Thanksgiving Road Trips With Kids: Tips For A Fun And Safe Journey

BY  Barsha Nov 23, 2022

There are so many things that most definitely be on your NYC bucket list! And one of those things happens to be visiting the Statue of Liberty viewpoint. Yes, there is more than one. Today, we will be discussing all the best spots to see this historical symbol of emancipation. And not just see - we have also determined where you can take the best pictures.  Come on! Lady Liberty is iconic in NYC! So you can’t just ignore her. It only makes sense to take a few photos of the original First Lady of America. What we liked to call ‘one for the gram!’  Keep reading to find out all the best spots to check out the Statue of Liberty. Snap a few shots for the gram - you just have to stick to the very end!  Visiting The Statue Of Liberty View Point - 10+ Spots To See The Statue Of Liberty (Free Spots Too) There’s no accurate answer to the very popular ‘how to see the statue of liberty?’ question! Located literally in the south of Manhattan, this Lady of Liberty prefers to chill in the middle of the water. It makes the nearby areas perfect for taking aesthetic photos! But isn’t that the best part of visiting New York? So many people visit the city that never sleeps in the hope of living a free life. Isn’t that what the Statue of Liberty stands for? When people cross the Atlantic Ocean towards the United States Of America, they see the Statue of Liberty. It gives them hope of the promised land where class doesn’t matter.  So without wasting any more time, scroll down to find out which is the best Statue of Liberty viewpoint!  Brooklyn Bridge: You don’t need to look for Statue of Liberty views. You can enjoy one of the best views of the Statue on your visit to the Brooklyn Bridge. The Bridge is iconic pop culture and the best part? You can enjoy stunning views of the city skyline. The Bridge serves as a beautiful Statue of Liberty view point. You don’t have to spend a single penny on the same! Battery Park City Esplanade: The view of Statue of Liberty from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan is truly one of the best views of the Statue you will get to witness. When you are walking the long stretch of the beautiful seaside sidewalk, it will feel like you have simply stepped inside a black-and-white movie. Plus, it’s the perfect spot for one of those caught-in-the-camera-very-candid pictures! One World Observatory: The historic World Trade Center happens to be another beautiful Statue of Liberty view point. It is also located in the Lower Manhattan region. You just have to reach the One World Observatory. Unfortunately, you have to pay around 43 dollars for a basic ticket to the Observatory. But that’s fine because it’s NYC, baby! Green-Wood Cemetery: The Green Wood Cemetery is hauntingly beautiful in its own way, but you also get some crazy views of the Statue of Liberty from here. The twisted cobblestone pathways, the graves of famous figures such as Jean-Michel Basquiat or Horace Greeley, and even the breathtaking views of the Statue - all come together to make this place a must-visit on your trip to the city that never sleeps.  Louis Valentino Jr. Park & Pier: Another Statue of Liberty view point based in Brooklyn, the Louis Valentino Jr. Park & Pier, is located in the Red Hook waterfront, the industrious neighborhood of Brooklyn. This one’s also free, so there’s no reason why you won’t check out the best symbol of American liberty from this spot. You can also enjoy stunning views of Staten Island, Governor’s Island, and the city skyline. Museum Of Jewish Heritage: The Museum Of Jewish Heritage is one of the lesser-known spots that offer crazy views of the Statue of Liberty. Another one of the Battery Park Statue of Liberty views, the Museum is entirely devoted to honoring Jews and as a Holocaust remembrance. If you love history, then you can’t miss out on this spot.  Staten Island Ferry: One of the fun yet lesser-known things to do in New York is to take the ferry from Manhatten to Staten Island. You do not just get to enjoy breathtaking views of the City skyline and Staten Island, you will also have the best view of the Statue of Liberty while you are commuting between Staten Island and Manhattan.  Governor’s Island: If you are ready to invest around 3 dollars, you can visit Governor’s Island - And you will find yourself at the perfect Statue Of Liberty view point. You just need to reach the hills here and explore the trails. You might just find yourself enjoying not just stunning views of the Statue but also that of the entire Lower Manhattan! Liberty State Park:  There’s no mystery behind this one. Everyone knows that the Status of Liberty is located in the waters of New Jersey. So New York is not the only place with stunning views of this iconic statue, even the state of New Jersey has some crazy unexplored views. You can also try out some canoeing in the timeless Hudson river.  Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Another beautiful Statue Of Liberty view point in Brooklyn, the beatific Brooklyn Heights Promenade, sits proudly over the Brooklyn Queens Expressway or BQE. The beautiful esplanade definitely needs a visit as it offers stunning views of the New York Harbor and the Brooklyn Bridge Park.  And It’s A Wrap!  You might have been looking for the one perfect Statue Of Liberty view point, but we have managed to provide you with so many options! One Statue, multiple viewpoints, and that, my friend, is the best part of New York! You don’t have to be happy with one when you can have several - be it your Cosmopolitan or the perfect viewpoint.  So tell us, what do you think about visiting the Statue of Liberty? And if you already have, what was your experience like? Tell us in the comments below!

