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May 23, 2011

Helicopter Over NYC

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The other day my husband and I were talking about the most fun things we have ever done in this beloved city of ours. We both agreed that at the very top of our list is the helicopter ride we took over New York City.

I had planned it for his birthday and I wanted to celebrate in a way that would be both romantic and fun, but that would also appeal to our adventurous spirits.  I didn’t want to travel too far (needed to be home for the surprise dinner I had planned), but wanted it to be more than just a visit to a fancy restaurant or bar. Taking a helicopter ride over the city is not the most inexpensive gift, but it is well-worth the money spent.

I decided to go with HeliNY, because they offered similar tours as the others, but at a better price. The tour I chose was The Ultimate Tour, which is their mid-range tour and costs about $189.00 per person for a 18-20 minute tour.

These tours give a wonderful bird’s-eye view of the island of Manhattan. In text it may seem like 18-20 minutes is not long, but what you get to see in the time makes it feel like you got so much more.

The day of our tour was an incredible one, it was sunny and warm and just gorgeous. We really lucked out because had there been any fog, or rain like there has been lately in the city, we wouldn’t have been able to see anything!

We took off from Pier 6 near the South Street Seaport, and  got an up-close view of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, South Street Seaport, Governors Island and Ellis Island. We went up the Hudson River, as far up as to our neighborhood of Washington Heights and close to the George Washington Bridge and Harlem.

We saw the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, World Financial Center, Chelsea Piers, Jacob Javits Convention Center, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Time Warner Center and Central Park. And didn’t miss the New Jersey Coast including the Goldman Sachs Tower, Colgate Clock, Liberty State Park and caught a view of Ground Zero.

I made the reservation and paid online, and when I got to the heliport I waited only briefly before our helicopter took off. We were in luck because no one else had reserved a helicopter at the same time as us, so we got to enjoy it just us two, plus the pilot of course.

There are many other helicopter tour companies out there which are worth the try. This particular one was simply the one I chose for us and which we had a happy experience with. If you are going to indulge in a wonderful New York City experience, than I say this is it. It has been an unforgettable one for us and one I think people, whether they live here or are just visiting, should try at least once.

For more adventurous gift ideas check out Three Awesome Gift Ideas for The Adventurous Spirit.

 

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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8 Comments
  • Bicultural Mama
    May 23, 2011

    How romantic! What a wonderful gift and you took great pictures!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Bicultural Mama
      May 23, 2011

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  • S. Yissele Gallo
    May 23, 2011

    Hi Carol!!! I like your blog, this post is wonderful!!! Beautiful Pics!!! I Love NYC too!!!! Namaste!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      S. Yissele Gallo
      May 24, 2011

      Thank you Yissele!

      Reply
  • Yoli Ouiya
    May 24, 2011

    That looks like fun and terrifying at the same time…but now I have to do it sooner than later. Ty for sharing.

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Yoli Ouiya
      May 24, 2011

      Yes Yoli! Fun and terrifying! You won't regret it : ))

      Reply
  • Elisa
    February 17, 2012

    That sounds awesome! If we ever move back to NY, I definitely want to do that!!

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Elisa
      February 18, 2012

      Yes Elisa! A must!!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Contact

  • caincarol@gmail.com

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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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