Things You Simply Must Do on Your Visit to New York

10.) Take in the Customary Historical Landmarks.
While every proud American should visit the historical significance of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, The World Trade Center Memorial and the other national landmarks in New York, there are simply too many to detail on a list of ten. For that reason, the historical landmarks are combined into one section.

9.) Join the Argument for Best Pizza.
One of the longest running debates is not only New York vs. Chicago pizza, but who actually has the best pizza in New York. Tons of New York restaurants serving homemade pizza offer up a voice in the debate. You simply can't take a trip to NYC without adding your input on the matter, and fortunately, there's no tastier debate! Try the classic pies at Lombardi's Pizzeria on Spring Street for a taste of old NY and don't let the line at Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Brooklyn scare you, it moves pretty quickly!

8.) Take it to the Top of the Rock
The newly opened Top of the Rock Observation Deck on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza offers one of the most impressive views of one of the most impressive cities in the world. It's open until midnight for a romantic visage of the twinkling stars above mirroring the glittering lights from the city below.

7.) The Metropolitan Museum of Art
From the early 20th century portraits and sculptures to the steel mastery of Frank Stella, the Met is one of the foremost collections of fine art in the world. The museum is so expansive and visual; you should plan on spending an entire day here. If you've never been, get on a flight to New York City and go see some fine art. Tip: Wear comfortable shoes!

6.) Radio City Music Hall
Is there a more American theater than Radio City Music Hall? This timeless testament to entertainment has captivated visitors since the 1930s and no other dance troupe will ever hold the esteem in the hearts of Americans like the Rockettes.

5.) Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Where else in the world can you have a picture taken with Britney Spears, President Bush and Jack Sparrow? This world-famous wax museum is one of the most visited spots in New York and you shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit these stunningly accurate figures.

4.) Broadway
If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. And without a doubt, you should try to make it to a Broadway show! This is the most famous theater district in the world, and you can choose from timeless classic productions like “Chicago” at the Ambassador or a newer stage rendition of “Mary Poppins” at the New Amsterdam Theater. Either way, no trip to New York is complete without some singing and dancing.

3.) Times Square
It doesn't have to be New Year’s Eve to enjoy Times Square in New York City. As the heartbeat of NYC, Times Square signifies everything that the city represents. The excitement, the glamour, the independent free-spiritedness and artistic qualities of New York are all on display in this timeless spot. One of the best places to begin sampling true New York night life.

2.) Carnegie Hall
An entire trip can be dedicated to Carnegie Hall and its collection of delicious restaurants, its enticing gift shop and educational museum. As one of the premiere concert halls in the nation, Carnegie Hall is a national institution.

1.) Stroll through Central Park
Leave your New York hotel and enjoy a stroll or ride a bike through one of America's most famous parks. There are plenty of recreational activities and there's always something special going on in the park, like the Central Park Film Festival. Besides the natural splendor of the surroundings, the best part about Central Park is that it’s free!

Top 10 Things to do in Hawaii!

1. Visit the active Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island

Kilauea is located on the southeastern tip of the Big Island of Hawaii and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world! Hike through lush rainforest to experience vents spewing steam, brand new land being created, ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs, walk-through lava tubes, and unrivaled vistas.

2. Take a helicopter tour over the island of Kauai

If you do one thing while you're on Kauai, take a helicopter ride! Upon takeoff, you'll be overwhelmed by the stunning scenery set before you like a feast for your eyes. Majestic mountains adorned with a thousand shades of green touch the sky. As you gaze awestruck at these wonders of nature, your pilot points out names and history of the locations below. Trying to absorb the pilot's words and take in the breathtaking beauty all around you is nearly impossible. With about 80% of the island inaccessible by foot, the only way to truly see Kauai in all its splendor is by air.

3. Relax on Hawaii's world famous beaches

Hawaii boasts some of the loveliest beaches in the world. In view of majestic emerald mountains, the sapphire waters and turquoise waves of Hawaii's best beaches await you.

