s largest. It contains over thirty percent of Australia’s frog, marsupial and reptile species and sixty five per cent of Australia’s bat and butterfly species plus twenty per cent of bird species .Amazing to think all this is located in 0.2 percent of Australia’s landmass !!

If you drive for a half hour west of Cairns you will find the Atherton Tablelands. This agricultural area is home to numerous little towns, villages and great attractions. Tablelands are 600m to 1100m above sea level and make a great getaway from the coastal regions.

In Tropical North Queensland summer becomes the wet season with humid weather , monsoonal rain , Box jellyfish and cyclones so the best time of year to visit is the Australian winter (from June to August) when there are clear skies, cool breezes and perfect scuba-diving conditions .

Car Insurance is Not an Option for Drivers in Canada

No matter where you are driving in Canada, the law requires that every driver has car insurance. Automobile insurance is mandatory in all provinces and territories. Your vehicle must be covered under an insurance policy with a minimum set coverage, If you are caught driving without insurance you can be fined, have your drivers license suspended, and even have your vehicle towed and impounded. Fines can range from $5000 to $50,000.

If you are in an accident while driving without insurance, you could face a number of consequences that include:

If another person is injured or there is a loss of life and you are at fault, you could be liable for all vehicle damages, medical costs, and other losses You will not be entitled to receive compensation for your own injuries and damage to your vehicle, as well as other losses such as income. You may be prohibited from filing a claim against another driver if they are at fault.

If convicted of driving without insurance, your insurance company could label you as a high risk driver and increase your premiums. They could also cancel your policy.

There are a number of factors that determine the amount you will pay for insurance. They include:

New Driver: New drivers do not have a driving history so companies normally rate them as high risk. Insurance premiums will likely be expensive until you have established a good driving record.

Driving Record: Your driving record will affect your insurance premium. Insurance companies look at how long you have been driving and the number of convictions you have acquired. Convictions can include speeding tickets, car accidents, and traffic violations such as running a red light. If you have a clean driving record, your premiums should be low.

Type of Car: The type of car you drive will affect your premium. Vehicles are rated according to the make (truck, SUV, expensive sports car). Companies look at the risk of theft, vehicle collision history, and injuries associated with the type of car. The age of the car and mileage is also a factor when determining rates

Common insurance discounts include: age discount, multi-vehicle discount, multi-line discount (insuring your home and auto with the same insurer) anti-theft device discount, low mileage discount, and auto club membership discount.

There are a number of features that can be included in an insurance policy. The two most important forms of coverage are:

Collision Coverage: This coverage compensates for damage to your vehicle as a result of a collision with another vehicle or object.

Third-Party Liability: This insurance covers you if you are held legally liable when your vehicle injures someone or damages their property. Liability is mandatory in all provinces and territories in Canada.

In some provinces there are limitations on how much compensation you can receive. For instance, in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, the maximum amount one can claim for pain and suffering is $2,500. This capped amount is separate from what you receive in insurance benefits. Pain and suffering claims are separate from claims of property damage, medical expenses, or loss of employment income.

There are a number of places where you can purchase car insurance. You can buy it from an insurance broker, insurance agent, or direct writer. Insurance brokers sell policies for a variety of insurance companies. Insurance agents represent only one insurance company. Direct writers are insurance companies that sell their own insurance directly to the customer. The insurance company is responsible for providing the coverage that is noted on a drivers Certificate of Automobile Insurance. You are only covered for what is listed on the certificate. Prices vary among companies so make sure you shop around.

Because car insurance is mandatory in Canada, you should always have insurance before you drive. The costs getting caught without it are much greater than the actual cost of acquiring insurance.

Is this the Beginning of a New York Bike Week?

We all know that when the first settlers came to America they where following a dream! What most do not know is that many of those dreams where inspired by paintings of the Catskill Mountains. At the beginning of this country’s history artists where mesmerized by the beauty of these mountains and painted many pictures of them. These pictures where sent and sold all over the world and they had a huge part in creating what later became know as the American dream.

