Fun Activities in Canton

Residents of Canton, Georgia, have numerous opportunities for outdoor fun and recreation. With a population of around 8,000, Canton has small-town charm and a gentle pace of life. Atlanta is only a short drive to the south, while the Appalachian Mountains extend northeast of the town. With hot summers and mild winters, outdoor activities are available nearly all year long.
WALKING, JOGGING AND HIKING
Boling Park and Heritage Park both have well-maintained trails for walking, jogging or cycling. The Heritage Park trail winds through acres of green grass and manicured trees. The paved trail is smooth, wide and level, perfect for a low-impact stroll. At Boling Park, the gravel walking track includes exercise stations and restroom facilities. If you want to get off the beaten path, Boling Park also features a rugged hiking trail.
PICNICS AND PARTIES
The Parks and Recreation Department of the city of Canton organizes year-round events to bring the community together at one of the many city parks. Brown, McCanless and Boling Parks each have picnic facilities for public use. You must call ahead to reserve and rent the large covered pavilion at Boling Park. Cannon Park, on the other hand, is an excellent spot for quiet contemplation. Gazebos and benches provide shade from the hot southern sun and are quaint spots for reading a novel or working the daily crossword.
SPORTS AND RECREATION
Burge Park, on the east side of Canton, features basketball courts, swings and a slide. Brown Park offers a toddler-safe play area, along with a new playground structure. The widest variety of sports opportunities are available at Boling Park. Soccer fields, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, and a basketball court invite players of all ages and skill levels to compete and have fun. The open spaces at Boling Park allow for other organized games, such as ultimate frisbee or kickball.
ALLATOONA LAKE
A few miles southwest of town lies Allatoona Lake, a large reservoir created by the impoundment of the Etowah River. Campground spaces are available for daily use but must be reserved ahead of time. Biking trails allow you to test your cycling mettle through hilly, rugged forests. On the lake, recreational boating and fishing are both popular activities. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources also makes available a limited number of hunting permits each year for the wildlife management area around Allatoona Lake.

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Posted in: Activities and Attractions

Things to Do in Santorini

Santorini, the southernmost island in the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, has some of the most recognizable scenery in all of Greece. In fact, there's a good chance you've seen photos of Santorini without knowing it. With its picturesque white-washed houses with blue-domed roofs sitting atop a cliff that overlooks the watery caldera and a still-active volcano, Santorini is a photographer's dream location. But to fully enjoy this ancient and beautiful island, it's best to know some insider's tips.

1. Accommodations

   • 1
     Stay in a hostel if you want to save money and meet new friends. Hostels are not always just for youths, and many offer private rooms for low prices. The Katerina and John Hotel in Perissa, Santorini, offers private rooms with attached bathrooms for under 30 euros a night, even during high-season. Hostels also are known for having friendly staff and guests with whom you can chat and learn about local hangouts.
   • 2
     Stay in a hotel if you want a more relaxing, romantic or solitary vacation. Oia is one of the most beautiful cities in Santorini and offers several high-end hotels that feature swimming pools that overlook the sea, providing a great place to lounge and watch the sunset. Hotels in the capital of Fira are located within short walking distance to fabulous restaurants and nightlife.
   • 3
     Select your location based on your interests and budget. Oia and Fira are the two largest towns that sit directly atop the cliffs overlooking the caldera and the volcanic island, but the hotels tend to be pricier and there are no easy-access beaches.

   Dining

   • 1
     Ask the locals about the best restaurants. They can recommend great places that are usually cheaper than their tourist-filled counterparts. Santorini offers a wide variety of cuisine and restaurants, so finding a place to eat is not difficult.
   • 2
     Eat the local fresh fish and vegetables. Fresh fish is caught and brought to the market the same day, and a large variety of locally grown vegetables are carried into town on donkeys.
   • 3
     Stop and grab cheap eats at bakeries, which often are open 24 hours and offer water, pizza and other various quick snacks for on the go.

   Sightseeing

   • 1
     Rent a car, scooter or four-wheeler to get around the island. This allows you to visit many places and see beautiful scenery along the way, such as olive groves and magnificent cliff views.
   • 2
     Visit the beaches. Because of its volcanic past, Santorini has black, red and white beaches. The black beaches of Perissa and Kamari, which are the most accessible and the largest, offer a variety of water sports during high season.
   • 3
     Check out the ancient ruins. Akrotiri is an ancient town that was buried when the volcano erupted 3,500 years ago. Archaeologists continue excavating it, but you can walk around in the streets and see the buildings. Mesa Vouno mountain, located between Perissa and Kamari, has ancient Roman ruins with an 11th century church that still stands.
   • 4
     Take a sailing trip around the island to enjoy the beautiful views of Santorini from the sea. Schedule the sailing trip from Fira or Oia. Many trips stop at various beaches that are otherwise inaccessible.
   • 5
     Take an excursion tour to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni in the middle of the caldera. The tour also a stop at the hot springs. Brings sneakers for the hike on the volcano and a bathing suit under your clothes for the jump into the springs.