4. Take a whale-watching catamaran cruise

Each winter, the humpback whales leave their rich Alaskan feeding grounds to frolic, mate, birth and nurse in the warm and shallow waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands.

5. Snorkel off the island of Molokini

Molokini is the most popular snorkeling site in all of Hawaii. The reason is simple. Molokini consistently has the clearest water in Hawaii, teaming with beautiful fish. On most days visibility is between 80 and 200 feet.

6. Bike down Maui's Haleakala Mountain at sunrise

Haleakala, one of the largest mountains in the world, is a dormant volcano full of volcanic rock, both inside its crater and on its slopes. Haleakala stands more than 3,000 feet above the sea level and lies some 20,000 more feet under water. The mountain is dense, and the park that surrounds the volcano takes up more than 27,000 acres of land. You can go right up and see into the crater. Many people say it's one of the most powerful experiences of their lives. The mountain is visible for miles as you approach it, first on the road and then on foot. Seeing that it's hollow inside and that the crater is some 3,000 feet deep, seven miles long, and two miles wide, you are amazed that such a place could exist. Haleakala is a National Park, preserved to maintain all the living creatures that surround the historic volcano. You'll want to experience Haleakala during sunrise or sunset. Its legendary beauty inspires powerful and personal emotions.

7. See Waimea Canyon on Kauai, known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific

The inland area of the western part of Kauai is dominated by the Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park. Dubbed as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" by Mark Twain, Waimea Canyon reigns supreme. The coloring of its inner walls and the roadside lookout views into the canyon are spectacular.

8. Play golf at any of Hawaii's world class courses

There are few places on earth as perfect for golf as Hawaii, with its dramatic topography, ideal growing conditions for lush green fairways and flowering vegetation, and year-round balmy weather. There are more than 80 courses on six idyllic islands, with locations ranging from upcountry rainforests to coral sea cliffs and sandy beaches.

9. Attend an authentic Polynesian Luau

Today the luau is as synonymous with Hawaii as the grass skirt. Luaus are an incomparable visitor attraction and an excellent introduction to the food and culture of the Hawaiian Islands.

10. Shop and Dine in Waikiki

From quaint shops and artists' studios to elegant art galleries and large shopping centers, you'll enjoy island-style shopping. Find many unique items, including T-shirts dyed with Hawaiian red dirt, macadamia nut cookies, music CDs by local musicians, coffee, books, designer clothing, custom jewelry, furniture, surfboards, tropical flowers, and fine art and gifts handcrafted of wood, ceramics, fabric, or glass.

Finding a Great Mover

1. Only hire the best- If you choose to hire professional movers, do your research and hire good ones. Poor quality movers really can be worse than none at all.

2. Referrals- Get referrals from local real estate agents and friends who have moved recently.

3. Licensing- Only consider movers that are licensed, bonded and insured.

4. Research- Investigate your potential movers through the U.S. Department of Transportation, MovingScam-dot-com and the Better Business Bureau.

5. In-home estimates- Evaluate a minimum of 3 movers based on in-home estimates of goods to be moved.

6. Price- Price isn't the only factor- extremely low bids indicate a desperate mover.

7. "Binding Not-To-Exceed"- Ask for written "Binding Not-To-Exceed" estimates

8. Avoid "rogue movers"- if you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts! Never agree to move your possessions with anyone you don’t trust.

Moving Tips - Get Organized

1. Start early- Almost everyone has more stuff than they think they do, and almost no one leaves enough time to pack it. This is really important if you are moving locally. Most movers charge by the hour. Therefore, the more ready you are the less your move will cost.

2. Room Lists- Start by forming two room lists, one for your current place and one for your future place. This will help you manage what has to go where. Have an idea of how you want each room set up. This will also save time and money.

3. Room Inventory- Go to each room and write down the types of things that need to be packed: furniture items, length of shelving, closets, etc. This is a good idea to determine how many boxes you are gonna need for a proper move.