Fast forward a couple Hundred years to September 10th through the 14th 2008 and now what draws hundreds of American Bikers every year to the Catskill Mountains is the Blackthorne Resort in East Durham and the Catskill Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Rally. This event which is a weekend get away for some and a week long party for others has just about everything a biker dreams of. Even though the Blackthorne Resorts grounds are large, they do fill up fast and Bikers reserve there Cabins, RV sites or Camp sites up to a year in advance just to make sure there is room for them on the grounds. (There are plenty of other resorts in the area who welcome the Biker overflow from the Blackthorne) Me and my Brother Mopar Tom arrived on Thursday Night and the first thing We did was to check out what seemed like a million vendors, Who where selling every thing from Motorcycle stickers to Custom Motorcycles.Then of course it was time to grab some drinks. First drink was at the Tikki Bar by the large in ground pool. The Second was at the Blackthorne’s on premise full service bar. Not wanting to over do it on my first night there (I would save that for my second night) I called it an early night at around 2am and was off to get some sleep.

On Friday the fuse was lit and the weekend festivities got into full swing. I spent the day wandering around the Blackthorne checking ever thing out drinking and partying with Hundreds of new and old friends. As the sun went down and the Night began things just got better! I watched Bikers take their Motorcycles up in the air and do Ariel Burn outs as I listened to the Music of Molly Hatchet LIVE !

The Nights at Blackthorne Run late and the Mornings come early! Some Choose to start their days off riding around the incredible Catskill Mountains, either in a group on a guided tour or by themselves with no destination at all. The roads in the Catskills go on forever and even after many years of riding them each trip still offers something new ! My favorite spot to ride to has been for many years Nicks Waterfall House in Gilboa, In my opinion no ride threw the Catskills is Complete with out a burger and a beer at Nicks!

Others who don’t wake till the afternoon can spend their day’s at the Blackthorne checking out the vendors buying new Biker gear, Watching Rhett Rotten and his amazing vintage Wall of Death Motorcycle stunt show, Looking at the art work of Ron Finch, Placing their votes for their favorites in the Bike show, participating in the Bike games or enjoying a list of many other wickedly fun Biker activities. Saturday Night again offered Bikers more then they could handle plus Hot Female Spaghetti Wrestling, Live Ultimate Fighting bouts, Lots more live music and plenty of late night partying. On Sunday some Bikers headed home while others hung around for another day of fun including a pig roast!

I have been a biker all my life and to this day the bond of Brotherhood that is shared by bikers still amazes me. I’m not sure if the fact that the Blackthorne is a family resort every other week of the year has anything to do with it, But I found the feeling of Brotherhood and Family to be very strong at this event. When I can hangout and party with Bikers I have just met and feel like I have known them for Twenty years, It strongly reinforces all the reasons I love being a Biker!

I have left out many great things about the Blackthorne and its Catskill Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Rally, The reason for this is because if you missed this event you do not deserve to know all its secrets until you have attended it for yourself !!! Check out CatskillMountainThunder.com and reserve your spot for next years party today!

I’ll see you there! Your Bro L.J. James AmericanBikerX.com Radio Show BikerLowdown.com

Kids Need more on Earth Day

America celebrated the first Earth Day On April 22, 1970. It was a need celebration to bring to light how polutio was killing this world. Today, Earth Day is no longer celebrated nationally but is celebrated around the globe.

Despite this awareness of Nature and the Environment there is a staggering divide between children and the outdoors, child advocacy expert Richard Louv directly links the lack of nature in the lives of today’s wired generation-he calls it nature-deficit-to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder has spurred a national dialogue among educators, health professionals, parents, developers and conservationists. This is a book that will change the way you think about your future and the future of your children. The bottom Line we and our youth need to spend time outdoors.

Teacher Judith Millar, from NJ, Over five years ago, began introducing nature in her school. Our courtyard now has several habitat areas, including a Bird Sanctuary, a Hummingbird/ Butterfly Garden, A Woodland Area with a pond, and even a Meadow. My classes oversee the care of this “Outdoor Classroom”, but now it’s practically a full time job, making it difficult to find time for all my other subjects My students currently maintain the Bird Sanctuary. In addition, this spring they will be a major force in the clean up and replanting process. They always have energy and enthusiasm for anything to do with “their garden”.

Despite schools doing their best to get kids in nature , we as a nation have lost the ability to just send our kids out to play. Summer Camps are a great wayto fill this void. A recent study finds that todays parents overprotect their kids. Kids have stopped climbing trees, been told that they can’t play tag or hide-and-seek Not to mention THE STTICK and how it will put out someone’s eye.

