Louis from Fly the LV Sky explains why the land of the gambler makes such great flying territory.

What makes flying in Vegas so exciting?

Las Vegas has so much to offer! Conveniently, there are more beautiful clear-weather days for flying here in Vegas than anywhere else in the country. The city and architecture of Las Vegas is completely unique. The desert, mountains, and valleys provide an amazing landscape. The combination of these elements provides opportunities for amazing photography and advanced helicopter training.

What should people expect from their helicopter flight?

This experience is customized to each person. People can expect to be met with a smile and treated like guests. They will get an introduction to the fundamentals and controls of a helicopter before enjoying a 1-hour helicopter flight in one of the most beautiful destinations in America.

With two hours to spare and plenty of fuel, where would you fly?

I would fly to Mesquite Nevada just past the Valley of Fire. Then, making the return trip south along the Virgin River valley, which opens up into Lake Mead, following the shoreline before crossing back to the airport.

Sunrise in the desert or sunset over Vegas?

SUNSET. The sun is descending behind the foothills of Red Rock National Conservation Area. The warmer light brings out all of the deep red hues in the mountains that ring the Las Vegas valley. The shadows grow long and highlight all the features in the terrain. The wispy clouds become orange and pink, and the city lights begin to appear and sparkle: it’s gorgeous!

You can view all Experience Gifts from Fly the LV Sky here.

Thanks to its adaptability and novelty it is loved all over the world, especially in San Francisco.

Hannah Williams of the San Francisco and Sausalito Electric Tour Company tells us more:

Why is a Segway the best way to see San Francisco?

“Segways are the best way to see the city because they are more
interactive and personable than a bus tour, and can cover more ground and are more informative than traveling by foot or bike.”

How do people react when they get moving for the first time?

“When first stepping onto a Segway some people feel a little uncomfortable, because they are under the misconception that the device is harder to work than it really is. Most people are able to relax and trust the machines after the first couple of minutes, and soon realize just how easy and fun it is.”

“Many guests get on, rock back and for a moment do some turns, then feel completely comfortable and excited, and are ready to go. Safety is priority for us and they have at least 30 to 45 minutes of training time with highly-trained instructors and staff before they venture out.”

Which landmarks attract the most attention on the tour?

“Some of the most popular sights on our tours are: Washington Square Park, Coit Tower, Lombard “The Crookedest” Street, Alcatraz and The Golden Gate Bridge.”

Why is having a guide so important?

”Our guides go through extensive training for both tour content and safety but are also some of the more interesting characters in San Francisco!”

“They come from many different places, have very different backgrounds, and each has their own unique way of guiding their tours. Some are aspiring actors, some are students, and some have migrated from Minnesota. One thing they all have in common is they love to have good clean fun on Segways!”

San Francisco Segway Tours can be found on Experience Gifts here

Eating it is one thing, preparing it another. And there’s massive satisfaction to be had from pulling of a tasty dish – and you get to enjoy it too!

Here, Raquel from A Pinch of Salt, a hands on cooking company, shares tips and experiences for the would-be cook.

Q. Is it hard to learn how to cook if you’ve never tried it before?

A. Cooking for the first time can be nerve-wrecking, but so is learning to drive or attempting anything for the first time. I think with a good instructor those nerves take a back seat and the confidence you never knew existed will help you triumph!

Q. Do you have just three simple tips to help people cook better?

A. My tips are:

1. Trust yourself

2. Understand a recipe is just a guideline and nothing more (the only exception is in baking!)

3. To use all your senses, plus common sense – if it looks like it’s burning it probably is!

Q. When you are on the other side of service, where do you go for good food?

A. I love classics and staples like 21 Club, Petrossian, Gramercy Tavern but my favorite restaurant experience was Le Bernardin. As a chef I pride myself in eating every cuisine, but I usually find comfort in a good pizza, cheeseburger, dumplings or bowl of pho.

Q. When you are cooking cake, do you lick the mixture bowl afterwards?

I sure do! It’s something I looked forward to as a child and still do as an adult. No one wants to feel like their working and cooking should be a chore or confined, so go ahead lick the bowl, life’s too short!

View all Raquel’s Experiences Here

Forget the yellow cab: slip on a pair of comfortable shoes and get discovering. Susan Birnbaum from NYC Walkabouts explains the delights and surprises that await you.

Q: Which are your favorite New York City (NYC) sights?

A: Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Empire State Building, Grand Central Terminal, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Wall Street (including Ground Zero), Chrysler Building and Washington Square Park.

Q: Can you define the New York City identity?

A: New York City has many ‘identities’ but the one that resonates with me is New York City as the crossroads of the US, if not the world. New York is the most diverse city in the world thanks to the original Dutch settlement.  The Dutch were great traders and business people. It was a very open society that attracted folks from all over the world. By 1638, about 18 languages were spoken in New Amsterdam. They also gave us cookies and stoops!