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Posted in: Activities and Attractions,Greece

Popular Activities in Bear Mountain, New York

Bear Mountain, New York, is the site of Bear Mountain State Park, located about 45 miles north of New York City. The park is located in the majestic highlands of the Hudson River Valley and offers mountains for skiing in the winter and a lake for fishing, rowing and swimming. The Perkins Memorial Tower, a lookout point located on the top of Bear Mountain, offers expansive views of the park.

1. Outdoor

   • Visitors to Bear Mountain State Park can swim or row boats in Hessian Lake or visit the park's swimming pool facilities. Hessian Lake is also accessible for fishing. The Appalachian Trail at Bear Mountain runs for nearly four miles and is open to hikers. In addition, Bear Mountain State Park has miles of biking paths and multiple basketball courts.

   Educational

   • The Trailside Museums and Zoo is a center dedicated to the study of animals. Each artificial habitat containing animals is connected by trails, some of which are part of the Appalachian Trail. The site is located on 40 acres overlooking the Hudson River. Another site of educational interest on the grounds of the park is the Bear Mountain Inn, which was built in 1915 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel is located seven miles from the West Point Military Academy campus.

   Oktoberfest

   • Every year, Bear Mountain State Park hosts an Oktoberfest celebration. This event takes place from September 18 until October 24. It features live musical performances and stalls selling various crafts and food items, including authentic German food. Beer from Germany is also available for purchase. Admission is free. However, as of 2010, parking was $8 per vehicle. Many of the park's recreational activities such as row boating and the merry-go-round are open to the public during the event.

   Winter Activities

   • During the winter months, Bear Mountain offers a few activities suitable for the entire family. The Bear Mountain Ice Rink is open all winter. For adults, the daily rate to skate is $4 per person. For children aged 4 to 11, the cost is $3. These prices are valid as of 2011. Private lessons must be reserved in advance. Cross-country skiing is also available at Bear Mountain.

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Posted in: Activities and Attractions,Activities in New York

Popular Things Among New Yorkers

1. • New York City is one of the largest and most diverse cities in the world. While the city is far too diverse for their to be an "average" New Yorker, there are a number of things that most New Yorkers do on an almost daily basis. These things provide some insight not only into the daily life of New Yorkers, but also the city as a whole.

   Public Transportation

   • Most New Yorkers take advantage of the city's extensive public transportation network which includes subways, buses and commuter rail. The system is made up of more than 420 different bus routes, railway and subway lines. The network is operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and provides service to New Yorkers in all of the city's five boroughs. Due to the high demand in the city, 72 billion dollars has been invested in the last two decades to improve the system that more than eight million New Yorkers use every workday.

   Food Carts

   • Whether serving pretzels and hot dogs or gourmet Asian fusion, food carts have long been a part of the New York cityscape. The prevalence of ethnic food carts in New York is as much a testament to the large number of different cultures and ethnicities interacting in the city as it is to the fanatic pace of the city. Few people in the city have time to sit and casually dine, especially during the workday. Although New Yorkers often refer to the food from carts as "street meat," few New Yorkers lack a favorite cart and ethnic food dish.

   Yellow Cabs

   • Few things are as recognizable as New York's yellow cabs. These cabs are associated with New York in the same way as the Tower Bridge with London or the Eiffel Tower with Paris. At some point, most New Yorkers use a yellow cab for everything from mundane errands to last minute trips to the airport. In fact, It is estimated that more than 200 million people ride in a New York yellow cab every year. The fact that total taxi revenue amounted to almost two-billion dollars in 2005 is further proof the prevalence of yellow cabs.

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Posted in: Activities and Attractions,Activities in New York

Popular Fun Activities in Hudson Valley, New York

1. • Hudson Valley is approximately 50 miles from New York City. So the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple is close by for the visitor who cannot resist city life. Hudson Valley also offers attractions of its own and has an interesting fact associated with it. French Huguenot families settled in the Hudson Valley area of the United States in 1678 and the houses that they lived in still exist today. This equates to the oldest continuously inhabited street and original houses in the U.S.