BY  Sibashree Jul 23, 2025

You and your family should have some vacation time coming up. This can be for a weekend or longer. Visiting the great city of Sydney is a great decision.  Everyone knows that when you go on vacation, there never seems to be enough time to visit everywhere that you want to see.  There are plenty of bus tours and walking tours around the city, and while these are beneficial for your health, you don’t get to see everything, which can be very disappointing. This is one of the reasons why many people decide to hire chopper, which many people commonly refer to as a helicopter.  When it comes to sightseeing, there is no better way to see the city than from the air. You get to kill two birds with one stone here because you get to ride in a helicopter for the very first time, and you also get to see what Sydney is really about.  The Reasons Why It Makes Sense To View The City Of Sydney From The Air The following are some of the top reasons why it makes perfect sense to view the City of Sydney from the air. 1. You Get A View like No other Once the helicopter is high enough, you can actually see the whole city from the best vantage point. It will allow you to see the many buildings, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the water that flows beneath it. There are so many landmarks to be seen and you will get to see all of them in a fraction of the time. You will not have to experience any of the noise that the city provides, and you get to see everything without interruption. 2. No Crowds To Contend With  The reason why you’re going to Sydney is because it is an incredibly popular destination. The place serves as a tourist attraction not only for Australians but for people from all across the world.  This means that it gets incredibly crowded at certain times of the year. Therefore, the tourists should embrace anything that allows them to avoid these crowds.  There will be no queues for you, no waiting to take a photograph because you will be viewing everything from the comfort of your seat in the helicopter. Things You  Get To See & How You Can Enjoy  As was pointed out earlier, you only have a certain amount of time to see the city, and as everyone keeps telling us, time is money. You could spend the whole day walking around the city and still not get to experience everything, but in about 30 minutes in a helicopter, you get to see the complete city. It is an unforgettable experience that everyone needs to enjoy at least once in their lifetime. People often like to take photographs either with their camera or their smartphone. A helicopter tour allows you to take the best photographs imaginable. You will get to take a picture of the city's skyline. The tour includes the Sydney Harbour Opera House and many of the city's popular tourist attractions. While touring in Sidney, you get to see the iconic places and the destinations from the air within minutes.  However,  you would not have been able to do that if you were travelling on the ground.  You get to see the following things: 1. Sydney Tower Eye: As the helicopter flies on the skies of the city, you get to see the Sydney Tower Eye. Sydney From The Air looks the most mesmerizing and incredible. Travellers get an incredible feeling when they get to see the tower where they must have gone shopping. 2. Opera House  The Opera Tower looks like a small flower which can literally fit into your hands. Therefore, you get the best view of Sidney from the air.  The monument looks smaller than anything, and you get to see it from an angle which you have never seen before. 3. Harbour Bridge  Enjoying the aerial view of the Harbour Bridge while watching Sydney from the air is an experience. As a result, no one shall ever forget it in their life. The cars and the vehicles on the bridge appear to be tiny, while the helicopter passes over the bridge. You feel like you are watching your own LEGO city, but the truth is that they're real. 4. Pynchgut Island  The chopper crosses Pinchgut Island after crossing the Harbour Bridge. The flyers get to see the ancient fort from the sky.  5. Watson Bay  The flyers then enjoy the incredible view of the turquoise blue waters of Watson Bay.  The flyers get to see the ocean like they are flying a drone.  However, the flyers in a helicopter get a firsthand view of the entire thing rather than flying a drone. The waves and the people on the beach, everything overall looks very tiny and incredible. 6. Dover Heights  The helicopter then passes by the cliffs of Dover Heights. The passengers, therefore, enjoy the view from the windows of the helicopter. 7. Bondi Beach  The helicopter then flies to Bondi Beach. 8. Sydney Skylines  The flyers, therefore, get an overall tour of the entire Sydney Skyline while they enjoy Sydney From The Air. IS Tour Of  Sydney From The Air Safe? And Other Things You Should Know About The Helicopter Tour Services The companies associated with the tour ensure proper safety for their passengers. They ensure to provide people with the most incredible experience of their life while not compromising safety factors. The operators measure the weight of the flyers. The professionals, therefore, balance people and then onboard them on the helicopter. The operators provide the flyers with a safety kit which ensures safety during crisis. Other Facilities Provided By The Helicopter Company : The helicopter companies in Sidney also provide multiple other facilities, such as free parking. Therefore, tourists do not have to worry about parking.  The flying companies also provide free pickup and drop-off facilities after the ride is over.

