To break down the organized chaos that is New York City and getting around, you'll need to understand its public transportation. The rail and bus system are run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and are the best way to move about NYC if walking is unreasonable to your next destination. We highly recommend you download the app “MTA” subway map app, trust me it takes all the stress out of moving around the city. For updated prices on tickets and fare click here.

We recommend the use of the subway as it runs 24/7 and is the easiest and quickest way to get around NYC. There is a trip planner that can help you get from one place to another most efficiently. Buses are also an option to get around, and are more scenic than the subway also running 24/7 as well. They generally stop every other block or two so it can be a more accurate than the subway which stops 8-10 blocks or so. There are also a plethora of taxis as well as other ride share options available at any time of the day. 

New York City is one of the most busiest places in the world. It is truly a city never sleeps. And with so much to do, eat and see you will understand why. It is perfectly normal to find many businesses open 24 hours a day and life extending way into the late hours of the night.

Its exciting pace is part of the intoxicating lifestyle that is just a part of NYC's draw. The never ending list of things to eat, see, watch and partake in makes anyone want to come back immediately after leaving to get another taste of the city. There is never quite enough time for all the things in New York City.

Granted this all means that people who live in NYC are generally more rude and impatient than people living in other cities. They are used to the constant speed and the efficiency of their way of life. Don’t take it personally but rather try to take it in stride as a part of the true New York experience.

With so many iconic and historical buildings that make up the New York City skyline, it is hard to pick just one or two to focus on. There are beautiful scenic landmarks like Empire State Building, Chrysler Buildings, Brooklyn Bridge, The Statue of Liberty National Monument, the One World Trade Center and so many more. Click here to see the skyline of New York City in a map-styleEach special and unique in their own way but like a puzzle, together they they are something even more spectacular!

But this skyline is also constantly changing to transform with the life of the city. Here is an amazing collections of photos that show just how much NYC has seen in 9 years. As of 2011, New York City has 5,937 skyscrapers. Interested in seeing the skyline in a new way? See the views that NYC has to offer via the waterways from a boat tour. 

For the best view of the skyline, here is a list of the best places to see the views of New York City. One of our favorites is the breathtaking view from the Top of the Rock where you can get some of the best panoramic sights of the city. The skyline from the Top of the Rock and other places like the Empire State Building are especially breathtaking if you're not the biggest fan of heights. Do not worry, there are some ground level options too!

The breadth of attractions are endless and extend to into every borough of the city. There are over 55,000 living artists in the city make it a hub for creative enterprises, museums and galleries. It is also an amazing melting pot of ethnicities, cultures and traditions, honoring every person who called NYC home.

Additionally there is the internationally renowned MoMA. Identified as one of the most important and largest museums, the Museum of Modern Art plays an essential role in developing and collecting modern art. The idea for the museum was brought to life by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (wife of John D. Rockefeller) and her two friends Lillie P. Bliss and Mary Quinn Sullivan in 1929.

New York City is also great for all of the TV networks and filming locations. It is the most filmed city in the world. Here is an essential filming list for movie and TV locations if you want to stop by an iconic spot from your favorite movie. 

Fun fact, there aren’t actually as many alleys in NYC as many people have been led to believe by movies. There are only a limited number of alleys that are the gritty and dilapidated, 4 in fact, and you cannot film in 3 of them, leaving only one, Cortlandt Alley. They were not included in the Commissioner’s Plan of 1811 and is the reason the trash has to be left out in the front of the buildings, occasionally creating an unsightly eyesore. Charming! 

To enjoy the art and cultures offered in New York we recommend you and your group make your own must-see list and prioritize your favorites. Need some ideas? Here is a list of the must-sees to enjoy arts and culture when you’re town.

​Also called “the Magic Dragon” for its serpentine shape, the Lake of the Ozarks is a large reservoir created by the Osage River in central Missouri. Its surface covers a vast 54,000 acres and its shoreline stretches 1,150 miles.
 
The Lake of the Ozarks was created in 1929 when the construction of the Bagnell Dam by the Union Electrical Company of St. Louis impounded a much smaller lake. At the time of construction of the dam, Lake of the Ozarks was the largest man-made lake in the United States.
 
Renamed multiple times over the years as none of the officially chosen titles stuck, it became known by its location on the northern edge of the lake that is nearby the Ozarks.
 
Well known for being a popular tourist destination, Lake of the Ozarks the shoreline is relatively stable in comparison to other flood control lakes, creating ideal conditions for developments very close to the water’s edge.
 
Nearby is Bridal Cave, a natural cave system attraction that is names after an Osage Native American legend. Additionally, there is a national park called the Lake of the Ozarks State Park which covers 17,500 acres of the land and is the largest state park in Missouri.
 
We recommend this spot to our nature and outdoor lovers. It is the perfect destination for a weeklong family getaway close to the water but nearly a stone’s throw away from other fun things like plenty of restaurants, stores for shopping and even a water park.

​It’s nothing new to hear that a little time away from the office is good for everyone. But when it comes to one’s ability to unplug on vacation, a new study claims that the more you make, the harder it is for you to truly be out of the office.
 