Is the Internet and computers to blame for the decline in outdoor play? Maybe, but most experts feel it’s mom and dad. Play England says “Children are not being allowed many of the freedoms that were taken for granted when we were children, They are not enjoying the opportunities to play outside that most people would have thought of as normal when they were growing up.”

According to the Guardian, “Voce argued that it was becoming a ’social norm’ for younger children to be allowed out only when accompanied by an adult. ‘Logistically that is very difficult for parents to manage because of the time pressures on normal family life,’ he said. ‘If you don’t want your children to play out alone and you have not got the time to take them out then they will spend more time on the computer.’

Many play providers see the benefits to children of taking risks. “Risk-taking increases the resilience of children,” said one. “It helps them make judgments,” said another. We as parents want to play it safe and we need to rethink thr benefit of adventure in a childs life.

Risky play that should including fire-building, den-making, watersports, paintballing, boxing and climbing trees. It seems that a children’s summer camp provides an excellent opportunity for children to get outside take risks and play, all while still while being supervised by concerned young counselors.

A Noncompetitive, Traditional OUTDOOR CAMP in Wisconsin called Swift Nature Camp is a wonderful place to start. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15. enjoy Animals, Science along with Traditional camping activities out in nature . Swift places an emphasis on being an ENVIRONMENTAL CAMP where we work with kids in acquiring a deep respect for nature. It is our meaningful, fun-filled learning through active participation that makes it so fun. . We focus on natural curiosity and self-discovery…This is NOT School.

Our Noncompetive atmosphere promotes all skill levels. Swift Nature Camp provides activities that allows children to excel and enjoy thus, giving each camper the opportunity to participate and have fun, rather than worry about results.

Campers also can participate in out-of-camp trips, such as biking, canoeing, backpacking and horse trips. This is the ultimate test of a camper’s skill and knowledge. It’s a reward to discover new worlds and be comfortable in them. This is what makes S.N.C. so much more than just a SCIENCE SUMMER CAMP.

Earth day has provided so much..but their is more we can learn from nature. This summer help your child regain their appreciation for nature by sending them to Swift Nature Camp. This is an opportunity that will be treasured the rest of your child’s life.

Go Go To Johnny B Good’s in NY’s Catskill Mountains

Over the years I have done a few stories on the New York Catskill Mountains and I have done a few stories about places I have enjoyed eating at. Well recently while I was once again up in the Catskill Mountains, I went to a 50’s Thyme Diner called “Johnny B Good” located at 5806 RT 23 in the NY Town of Acra.

I was upstate in the Catskills Mountains at my Sister’s for the Holidays. My Mother, My Niece and I where out checking out the area. After looking around a bunch of really cool antique stores in the Town of Catskill itself We where all getting Hungry.

Now as I have said before I love to eat! Now my Sister being my Sister well she too loves to eat and I had heard her and my Brother in Law mention Johnny B Good as a great place to eat more then once. So it was the place I wanted to check out!

As we arrived right off the bat I could see from the outside it really looked like an Old style 50’s Diner.Now It seems these days everyone has a catch or a thyme to get you threw the door. So as good as the place looked from the outside, I was going to wait before I gave it a thumbs up. As we entered I could see they hadn’t missed much with the 50’s (and a little bit of the 60’s) thyme on the inside. We sat down and started to look threw our menu’s and order some food. As I looked though the Lunch and Dinner section of my menu I saw all the meals had names that helped to take you back. There where meals called the Peggy Sue Special , Jimmy Durrante Rueben , La Bamba Burger , Tarzan of the Jungle Salads and the Wimpy Burger (For Wimps) to name just a few. Now being a Biker I felt an obligation to order the Marlon Brando Mushroom Cheeseburger with Onion Rings.

While waiting for my food I started checking out the Breakfast Menu and found a few more Classic meal names like the Rita Hayworth Cheese Omelet , The Cisco Kid Chili Cheese Omelet, The Jolly Green Giant Veggie Omelet and I am going to have to go back to try some of their Hot Rod Pancakes!

I then got up and started to look around at all the great 50’s Memorabilia Johnny B Good’s had to offer hanging on the walls. There where of Course pictures of the King “Elvis”, some old Movie poster’s , Pictures of many of your favorite 50’s stars, some Classic 45s, some of those old plastic circle things you used to have to put inside the 45’s so you could play them on your turn table, (did those things have a name?) and even some old personal Pictures brought in by friends of the owner Bobbi.