Q: Why does walking get you closer to the ‘real’ NYC?

A: By walking the streets you get up close and personal with everything NYC has to offer. To me, NYC is an ongoing street show – pretty much every street has interesting architecture, shops, restaurants etc. And then there are the people, all sorts of people to watch or chat with.

Q: Which film uses the NYC streets best?

The Godfather is the quintessential NYC movie. It goes beyond Little Italy, and it shows NYC at its best and its worst. The film takes in all five boros, as well as Long Island and New Jersey.

Fans of the film and walkers should watch out for these spots: Calvery Cemetery in Queens, the site of the Don’s funeral; NY Eye and Ear Hospital on East 14th Street, where the Don’s interior hospital scenes were filmed; and Old St Patrick’s Cathedral on Mulberry, which became the interior christening scene (while the exterior was filmed at Mt Loretto Church in Staten Island). Other places that turn up are Emilia’s on Arthur Ave, the St Regis Hotel (55th Street) and the Edison Hotel (47th Street), the Hotel St George in Brooklyn Heights also makes an appearance.

A walking tour of NYC should be an offer you can’t refuse: exercise, history and a chance to get closer to the city’s core.

Carol Wrenn, from Sky River Helicopters tells us more…

How long have you been flying for?

While Sky River Helicopters has only been in business for a year, our pilots have loads of experience, each with 1500+ hours of flight time.  They are all commercial pilots as well as certified flight instructors.

What is it about flying that excites you?

Flying helicopters is a blast!  It gives a total sense of freedom. We love seeing the reactions of people after going on one of our tours or learn to fly demos.  The level of enthusiasm about helicopters and helicopter flying is great.

What should potential customers expect from one of your trips?
We offer a number of tours, such as a tour of NYC, Philadelphia tour, NJ shore tour, and Pocono tour.  Each seat in the helicopter is a window seat so the views are terrific! We also offer sunset tours with champagne.  It is very popular for couples and we have had several ‘pop the question’ in the back of our helicopters!

Our learn to fly a helicopter demos are also very popular. They combine 30 minutes of ground school with 30 minutes of hands-on flying.  All of the helicopters are dual controlled with a commercial pilot in the next seat making the experience fun and safe.

Why take a helicopter and not a light aircraft?
While both are great, helicopters are particularly fun for a couple of reasons.  First, they typically fly lower than planes so you have a better view of the areas that you are flying over.  Secondly, you can bring a helicopter into a hover and stay suspended in the air over one location. Hovering in a helicopter is a very cool thing!

Is it true you steer a helicopter with your feet and your hands? How
does that work?

Actually, you use both hands and both feet when flying a helicopter.  Your left hand controls the collective (which brings the helicopter up and down) and in some cases, the throttle.  Your right hand is on the cyclic, which very simplistically, allows you to go forward, backwards, right and left in the helicopter.  Your feet are on the pedals, which control the yaw (movement left and right).

The best view your trips offer is…..

Personally, the New York tour is my favorite.  On clear days, you can see the New York and Philadelphia skylines at the beginning of the flight.  The route brings us over the runway at Newark International Airport, then travels by the Statue of Liberty, around Governors Island and around the tip of Manhattan up the west side of the city. Expect breathtaking views of the city from here, including the Empire State & Chrysler buildings, Central Park, the Intrepid aircraft carrier and so much more.

Tourists have long since relied on city maps, and in the bigger cities it’s normal for even cab drivers to have a map in their car.

So what changed? Well, technology has caught up with the map. With the help of built-in GPS (Global Positioning Systems) mobile phones are now providing directions, even finding out about traffic updates.

How does it work? GPS was devised for the military; it uses satellites orbiting high above the earth to help find a receiver’s (your phone’s) position on the ground.

What then happens is this data is integrated into mapping software; so with a quick browse of your phone you can find where you are, search for destinations and get directions for the fastest route possible.

But what it’s really lacking is knowledge. Yes you can surf the Internet as you walk, and download guides and reviews but no technology will ever replace a well-researched city tour.

It takes a human to put everything in context, to answer every question, and bring the emotion and drama of a city to life.

Even more so when they are covering historic events: the moment the statue of liberty was completed, having arrived in 214 crates from France, or the rebellious dumping of tea into Boston Harbor.

City tours are not just about history; they can bring in the modern and the unique, the flavorsome (food tours are very popular) and the scenic. They could prove to be a great activity gift certificate for people new in town, or for relatives and friends who are proud of their hometown, and might just like to learn a little more…

Even so, there’s one way to get behind the wheel of the fastest and most exclusive automobiles: rent them!

Marcello Bommarito of Signature Car Collection tells us a little about what’s hot in his garage and settles the discussion once and for all: who makes the best cars?

Which cars do you have for people to enjoy?