   Centennial Golf Club

   • Centennial Golf Club is located in Carmel, Hudson Valley. The golf course attractions include its visual beauty and its rolling hills. Your payment pays for golf carts that possess GPS technology. This technology includes a device that provides golfers with tips concerning how to play each shot. Meanwhile there is a Club Grille Room. This is open every day during the golf season and it possesses a pub-style bar.

     Centennial Golf Club

     185 John Simpson Rd.

     Carmel

     Hudson Valley

     NY 10512

     845-225-5700

     centennialgolf.com

   Clarence Fahnestock State Park

   • Clarence Fahnestock offers visitors the opportunity to relax in a picnic area on a large beach. It also provides the energetic with a chance to hike. Park visitors can also go rowing. One option here is to rent a boat for one hour or for the entire day. Another option is for the visitor to use their own boat for fishing.

     An 80-site campground park is open for most of the year (closed January to March) and includes shower and rest-room amenities. In the winter space is provided for sledging, skiing and snowshoeing.

     Clarence Fahnestock State Park

     1498 Rte. 301

     Carmel, NY 10512

     845-225-7207

     nysparks.state.ny.us/parks

   Chuang Yen Monastery

   • If you are a Buddhist or interested in spirituality, then the Chuang Yen Monastery is a must see Hudson Valley attraction. This monastery is open every day and contains a near 40 foot statue of the Buddha Vairocana. This equates to the biggest indoor Buddha statue in the modern western world. Visitors and worshipers can see the Buddha Vairocana and the thousands of smaller surrounding satellite statues in the Great Buddha Hall. The monastery serves vegetarian meals. Entry to the monastery is free of charge.

     Chuang Yen Monastery

     2020, Rte. 301

     Carmel, NY 10512

     845-225-1819

     baus.org

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Posted in: Activities and Attractions,Activities in New York

Fun Activities of New York State

1. • Everybody knows that New York offers a plethora of opportunities for travelers from all walks of life. The Empire State Building, museums, parks, beaches, ski resorts, theme parks, historical monuments are just a few of the many attractions that come to mind. However, putting aside these popular sites, New York is also home to some unusual activities for those looking for some off-beat and wacky things to do.

   Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour

   • A one-and-a-half-hour narrated tour inside the world's oldest subway tunnel offers tourists a different view of New York. Re-discovered by Bob Diamond in 1980, the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel today schedules once-a-month tours organized by the Brooklyn Historic Railway Association (BHRA). Expect to hear true stories of this site about pirates, murderous street gangs and rumors regarding a possible conspiracy about the Lincoln assassination. Comfortable sneakers and a flashlight are a must for those interested in this tour.

     Atlantic Avenue Tunnel

     Atlantic Avenue & Court Street

     Brooklyn, NY 11201

     718-941-3160

     brooklynrail.net

   Attend Trapeze School

   • Trapeze School in New York offers people the opportunity to spend a few hours on a trapeze. There are virtually classes for all levels, from first-timers to advanced flyers. Safety is top priority here: flyers are equipped with comfortable belts and stretchy nets ensure their safe landing. The Trapeze School has two locations: a year-round, indoor facility on West 30th Street and an outdoor facility on the west side in lower Manhattan in Hudson River Park.

     Trapeze School New York

     518 West 30th St.

     New York, NY

     917-797-1872

     newyork.trapezeschool.com

   Dine with the Ninjas

   • Hungry? Step back to 18th-century Japan at Ninja New York, a restaurant that brings back to life a feudal castle featuring rooms layed out in a complex maze. Servers dress as Ninjas--in black and carry swords. They serve creative dishes, some known as ''Ninja Art dishes." Make sure to tip your Ninja well: Ninjas are notorious for seeking revenge!

     Ninja New York

     25 Hudson St.

     New York, NY 10013

     212-274-8500

     ninjanewyork.com

   Extreme Sleepover

   • Getting tired? Nothing can compare to spending a night at Ripley's Believe it or Not! Families are invited to participate, but the event is scheduled only a few days a year. Keeping an eye out for those special dates is a must. The night starts with a flashlight scavenger hunt in search of fossils, mummies, meteorites and even some living artifacts. Then, kids can have fun in Ripley's Laser Race. As night falls, a family friendly movie can be watched while munching snacks. Guests awaken to a light breakfast and receive a Survivor Certificate along with a goodie bag.

     Ripley's Believe it or Not

     234 West 42nd St.

     New York, NY 10036

     212-398-3133

     ripleysnewyork.com

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Posted in: Activities and Attractions,Activities in New York