4. Time Allotment- Make sure to leave enough time. The most common timeframe reported by people moving is that it takes a month to pack. One study reported that it takes 4-5 hours to pack an average dorm room, so that should give you an idea of what’s involved. This is really important.

5. Calendar- Pull out a calendar and plan by day when each room will be completed.

6. Delegation- If you’re moving with family members, agree with them exactly while tasks they will be doing and the date they will be finished.

7. Track your progress- at least once per week track where you are against the date on the calendar. Revise your plan if you’re falling behind.

If you want to keep the cost down and have a smooth move follow these simple tips.

*Some of this information is from Moving-Edge.

Is It Time to Move? (Newsday Article)

The other day in Newsday there was an article about the 7 reasons why people relocate. I won’t get into each reason with much detail, but here are the reason people decide to move.

1. To Avoid Foreclosure – This is a new trend due the our lack luster economy.
2. For Age and Health issues – Many seniors are moving into assisted living communities.
3. To Educate Children - Many families move to have their children receive a better education.
4. To Make Profit – Many older couples are moving to cash in on their house. A lot of these people counted on their home for retirement moneys.
5. After a Family Crisis – Many people move due to a divorce or a death of a spouse
6. For a Job- People like to live closer to where they work.
7. For the American Dream – Everyone is looking to make it and have a place of their own. People are always moving to upgrade their life.

The $999 Right Move

When choosing a moving company there can be many different decisions to make. One decision that is often overlooked is whether to choose a moving company that is affiliated with a VAN LINES, or one that is an INDPENDENT mover. So what is the difference between the two? And how can you make the best decision for your moving needs?

What is a VAN LINES moving company?

A van lines moving company is a business partner affiliated with a much larger network of many other moving companies. Each moving company in the network is independently owned; however,  they are governed by strict rules set by the van lines. They are held to a higher standard than the average independent moving company and have the ability to professionally move your personal belongings anywhere in the county as well as internationally. Van lines agents have higher safety regulations to follow because their vehicles must meet state and federal government laws in order to operate.

The best way to choose a van lines company is to first research the van lines itself. This can be done by going to a van lines website or contacting the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau can tell you the rating of any van lines moving company. Some of the larger van lines include: United Van Lines, Atlas Van Lines, Allied Van Lines and North American Van Lines.  You probably recognize these names, as you have probably seen these van lines while driving on major highways traveling from state to state.

In addition to providing long distance moves, either from state-to-state or internationally, van lines movers also provide services on a local level. Van lines moving companies do commercial as well as household moves. Another idea to note is that Van line movers tend to offer more options to their customers than an independent mover because they have the large network of other companies at their disposal.


What is an Independent moving company?

Independent moving companies are privately owned and operated. As such, while they are bound to follow state or federal laws, they do not have to uphold the same strict and high standards as a van lines moving company. For the most part they tend to be smaller companies without the benefit of help from other networked companies as in a van lines moving company. They may provide services for international, interstate and/or local moving needs—however, independent movers, (depending on the size of the moving company) tend to conduct more local services and are somewhat limited with long distance destinations. For example, if you had to move from New York to Kansas, it would be very difficult for an independent mover to get your shipment there without sub-contracting the work out to a mover who goes to that destination on a regular basis. Often times, independent movers will hire a van lines to get shipments to out of state destinations. Their vehicle supply and resources are limited to what they own, nor do they have access to a network of other moving companies with extra resources when needed. This is not to say they are inferior to a van lines moving company, just different.

Independent movers can be very good at what they do. Most make their money on local moving. When choosing an independent moving company, ask what services they offer and what services they sub out. Independent moving companies are usually smaller and less able to accommodate your requested loading and delivery dates or provide only some of the services a van lines can offer. An independent moving company constructs it own set of rules and guidelines, so make sure you check out their policy before booking a moving job with them, especially as their guidelines relate to filing a claim. Make sure you check out a prospective independent moving company with the Better Business Bureau to ensure choosing a solid moving company. As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”