Manhattan: Continued ...

The Vessel is an architectural showpiece that is designed to allow visitors to view the city and river from various perspectives as you ascend to the top. It is essentially 154 interwoven spiral staircases that soar 6-stories and feature 2,500 steps and 80 landings. The diameter at its base is 50-feet and flairs to 150-feet at the pinnacle. Currently The Vessel is closed to climbers.

A brief animated film is shown in the elevator as you are whisked to the 100th floor to experience The Edge. Once on the 100th floor there are several options. A staircase will take you to the 101st floor for awesome panoramic views of NY and New Jersey.

The 1,100-foot Edge Observation Deck is the highest outdoor Skydeck in this hemisphere. A must-do is to stand on the glass floor and peer 100 stories down to street level. You can toast the experience at the onsite Champagne bar.

A spectacular way to end a winter in New York City adventure is by embarking on a 2.5-hour Circle Line Cruise around the entire island. Cruisers will pass all of the landmarks including a photo stop at the Statue of Liberty. These guided tours leave from Pier 83 in midtown Manhattan.

For more information on New York

Pennsylvania has festivals year-round. While I often think of fall festivals in the Keystone State, there is an abundance of spring festivals too. Let’s look at a few that usher in warmer weather, spring flowers, Easter egg hunts, and crafts.

March 4 - Ending winter, we have the “Ice in the Burg” Festival in Harrisburg on March 4. A street is turned into an ice skating rink, with live musical performances and dozens of ice sculptures. This is the second year the city of Harrisburg will present the Ice & Fire Festival in Downtown Harrisburg.

March 5 - Also in Harrisburg is the Maple Sugar Festival on March 5. This sweet event is free for all to enjoy. Learn the mysteries of maple syrup making, Native American sugar making, tree tapping, and children’s activities. They even have taste tests of different types of maple syrup.

Wood Carving and Wildlife Art Festival

March 11 and 12 - Pennsylvania has a long tradition