Empire State Building &
Manhatten Skyline

Famous names, fast paced business, fierce entertainment and fabulous shopping – New York City, New York has got the best. Whether traveling for an overnight business meeting, a stop over on the way across the pond, or a vacation of a lifetime, New York will not disappoint. With seemingly unlimited choices 24 hours a day, it may be hard to pin down what to do, so plan carefully and don't forget to sleep.

The Statue of Liberty is never to be taken for granted. Whether new, or a seasoned traveler to NYC, visiting the statue is a special experience. The best view is from the water, and a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise is an excellent way to do it. The company schedules a variety of departures and cruise options that pass close to Lady Liberty. Schedules are year around, this is a relaxing, safe and informative way to spend a few hours.

The Empire State Building remains a landmark in the skyline of New York. For an inspirational experience, schedule a trip to the observation deck just before dusk, watch the sunset as daylight retreats and see the city lights come on below. For romantics, on Valentines Day marriages are performed on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building. Write ahead with your story and request, this is a popular venue for weddings, particularly on Valentines day.

Dog lovers know, the Westminster Dog Show is held in February at Madison Square Garden. The Kennel Club Show features over 2900 dogs and culminates with the naming of the best of show. Remember many Best Western Hotels are pet friendly and welcome four legged guests along with their owners.

Newark, Brooklyn and Long Island are a few of the commuter communities in the Metro Area that surround the city. Home to millions of commuters, the Burroughs are have become destinations of their own, featuring sports arenas for home town favorites and event venues for large concerts.

The Brooklyn Bridge remains key today in travel from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The Bridge, built in 1883, remains an engineering marvel. An afternoon well spent takes visitors on a walk across the bridge. There is a walking path that offers a close up look at the bridge, and rewards in the end with an amazing view of the New York skyline and its reflection in the East River.

This winter, the Brooklyn Museum of Art unveils the To Live Forever exhibit, which will run through April. On display will be more than one hundred objects drawn from the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings of ancient Egyptian artifacts. This will showcase the ancient Egyptian's fascination with death and the afterlife, with attention on the tombs and mummification process.

The Long Island Winterfest, in only its third year, is scheduled for February and March this year. For six consecutive weekends, enjoy free concerts at winery tasting rooms in the east of Long Island. Jazz music and good wine are always a great combination and will make for an enjoyable weekend. For some good family events in March, Long Island hosts an Irish Festival in Hempstead and an Asian Festival in Farmdale.

Sports Fans: it's basketball and hockey season and there are great teams in the New York Metro area. Madison Square Garden is the home venue for the New York Rangers hockey team as well as the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks and the New York Liberty professional basketball teams. Don't miss the chance to catch a game. In the heart of the city with easy and safe access by subway, a game at Madison Square Garden is an easy do.

Convenient Best Western Hotel accommodations can be found for all travelers in, around and through the New York City Metropolitan region. Easy to get to locations in the City and off major roadways, make traveling with Best Western easy. With notoriously expensive lodging in the area, Best Western Hotels offer affordable quality rooms.

Niagara Falls, New York

Buffalo and Niagara Falls sound cold in winter, but it is a great time to visit the area. Buffalo is New York's second largest City and doesn't let a chill dampen the action. You know, Niagara Falls doesn't freeze and winter is the only time ice bridges form below the falls creating a fantastic winter wonderland.

The Niagara Arts and Community Center in Niagara Falls hosts The Art of Beer near the end of February. Come out of the cold and sample regional craft beers and local cuisine. Remember the legal drinking age is 21.

Among the fun events at the Niagara Falls Aquarium are Penguin Days in March and the underwater Easter Egg Hunt SEAster. Both great fun for families with kids. Get up close to penguins through special activities with lots of fun and prizes. Plan now for Easter and the SEAster Egg hunt, as the weather won't matter at the Aquarium.

Buffalo Ski Club Ski Area, fifteen minutes outside Buffalo is an active winter destination for skiing and snowboarding. Complete with miles of trails and six lifts it is a perfect and convenient winter resort. The Rotary Ice Skating Rink in the city is fantastic and free making for a great date or family outing.

The Tifft Nature Preserve is another outdoor option for skiing and snowshoeing among magnificent natural surroundings. The Buffalo Zoo is also open in the winter, not only do you avoid the crowds but the animals are more active in cold weather.

The Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Buffalo Museum of Science are a couple of good indoor options in the area. Check the Gallery calendar for current exhibits, lectures and workshops. The Science Museum features an Explorations Gallery for young children to participate in interactive and hands on activities. In February the Sesame Street Presents: The Body begins which is an amazing exhibition to educate children on our bodies insides, outsides, and how they work.

Fun Fact - South of Buffalo in Jamestown was Lucille Ball's hometown and she is also buried there. The Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Center in Jamestown is dedicated to preserving their legacy. In May fans can enjoy Fan Appreciation Week at the Center, a week long event with a full schedule of fun and interesting activities.

Holiday Valley Ski Area and Holimont Ski Area are located in the area outside Allegany and 2010 has been a great winter for snow so far. Another fun activity nearby is O'Dea's Mountain Snow Tubing Paradise where kids and kids at heart can get a lift up the hill and ride tube runs down. Tubing is comfortable and safe with the cushion of the tube absorbing the bumps and ice.

The City of Rochester New York challenges the hardiest cold weather fan at the annual Lakeside Winter Celebration. Not talking about the Chilly Chili Challenge but the Polar Plunge. February brings the 10th annual Polar Bear Plunge, it will chill anyone to the bone, but warm the heart as it is a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. The weather will be chilly but the chili in the Chili Challenge won't be chilly, so come challenge the taste buds.