In our current fleet we have a Ferrari F430 Spider, Lamborghini Murcielago, Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley GT Coupe, Bentley Flying Spur and an Aston Martin DB9 Volante.
Which is your favorite sports car of all time?

As for my personal favorite sports car, I’m going to have to say the FerrariF40. I’ve had the pleasure of driving many exotics, but the F40 definitely is the one that makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stick straight up.

What can people expect once they get behind the wheel of one of your cars?

When a first time customer hops behind a wheel of one of our cars they are getting a complete package. Great car, great service, great experience: An impression that will last a lifetime!
US or Europe – who makes the best cars?

Well, US does make good cars, But I’m going to have to go with Europe. Europeans take the cake in the sports car department. And if I had to narrow it down, Italians and Germans make the best cars.

Signature Car Collection is an Exotic Rental Car Company that offers daily, weekend and weekly rentals on Ferraris, Lamborghinis,  Bentleys and Aston Martins.

Mike From Seaside Sailing

Captain Mike runs Seaside Sailing in New Jersey and has just two rules for the people who come aboard his boat. Number one: Have fun. Number Two: Don’t fall off the boat!

Safety is a serious matter at sea, although Mike’s not a man to dampen the fun; crew aboard his ship can get as involved as they choose in the running and rigging of his 44ft sailing yacht, the Express Mail.

We’ve spoken with him about what people get up to on board, and his role as Captain. Here’s what he had to say:

What makes a great crew member?

“Well, people sail with us to have fun, so they can do as little or as much as they wish. Many of the customers like to sit up on the deck at the bow of the boat to feel the wind blowing directly at them.  Some like to take the wheel and get the feel of sailing a boat of this size.  Most have either never sailed at all or only on much smaller boats.”

“When you sail with us, you have the option of assisting the captain with some of the chores by getting the boat ready to sail, like undocking and raising the main sail as well as the jib sail.  Or, you can just sit back and let the captain do the work while you relax with a cold drink and your favorite snacks.”

What are the Captain’s responsibilities?

“The captain is responsible for the safety of the crew as well as the passengers.  Before the passengers arrive, the captain has made a check of the boat to be sure that all systems are working properly.  He has also looked at the weather report and checked the radar to be sure that we won’t be caught in a storm while we are sailing.”

Note: Mike’s a competitive captain and not afraid to take on another sailboat in a race should the opportunity arise, so expect real fun on the water…

What should people joining you aboard expect from the trip?

“It depends on the conditions: A strong southerly wind will take us up the Toms River. The first landmark we will see is Good Luck Point on our port side (said to have been a spy station).  On our starboard side are the stately homes on the bluffs and low-lying shores, and the yacht and golf clubs. Returning on the south side we’ll pass South Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach and Ocean Gate.  Look out for the rivers only genuine paddle wheeler, the “River Lady”.”

“Winds blowing east or west will lead us south on the Barnegat Bay. On our starboard side, we will pass the local waterfront restaurants, south and far off on our port side, we can see Island Beach State Park. It’s a 12-mile natural barrier island, with two bathing beaches and bountiful surf fishing.  The intercostals waterways on the starboard side lead all the way to Brownsville, TX! At Berkeley Island County Park, we will come about – look southwest and notice the famous Barnegat Lighthouse. Towards the bay Bridge it’s time to wave at the tourists as we head for home.”

Just one last snippet of advice from Mike before you board:

“In New Jersey you don’t say you are going to the beach, it’s said you are going ”Down the Shore”.”

Land Rover Driving across Moab

Drivers love SUVs. But it’s important not to confuse an SUV with a 4×4; they are not always the same thing. The SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) can be seen as a cousin of the 4×4, but the two are very different beasts, while sometimes having key things in common.

To explain: When someone talks about a 4×4 they mean an off-road vehicle that has a dedicated 4-wheel-drive transmission. These began their lives with the Willys Jeep, which was made to give US forces a light multi-terrain vehicle.

In order to cross the roughest of rocks and slipperiest of slopes, over time engineers developed a new transmission; instead of the engine driving two wheels, it drives four.

Traditionally, a 4×4 would drive just one set of wheels at a time, until you selected 4-wheel-drive. To really give these vehicles control off-road they use ‘axle differentials’ – these make sure that when grip is lost, the power goes to where it is needed.

There’s even part-time (described above) and full-time four-wheel-drive, which sees equal power going to all wheels, all of the time.

Now back to those SUVs. Some have all this technology, but just hidden under the frame of a large attractive family vehicle, others however, look like a 4×4 but are designed for style, and would slip and slide on the rough stuff.

The two types of vehicle do share some attributes: raised ride height – great for visibility when driving in the city and for getting over boulders, and spacious load areas – good for family sports equipment as well as hunting gear.

If you know an SUV diver who would love to get out of the city and into a ‘proper’ 4×4, then a gift certificate for an off-road adventure could be just the ticket.