BY  Sibashree Sep 11, 2024

Kobuk Valley National Park is surreal! Have you ever thought to meet sand dunes in the Arctic Circle? The unique geology of the park makes it possible. That’s not all! The Great Kobuk sand dunes stand here, along with the remains of the North American continental glaciers.  Three of the sand dunes in this national park are active or alive. The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, Hunt River Dunes, and Little Kobuk Sand Dunes here cover a mesmerizing 20,000 acres of area in the park.   Today, hiking through these dunes is one of the most popular activities in the Kobuk Valley National Park.   While it is visually unusual or unexpected to see sand dunes in an Arctic National Park, you also need to understand that the Arctic region gets very little rainfall every year. So, this is also a desert region.   “Sand dunes in the Arctic landscape are not what you would expect. Since most people associate sand dunes with a hot desert environment, it is a visually unusual thing to see. In fact, what most people don't realize is that the Arctic is also a desert with very low levels of rainfall.”   - Christian, a Kobuk Valley National Park Worker  Having said that, how the sand dunes came to be here, and the experience of exploring them will be a great thing to discuss in this article.   This Is How The Kobuk Valley National Park Became The Land Of Sand Dunes   https://www.instagram.com/p/BWatGdVFuis/ Much of Alaska, including the Kobuk Valley National Park, falls in the Tundra region. Tundra, the coldest of the biomes, gets only around 150 to 250 mm of rainfall and snowfall yearly1. So, the national park has less rainfall than some of the most well-known deserts in the world.   Further, the sand dunes in the Kobuk Valley are as old as the Ice Age. Now, as the mighty glaciers moved forward and made a retreat, the rocks beneath got ground. Now, the blowing wind transported the sand into the empty and ice-free Kobuk Valley. The sand dunes in the park are up to 150 feet high, and they are the biggest, high-altitude, and most importantly, “active sand fields”  in the earth.   In The Land Of The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes  https://www.instagram.com/p/BgmZYDdAA_r/ Are you in the Sahara? No, you are around 35 miles above the Arctic Circle and still find the largest active sand dune field in the world. Today, it is a popular backpacking, hiking, and camping destination in the National Park. You must attend the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center to learn more about the outdoor pursuits in the land of sand dunes.  Let’s quickly look at why the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes is a preferred destination for camping, hiking, and backpacking.  The sand is steady enough for the landing of an aircraft with wheels.  You can put up your tent on any level surface.  Also, you can hike in any direction.  Further, you can board a float plane and reach the Kobuk River. From there, you can take a backpacking tour for around two miles and reach the dunes.  You must visit the Kotzebue Visitor Center if you have plans to take this backpacking journey to and from the Kobuk River.   There is no marked route for hiking.  In summer, the temperature in the sand dunes can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, fall is the season to see caribou migration here.   However, there’s more to it! Let’s learn about the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes as relics of the Ice Age and how life thrived here.   Great Kobuk Sand Dunes: The Relics Of The Ice Age   https://www.instagram.com/p/BYwfdMYlr-0/ To know about the formation of the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes, we must go back to the Ice Age. Around 28000 years ago, glaciers in the mountains formed. I have already discussed how the glaciers ground the rocks and wind deposited them in the Kobuk Valley.   Further, approximately 14000 years ago, the glaciers made a massive retreat. As a result, there were 200,000 acres of sandy land formation on the river banks. Complex holocene activities and geomorphic preservations keep the sand dune field at the Kobuk Valley National Park active or alive. Along with the Kobuk Valley, small lakes in the park have also accumulated sand over thousands of years.   However, most of the landscape today is occupied by the vegetation of the national park, and the sand dune area consists of only 20,000 acres. The vegetation found here consists of the following varieties.  Wild rye  Grasses  Sedges  Kobuk locoweed  Wildflowers blooming occasionally  These species grow on the shifting sand, and they function as stabilizing agents. You can see shrubs, lichens, mosses, and algae following this vegetation. Finally, there are spruce, birch, and aspen trees covering the landscape.    The slopes of the Kobuk Valley sand dunes are the only place where Kobuk locoweeds grow. These plants belong to the pea family, and they are known for their purple flowers. If you want to see these flowers, you must visit the park in late June and July.   