Vacation is about breaking out of your routine and expanding your horizons — seeing new cities, tasting new dishes, meeting new people. One of the best ways to make any vacation more memorable is by exploring the city from a different vantage point.
Whether it’s by jetski, hot air balloon, or helicopter, opting for a non-land activity while traveling is the perfect way to amp up the excitement that comes with experiencing a destination for the very first time. Seek adventure on your next vacation with one of these exciting excursions.
Fly high over New York City
The Manhattan skyline is a remarkable sight no matter where you’re standing, but it’s even more breathtaking from above. For a once-in-a-lifetime aerial view of New York City, take a private helicopter tour over Manhattan. Departing from the uncrowded Westchester airport just 30 minutes outside the city, this two-person flight soars over all the most iconic landmarks in NYC, from Central Park and Yankee Stadium to the Empire State Building and the East River bridges.
Zip around Miami
Miami is known for its picture-perfect beaches, and while you could easily spend your entire vacation sunbathing on sandy shores, up the ante with an afternoon jet skiing on Biscayne Bay.
Embrace the chance to see Miami’s towering skyline from the crystal clear water while whizzing past the Venetian Islands and the lavish homes of the rich and famous.
Watch the sunrise over Las Vegas
You might not be the type to wake up early on vacation, but this bucket list hot air balloon ride over the Mojave Desert is worth the alarm call. Meet your guide 90 minutes before sunrise and take off in time to watch the sun bathe the desert landscape in early morning light and wake up Sin City. Weightlessly glide over the peaks of the Spring Mountains and Nopah Range, and get a bird’s-eye view of Death Valley. Upon landing, you’ll raise a champagne toast to memories you’ll never forget.
Be serenaded on the water in New York City
While New York City doesn’t claim to be the birthplace of jazz, it does have bragging rights as the city where it grew up and thrived in the 1920s Prohibition era. For a truly unforgettable music experience, swap the clubs for the water and enjoy an evening of jazz aboard the Manhattan, a 1920s-style luxury yacht. Enjoy a drink as you cruise along the Hudson River to the smooth sounds of jazz classics and catch breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The view only gets better as the sun begins to set.
Get a panoramic view of the Las Vegas Strip
Thanks to the millions of lights illuminating the Strip, Las Vegas is considered the brightest spot on Earth. Take in the view from above with a thrilling helicopter ride over iconic sights like the Bellagio Fountains, the Luxor Pyramid, the Eiffel Tower, and the New York-New York skyline. Your pilot will turn into a tour guide, pointing out the highlights and making the experience even more vivid by telling some of the stories behind some of the most famous sights in the world. To see those lights in all their glory, be sure to book a night time ride.
Writer: Meghan Palmer