I got to meet and speak with Bobbi the owner. I found her to be extremely Friendly. After just a few moments talking to her I could tell she really loves the place. There was no hiding the fact that she puts her heart and Soul into giving Johnny B Good that Nostalgic feel of a 50’s hang out. It really is a place where everyone feels at home enjoying a meal with Friends.Bobbi told me during the Summer months Johnny B Good holds many Cruise Nights and many people from far and wide show up in Classic Cars and on Classic Motorcycles. They all hang out showing off their rides talking and eating! On a hot Summer Night both the young and old love to stop by and enjoy an Old fashion Style Ice Cream Soda or Root Beer Float .

Now as I have said before how a Restaurant makes you feel just being there does count for something, but when it comes right down to it the Bottom line is taste and there Bobbi and Johnny B Good’s have the most important blast from the past down and this is good old fashion Quality and Taste.

I recommend you stop by Johnny B Good when you are out Cruising up in the Catskill Mountains! Just make sure to remember while in the Catskill Mountains taking this trip back in time at Johnny B Good’s “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”!!!

Be sure to check them out on-line at Myspace.com/JohnnyBGood50

I am your Bro LJ James AmericanBikerX.com

Catskill MTN’s still hold all the old Family Values

Right now for most Americans money is getting a bit tight. We all still want to have those great family trips that we take every year, but we have to watch how much we spend. Well I just had a great time with my family in New York’s Catskill Mountains that didn’t put us all in the poor house.

I was in the Catskill area with Family for the Christmas Holidays. My younger Sister has three kids. Which makes me an Uncle and I always enjoy spending time with my two Nieces and Nephew, The Youngest is 6 years old and the oldest is 13 years old. Now when the age gap is that far apart it can make finding something they all want to do very difficult. Well We where also looking for something to do that not only the kids but us adults could enjoy as well.

It took some time but my younger Brother came up with the idea of Snow Tubing. It sounded good to me. The Kids loved the idea and so did my Sister, Her Husband and even my Mother. OK so then came the part where the money comes in. I called up Windham Mountain to get their Snow tubing times and rates (http://www.windhammountain.com/mountain/tubing) . When they told me their snow tubing rates I was surprised as they where not too bad $20 a person for two hours $25 for four hours and they had a Friday night special of only $15 dollars from 4pm to 9pm ! Only $15 for Five hours, I was sold as it just happened to be Friday.

So the group of Nine of us piled into two vehicles and we where off to do some tubing on Windham’s 650 foot snow covered snow tubing slope. We where Lucky as the weather was warm for December in the Catskill Mountains. The Slope was perfect, there where about ten lanes to slide down and the Snow Tubing staff kept the line moving.

Let me see if I can explain how everything went. When we got up to the Slope we grabbed a large canvased covered Snow Tube then picked a lane. We could go down the lane in groups or by ourselves. I have to say my first trip down caught me by Surprise. It has been a few years since I have been sleigh riding but I know I never went that fast down the old hill. Now hearing me say how fast the slope is, may make you think you or your kids might be scared. Don’t worry about that, I saw kids as young as three years old tubing down the Slope and they were loving it!

At the bottom of the hill there are mats placed at the end of every lane to slow you down safely, Along with attendants ready to help you if you needed it( I didn’t see anyone who needed any help). Now anyone who has gone Sleigh riding as a kid remembers the trip down the hill was always the fun part, It’s the walk back up that is work. Well not at Windham’s snow tube park. The canvases that cover the snow tubes have long straps that hook up to a conveyor so all you have to do is sit in your tube and then slowly slide back up the Slope! The Straps also make it perfect so the attendants can spin you (only if you ask nicely) as you are sliding down the slope.

After about three hours of snow tubing everyone but my brother and his girlfriend was getting tired. So we went into the large Ski lodge, which is only about ten feet from the snow tubing lanes. While inside the lodge we all enjoyed some nice hot Chocolate while sitting by the Fire place.

I am not a big fan of winter activities, But I have to say we all had a great time even if we didn’t make it the full five hours. Life can often get a little crazy and too fast paced, Every once in a while we all need some affordable old fashion family fun, (With a few modern convinces of course)

I am LJ James AmericanBikerX.com Radio Show BikerLowdown.com

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