The inland dune field of Kobuk Valley National Park is surrounded by boreal forest.   Humans And Wildlife In The Great Kobuk Sand Dunes  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv0EhpdLsJ5/ It’s amazing to see the Western Arctic Caribou walking through the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes. Fall and spring are the migration seasons for these animals. The north of Brook Range is the caribou herd’s calving ground, and they migrate to and from this place.   As the caribou herds pass through the sand dunes, their footprints remain in the ground for the longest time. According to National Park Service data, around 250,000 caribou pass through this national park annually.   No wonder that the Kobuk Valley National Park is one of the “last great migrations” remaining in the world. The table below gives you a brief idea about the animals and birds in the sand dunes.  Birds Sharp-shinned Hawk Golden Eagle Bald Eagle American Wigeon Northern Pintail Rough-legged Hawk Marsh Hawk Mammals Caribou Wolverine Muskox Snowshoe Hare Moose Gray Wolf Grizzly Bear Beaver Arctic Fox American Pine Marten Amphibians Wood Frog Fish Longnose Sucker Salmon* Northern Pike Alaska Blackfish Alaska Whitefish Humpback Whitefish Alaskan Stickleback Ninespine Stickleback  Human history in the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes is at least 8000 years old. They lived by the Kobuk River and were mainly focused on fishing, hunting, and trapping for survival. It is fascinating to visit the thousand-year-old hunting camps on the edges of the sand dunes.  The golden and shifting Great Kobuk Sand Dunes are located a few miles away from the Kobuk River. Further, the sand dunes soar up to 100 miles in the air.   Kobuk Valley National Park Is Also The Land Of Iñupiaq Subsistence  https://www.instagram.com/p/BWdjyOBl_Lw/ Human life, which started in the Great Kobuk Sand Dunes 8000 years ago, is still thriving with the mantra of subsistence. The Iñupiaq people here use the available natural resources to fulfil their physical needs and safeguard their spiritual and cultural requirements.   For example, they depend on caribou and salmon to feed themselves and their dogs. At the same time, caribou skin hide is extensively used to make parka jackets to combat Arctic winter. They also make mukluks or boots using reindeer skin to walk through the snow.   Further, the local people made baskets using birch and willow. Moreover, in darkness, caribou tallow or seal oil were the only ingredients to light up their stone lamps.   Irrespective of the trade with the coastal communities, the “customary, traditional and non-commercial” use of natural resources is still important in the park.   Iñupiat Ilitqusiat And Respecting The Ecosystem   https://www.instagram.com/p/CzjboNfsc4Y/ Aboriginal people in the Kobuk Valley National Park are committed to passing on their values from generation to generation. The Iñupiat Ilitqusiat value asks them to transfer the knowledge and skill of hunting and everything about life.  In addition, this transfer of knowledge helps to make the most of various seasons and subsistence opportunities. For example, the caribou season comes to this park after the salmon season.   Earlier, Noatak Valley was the destination for these people during the caribou season, and even today, some families move to Noatak Valley. Again, summer camping around the Kobuk River is common for fishing, especially catching salmon and whitefish.   Summer is also the season for harvesting berries and wild greens for the local people.  If you want to learn about the local people and their values, you must be respectful and understand their seasonal activities as a part of their subsistence practices.   Overall, the Kobuk Valley National Park is not just a place to see sand dunes and wildlife. It is a tapestry of human lives depending on nature.   Things To Know Before You Visit The Kobuk Valley National Park   For me, the sand dunes and Iñupiaq subsistence practices are the most fascinating things in the Kobuk Valley National Park. However, keep the following information handy if you are to pay a visit anytime soon.   Mode of Transport: Authorized air taxis from Kotzebue or Bettles  Visitor Center: Northwest Arctic Heritage Center  Entrance Fee: Free  Permits Required:  Commercial Use Authorization or CUA for commercial activities, Research Permits, Filming and Photography Permits  Activities to Do: Boating, fishing, camping and backpacking, hiking, flight-seeing and exploring nearby attractions  Best Time to Visit: June to July   Area: 1,750,000 Acres  Established: 2nd December, 1980  Number of Visitors: 17,616 (2023) (National Park Service Data)  Snowfall, downpours, and extreme weather conditions can occur in any season of the year. So, follow the instructions shared at the visitor center and keep your gear ready for survival!