Located on the Mississippi River, New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana.

New Orleans

The city is renowned for its music (it is the birthplace of jazz), celebrations and festivals (Mardi Gras) and its cuisine.

Things to Do and Places to Visit

Music and Dining
There are many clubs and eateries here in New Orleans where you can relax and listen to some Jazz, enjoy some authentic dining and even try your hand at a spot of Cajun dancing. The following are just a few of the many establishments worth visiting Tipitinas (live performances), Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (live music and regional cusine), Club 300 Jazz Bistro (jazz and gourmet cusine), Melange (jazz and fine dining), House of Blues (live music and gospel brunch on Sundays), Michaul’s Live Cajun Music Restaurant (Cajun and Zydeco music, Cajun food and dancing), The Funky Pirate 727 Bourbon (Blues Club).

Visit The French Quarter
Here you will find many restaurants serving traditional New Orleans dishes. You will also find the St Louis Cathedral, art galleries, magnificent architecture, street artists, antique shops and boutiques, and a vibrant nightlife. The most relaxing way to tour the area is by a horse-drawn carriage.

Mardi Gras

Blain Kern’s Mardi Gras World
Here you can see how the floats for the world’s largest carnival are made by the artists and sculptors.

The Presbytere State Museum
The museum displays the history of Mardi Gras, from its origins up to the present, including everything that happens behind the scenes.

You can also visiting the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium and Insectarium, take in a basketball match at the New Orleans Arena, ride the St Charles Avenue Street Car for fantastic views of the city, take a relaxing riverboat ride on the Mississippi, take a ride through the swamps. There is so much to do and see in this vibrant city, far too many to mention!

Mississippi river boat

Climate

New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate, with hot humid summers and mild winters. In January daytime temperatures average 17C and in July they average 33C.
Rain is common in New Orleans, with a monthly average of 5 inches.

To enjoy the rich culture of New Orleans why not book one of the many holiday packages to America that are always available on the internet.

Look out for, and take advantage of the great late deals that are always on offer.

“New York, New York (So Good They Named It Twice)”

New York

No other city comes close to New York City in terms of population, diversity of culture, entertainment, business and commerce. And yet within a day’s drive you can find beautiful beaches, mountain forests, quaint towns and historical sights.

Long Island, with the seaside resort of The Hamptons, is just a short train ride east of Manhattan and is popular with the native city dwellers.

To the north of New York City there are two major resort areas, the Catskills and the Adirondack Mountains. These are popular for outdoor sports, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and skiing. Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the USA, covering 6 million acres.

The Finger Lakes region, with 11 slender lakes extending from north to south, is dotted with resorts, campsites, water recreation areas and woodland. This is also New York States prime wine-producing region.

The capital of New York State is Albany, which lies in the Capital-Saratoga region, north of the Hudson Valley. Saratoga Springs has been a leading spa and horse racing centre since the late-19th century.

The Greater Niagara region is home to the state’s second-largest city, Buffalo. This is a major industrial centre and is best known for the 184ft Niagara Falls.

The lakes and rivers of the Chautauqua-Allegheny region are a centre for outdoor recreational activities, Amish communities, Native American reservations and wineries.

The adjacent Thousand Islands-Seaway region boasts a scenic route stretching 454 miles past Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River.

Here are some of the many things to do whilst visiting New York

Manhattan's Chinatown

Visit Manhattan’s Chinatown, a labyrinth of narrow streets, crammed with Chinese stores and restaurants and home to over 100,000 residents. Chinatown extends from Canal Street into Little Italy and the Lower East Side.

Visit upmarket Greenwich Village and Soho, a melting pot for art, literature and music for decades, with plenty of galleries, cafes, boutiques and loft spaces.

Visit the Rockefeller Centre, famous for its wintertime ice skating rink. Tour the NBC Studios, or take a ride to the Top of the Rock observation deck for unobstructed views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building and Central Park.

Coney Island

Visit Coney Island where you can see freaks and wonders at the circus sideshow, and take a walk along Brighton Beach which is full of Russian shops and restaurants.

Visit the famous Bronx Zoo and stroll in the New York Botanical Garden which covers 250 acres and includes 50 gardens and a landmark conservatory.

Visit the famous Central Park, created in 1856. John Lennon can pay their respects at Strawberry Fields. During summer, the park hosts afternoon and evening concerts.
 

Native Americans

For a bit of exploring visit the national heritage area of the Hudson River Valley. This area was originally inhabited by Native Americans, then settled by the Dutch. A retreat for the wealthy in the mid- to late-19th century, it is now popular year-round for outdoor activities.

Enjoy the watersports in Westchester County which is bordered by the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. Here you will find 40 private and public golf courses, exclusive boutiques and discount malls.

Take lunch at the Culinary Institute of America, one of the world’s great cookery schools. Diners can sample the cuisine at one of the restaurants on its campus, the American Bounty Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de Medici or Escoffier Restaurant.

Adirondack Park

Visit America’s largest wilderness reserve outside Alaska, the Adirondack Park. Explore miles of sandy beaches, secluded swimming holes, lakes for windsurfing, boating and fishing, plus nine ski areas and thousands of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Explore the winter playground of Lake Placid by ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, dogsled or horse-drawn sleigh.

Known as ‘the snowmaking capital of the world’, Hunter Mountain has more than 50 trails on three mountains which cater for everyone from beginners to experienced skiers.

Saratoga Springs

Visit Saratoga Springs, a leading spa and horseracing centre since the late 19th century. Here the streets are lined with regal Victorian mansions. Here visitors can see harness racing, summer polo matches and the country’s most prestigious thoroughbred racing in late July and August. Saratoga Spa State Park has 2,200 acres of woods, manicured lawns, Georgian architecture and mineral bathhouses.

There are many varied and exciting things to do in Florida, the following are just a few.

Busch Gardens

Visit Busch Gardens, a huge amusement park in Tampa Bay featuring African wildlife. Giraffes, zebras and antelope roam freely through the 60 acre park, next to thrilling rides such as the Kumba.
Experience the terrifying attack of a great white shark on the Jaws Ride at Universal Studios, Orlando. 

Walt Disney World Resort

Visit Walt Disney World Resort, the biggest amusement park in the world. Visit Magic Kingdom, explore science at the Epcot Centre, take a safari adventure through Animal Kingdom and see the world of movies at Disney MGM Studios.

Meet Shamu and his pod of fellow killer whales at SeaWorld Orlando, southwest of Orlando. This is one of the country’s largest marine parks featuring whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals and otters.

Swim at New Smyrna Beach, billed as the ‘World’s Safest Bathing Beach’ and ‘Best Beach in Florida’. Enjoy backwater fishing, fresh seafood, historical sites and museums, and long seasons of sunshine.

Fort Myers Beach Pier

To get away from it all, go to Fort Myers Beach, ideal for family holidays with its safe, gently sloping shoreline and numerous activities.

Tee off at one of southwest Florida’s many golf courses. 

Relax in Naples, a charming city of understated elegance, cosy beach cottages and 5-star resorts. Naples is also known for its pristine shoreline and abundant wildlife.

Miami Beach

Experience the different watersports offered at Miami Beach, including kayaking, windsurfing, boogie-boarding and scuba-diving.

Join sportfishermen and anglers in The Keys for some of the best fishing off America’s coast. Compete with world records for catches of sailfish, marlin, kingfish, snapper, barracuda and grouper.
 
Swim with the dolphins in Key Largo or sign on for Dolphin Camp and learn about these amazing mammals from a resident marine biologist and trainers.