With a smartphone in everyone’s pocket, it’s no surprise that 59 percent of employees check their phone, make calls or answer emails at least once a day on vacation.
 
The chances of work interfering with your time off increases with your salary. Those who make under $25,000 annually never work on vacation while individuals who make between $180,000 t0 $200,000 are the biggest offenders. 47 percent of this category of people engage in work activities up to 5 times a day.
 
This ever-constant feeling that one needs to work, even on vacation can be attributed to the work martyr syndrome. It significantly impacts your ability to truly get away and reset from work, thus feeding into more feelings of burnout. And with the advances in technology, it can be even easier to tell yourself “just one email, just one phone call” before it becomes working remotely instead of unplugging.
 
To prevent this, enable the vacation responder on your work email and set that to automatically reply to emails for the duration of your vacation. The email will be in your inbox when you come home. We also recommend informing your business associate of your time away and strictly unavailable, to prevent work phone calls.

Come and visit the former mansion estate of the King of Rock and Roll. Purchased by Elvis Presley in 1957 for just over $100,000, the former cattle farm turned renovated home is where Elvis lived for over twenty years.
 
Named after the original estate owner, Stephen C. Toof’s daughter, Grace. The estate features five sets of staircases, three grand fireplaces and a kidney-shaped pool. The famous music-themed gates were installed in April of 1957.
 
Graceland became the center hub for Elvis and his life. It is where Elvis lived with his wife, Priscilla Beaulieu, in the first years of their marriage and where Lisa Maria, Elvis’s daughter spent the first years of her life.
 
While on tour, Elvis would have his hotel rooms “renovated” to the same configurations as Graceland with the same furniture for his complete comfort.
 
Elvis’s tombstone is in the Meditation Garden next to the estate and is viewable on mansion tours.
 
In 1991, Graceland was added to the American National Register of Historic Places and is the first landmark that is related to rock and roll to be included on the register. It is the second most-visited house in the country, after to the White House of course, with over 600,000 visitors each year.
 
The grounds feature exhibits like a new car museum, Presley Motors, including the famous pink Cadillac, a radio studio that plays all Elvis music around the clock, his two planes, the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II. Graceland also includes the personal effects of the musician like his wardrobe, costumes, awards and furniture.
 
We highly recommend this attraction to all music and rock and roll fans and allot for 2-3 hours to fully immerse yourself in all the property has to offer.

​Despite the many statistics and a long list of benefits of music education for children, some schools are choosing to forgo the subject. But music and music education is so incredibly important to kiddos and their growth.
 
For one, studies have found it helps students, regardless of socioeconomic status or school district, score higher on math, reading and spelling exams. Additionally, students who have a music education have been found to have better neural processing pathways and brain development than of students who merely listen to music. Music, gives children better reading comprehension skills, a tool that they can then use in countless other paths and school subjects.
 
It gives students the ability to connect with other people. As it is a very social experience, it encourages them to share their love and passion, and continue to bond with new individuals. It has been found to help students improve their teamwork and collaboration skills.
 
Musical performance helps to solidify all of these skills and teaches kids how to take pride in their skills. Music education and performance do wonders for children and their self-confidence, improving their self-worth too.
 
Other positive benefits of music education but are not limited to:

• Powerful study habits
• Heightened problem-solving skills
• Strengthened hand-eye coordination
• Improved memory
• Developed creative thinking
• Better stress-coping sills

 
Music education gives students a platform to spring from and supports them in other areas of life. It is essential of helping children develop and continuing to expand their education in and out of the classroom. 

​The Forbidden City, The Great Smoky Mountains, The Sydney Opera House, The Taj Mahal and Versailles are some of the world’s most visited UNESCO Heritage Sites. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s aim is to “build the defenses of peace in the minds of men and women.”
 
In addition to helping to facilitate collaboration and cooperation between countries the UNESCO organization determines World Heritage Sites. These sites are deemed important, unique, educational and beautiful and are protected from being destroyed by receiving the honor.
 
This week a special committee is looking into adding more sites to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The contenders include sites like a bird-filled estuary in China’s Yalu River, Frank Lloyd Wright’s 20th-century architecture, Alpine road in Austria, Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland and Jaipur city in India among others.
 
In order to be added to the World Heritage Site list, the sites must pass a series of evaluations where experts evaluate the destinations and report on their preservation.
 
If accepted, the UNESCO stamp of approval will most definitely help increase the valuable tourism dollars for the sites. If denied, the sites can still be nominated in subsequent years and go through the process again.
 
To see the complete list of World Heritage Site click here.

​Friends of the Earth (FOE) an environmental organization gave out A-F letter grades reports in their 2019 Cruise Ship Report Card to cruise ships.
 
The organization explains that cruises “can be more harmful to the environment and human health than other forms of travel.”
 
They evaluated 16 major cruise lines and 185 ships on four criteria sections like sewage, air pollution reduction, water quality compliance, transparency, and criminal violations.
 
Most notable Disney Cruise Line was rated with an A- while others like Norwegian being graded with a C-. However, the rest of the cruise lines had overall grades of Ds and Fs.
 
Many of the cruise liners included in the report expressed frustration with FOE and the qualifications to publish the report and level of scientific research.