Best Western Hotels are conveniently located in and around Western New York's major cities, highways and thruways. Easy to find and affordable accommodations, Best Western lodging enhances your travel experience.

The Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY

Albany, the Capital City of New York, is the western anchor of Central New York and and center of the Capital Region. Situated on the banks of the Hudson River and rooted in history, Albany makes a fantastic destination for business, pleasure and experiencing the State's political process. Syracuse is the major city in the west of the region.

The Capital Region from Albany north to Schenectady and further to Saratoga Springs is a great place to visit all four seasons of the year. Get away to ski, snowboard, ice skate, cross country, snowshoe or snowmobile, this region has it all for wonderful winter activities. Snow and winter transforms the scenery into a spectacular wonderland unique to the season.

The Saratoga region is especially significant in US history as the sight of the Battle of Saratoga which has been called the pivotal battle in the American Revolution. It has been named one of the 15 most pivotal battles in world history. The Children's Museum at Saratoga is a nice escape for children in the winter and spring. There is a full schedule of interactive events that allow children to be in charge in environment built specifically for them. The Museum's 20th anniversary this year will be celebrated in March at the Saratoga National Golf Club with dinner and dancing.

Schenectady may be hard to say if you're not from there, but it is a great place to visit. It is located on the Erie Canal which was pivotal in the growth of the city and it's economy. Known as the birthplace of General Electric, it's history goes much further back to 1661. The Historic Stockade, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the US is an active eclectic downtown neighborhood. Schenectady is also home to Central Park, second to NYC's but less intimidating.

Historic Tip: The historic Proctor Theater in downtown Schenectady has been beautifully restored and is a National Historic Building. This spring, in addition to a full schedule of theater, big stars are on line up with Itzhak Pearlman in April and Carol Burnet in May.

The best stop on a trip to Albany may be the Albany Heritage Visitors Center where assistance is available to help plan an itinerary. The amazing architecture of the city can be seen regardless of any trips length. From the beautiful state capital building with the “Million Dollar Staircase” which took 13 years to complete to the Albany “Egg”. The Egg is home to the City's Center for Performing Arts and is named for it's unique sculptural modern architecture.

Always greatly anticipated along with spring is the Albany Tulip Festival. This year will mark it's 62nd year and it is scheduled for early May at Washington Park. The schedule is complete with food, fun, music, kids activities and the crowning of the Tulip Queen and the Tulip Court.

Syracuse is a crossroads for travel. Sitting on the Erie Canal, rail routes, Interstates 81 and 90 and the largest Airport in Central New York, it is a frequent destination for travelers. Home to Syracuse University there is a large influx of students to the city. Check the Carrier Center schedule for an Orange's home game or a major concert headliner.

The Museum of Science and Technology recently completed the The Life Sciences exhibit which provides hands-on experiences for learning. Large replica's of the human anatomy allow visitors to actually journey through major organs of the body for an amazing learning experience. Other worthwhile options for a museum visit are the Everson Museum of Art or the Erie Canal Museum.

Convenient and affordable, Best Western Hotels are located throughout the region in the major cities and along the Interstate routes. For reliable accommodations and lodging book a Best Western Hotel for your next trip.

Adirondacks State Park, New York

New York's northern tip east of Lake Ontario is dominated by the Adirondack Mountains and the myriad of wonderful places to visit. Lake Placid is famous for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and is situated central to the region. The region is on the western coast of Lake Champlain and the St Lawrence river and Lake Ontario are the western border of the Region. If there is snow on the ground look into skiing, snow shoeing and snowmobiling. Check out the lakes for ice skating or ice fishing. It's basketball and hockey season for indoor events, take in a college or pro game with a favorite team.

Lake Placid and Saranac Lake sit in the heart of the region and offer a full schedule of winter activities and events. The Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Train adventure is a comfortable and warm way to see the scenery it is a 20 mile round trip train ride from Lake Placid Station to Saranac Lake Union Depot. Departures leave from either station and the schedules allow for varied returns. Perfect to enjoy any itinerary, pace and choice of sights. The Spring schedule begins late in May.

The Saranac Lake Winter Festival held in February is the oldest winter festival in the Eastern US. If you missed it this year, grab your frying pan and start practicing for next years frying pan toss. New this year for Saranac Lake is the first ever Sunchaser Challenge. This is a unique and fun challenge to mark the US Endangered Species Day in May. This 'green' event is great for all ages and abilities and participation is either in teams or solo, come join and support efforts benefiting animals at risk of extinction.

Lake Placid offers many options to entertain visitors in addition to the Olympic facilities. High Falls Gorge is a fantastical sight in winter. Access is safe and can also be done with snowshoes. Rewarded at the Falls with spectacular ice formations on the seven hundred feet of waterfalls frozen most of the winter. On weekends, enjoy warm campfires, hot chocolate and maybe even roast some marshmallows.

The Lake Placid Marathon is ranked by runners as one of the top destination races in the US. Held in June the race activities include a 4 team relay marathon event and the half marathon. Great options for all runners. Lake Placid also hosts the Ironman Lake Placid during July with Mirror Lake as the site for the swim and the cycling taking place through the surrounding Adirondacks. Now is the time to plan for this event.

Along the western coast of Lake Champlain down to Lake George, cities like Plattsburgh, Ticonderoga, and Lake George host a variety of wonderful winter events. Check calendars for ice fishing tournaments and contests, winter festivals, St. Patrick Day breakfasts and parade, and even find an Elvis tribute and contest in June in Lake George.

Best Western Hotels dot the area with convenient and affordable lodging. Offering quality accommodations for overnight or longer stays, look for Best Western when planning trips to the beautiful Adirondack Region.