10 Hot Spots Folks Are Heading to for Labor Day
With the summer of 2012 drawing to a close, many revelers wish to bid the vacations goodbye in style before heading back to the books or the dull confines of a desk. And there is no better opportunity that presents itself for a quick weekend getaway than Labor Day, which is always the first Monday in September. So, what are you waiting for? Give this summer the warm goodbye it deserves with a weekend getaway to any of these top ten hotspots.
Grand Canyon: With three ages of history under its belt, this natural wonder of the world is a perfect destination for a quick weekend of both family fun and solo travel. The Grand Canyon has plenty of activities to cater to the tastes of all ages. A drive along the highways of the Wild West, a train ride through the vast desert of rusty reds and through the alpine heights of some pine woods, mule rides along craggy cliffs, long hikes to the Colorado river, white water rafting, a Pink Jeep tour through off the path terrains, or an aerial extravaganza with a helicopter tour at sunset, a Grand Canyon tour sure has an itinerary that will leave the most discerning of travelers satisfied.
Niagara Falls: This voluminous wonder with its raw energy and immense power is sure to leave you spellbound. Take a ride on the Maid of the Mist and get drenched, make some money at the Niagara Fallsview Casino, say hi to the fishes at the Aquarium of Niagara, ride to the top of the Skylon tower, or spend a half day in the beauty and biodiversity of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens & Butterfly Conservatory. The Niagara Falls IMAX Theatre is a great Niagara Falls attraction to add to the list as well. And don’t forget about the Niagara Daredevil Gallery. Fall headlong into a weekend full of discovery.
New York: Love it, hate it, but you can’t ever leave it. The Big Apple is full of mesmerizing sights and sounds and SoHo. A weekend in New York city is full of activity. Take a train to the Grand Central Station and marvel at its grandeur in architecture, take an elevator to the Empire state building for some dazzling views, lose yourself in the lights of Time Square, shop till you drop at SoHo, Up your art quotient at MoMa and the Guggenheim museum, catch a lay at Broadway, take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, or catch a concert in the sprawling greens of Bryant Park, the options are endless.
Washington DC: Welcome to the Capital! Fill your weekend with a visit to the Smithsonian or the National Gallery of art, take a tour of the monuments both by day and by night, catch a concert at the Kennedy Center, tour the three houses of government, or take a walking tour of old town, Alexandria. It’s all fun with a ‘capital’ F.
Los Angeles: Tinsel town beckons! Take a Hollywood tour, be awestruck by the ‘grounded’ stars on the pavement in front of Grauman’s theater, visit the Getty center, take in a concert at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, take in the skies at the Griffith Observatory, or simply watch the world go by at Venice beach. Smog or not, if you love the movies, this is one place you shouldn’t miss.
Yellowstone: Become a thermal hunter with the many spectacularly colorful views that the Yellowstone National park has to offer. Watch Old faithful come alive in an angry gush, gaze at the marbled splendors of the Grand Prismatic Spring, take in the serenity of the Yellowstone lake, Hike to the lush lands of Hayden Valley, or gaze at the groovy terraces of those Mammoth hot springs.
Boston: Tour the Freedom trail, soak in some art at the ICA, walk the back bay, catch a Red Sox game, visit the sprawling and hallowed campus of Harvard, read up in the Boston Public library, or just sit and gaze idly on the Charles river Esplanade. History doesn’t get more contemporary than this.
Las Vegas: Walk the strip, Go Casino hopping, indulge in a smorgasbord of buffets, marvel at gushing heights of the Bellagio fountains, take in an act at the Cirque du Soleil, get up close with Jaws at the shark reef aquarium, or take a roller coaster ride at the New York-New York hotel, Las Vegas is microcosm of many worlds in one.
San Francisco: The Golden Gate beckons! Eat at the Fisherman’s wharf, visit Chinatown, take a ride in the cable car, ferry over to Alcatraz, travel back in time to Haight Ashbury, rediscovery contemporary in Castro street, shop till you drop in union square, indulge your sweet tooth at Ghirardelli, or just pick one of the many museums of art that San Francisco has to offer.
Hawaii: Pick an Island, any Island. From the serenity of Maui and Kauai to the happening nightlife of Oahu, Hawaii offers a wide range of moods to suit the discerning traveler. Beach hop, go on a pineapple tasting expedition, experience an authentic luau, go snorkeling or scuba diving in turquoise blue waters, chase active volcanoes, or simply watch the sun go down in a dazzling display of reds, purples and violets. Hawaii is paradise on earth.
