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Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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June 8, 2011

Taking The Ride Around NYC

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My oldest son recently asked me why it was that I enjoyed taking tours around New York City. He said, “Don’t you know it all by now?”

Well, some would assume so. But not I. I am not too proud to admit that there are a lot of things that I don’t know about my city, even though I know a lot. Most people who have lived here all there lives know even less. It is safe to assume even that most tourists know more facts about this city than most residents simply because we, New Yorkers, like to think that we “know it all” by the sheer fact that we live here, while tourists are actually out there picking up facts as they tour along. Plus, with how frequently this city changes, there’s always something new to learn, see, and try.

So, in order to learn more I go on tours. But I will admit that some tours, a lot of tours, can be boring and redundant, and well, can make walking around lost with a map in front of your face feel a lot more interesting than riding around listening to someone talk in a mic over street noise. Lucky for you, darling readers, I don’t list those tours here on my blog. I only highlight the cool ones.

And a cool one I took recently is The Ride. This 13-feet-high, 45-feet-long bus was completely gutted and rebuilt to include three rows of stadium style seating. The Ride is not a double-deck bus, but is design to provide optimal, wide views of New York City sights and people.

Speakers allow on-board performers and riders to interact with the pedestrians as well as on street surprises. The performances highlight the unique qualities of this great town. The Ride can be between an hour to 75 minutes long, depending on traffic, and if stuck in traffic, it continues to engage the audience and entertain.

Now, personally, I have never laughed as much on a tour as I did on The Ride. The guides were hilarious! And, the ultimate value in The Ride? I actually learned something. Really interesting facts about the city. I also loved that they shared some tips on how to navigate the city, like for example, if you are waiting for the train and it comes, and you see all the subways cars are full, except for one, DO NOT get on the empty car! It probably has no AC or worst yet, smells like a dead body. No, seriously. Bad idea.

I took my “jaded” teen with my on this tour, and by the end of it, even he was smiling. Thus, the lesson to walk away with from this post is 1) you never know enough about the city, 2) out of all the tours out there, The Ride is a fun one to check out and 3) empty subway cars when all others are full=bad news.

Tickets for The Ride are $65.00 and the tour is best for riders ages 10 and up. They also offer group discounts. You can check out their schedule here and more information on the tour here.

Now, go on, get out there!

Disclosure: The Ride provided two complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

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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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2 Comments
  • Bicultural Mama
    June 8, 2011

    NY has so much to see and do that one can always learn something new. I've done that before where I played tourist to see the city in a different way.

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Bicultural Mama
      June 9, 2011

      It's def the best way to get to know you're city!

      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

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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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