There are so many wonderful things to do and see in New York City. It’s hard to imagine that in a lifetime someone could possibly manage to get to them all. The problem is that many of them sound like so much fun it’s hard to choose between the men and select the few. The best solution for me is to stick with things that can’t be done at home. Playing in parks for the most part can be done at home. While none of our parks compare to the many available here, it can still be done at home without traveling thousands of miles in order to do so.

The same can be said for watching movies, fishing, hiking, riding bikes, and roller-blading. While getting exercise is great, there will be plenty of walking while in New York and I can actually roller blade when I get home, right? But if you like doing those things, why on earth would you deprive yourself of doing them simply because the locale has changed? If anything you will have a new shot of scenery to enjoy, new sights and sounds, and perhaps you can get your family, up, out, and active right along with you.

In addition to the physical activities there are so many wonderful shows that can be seen on and off Broadway, there are also some wonderful opportunities to dance yourself as well as to watch others dancing. You can make music and listen to the beautiful sounds that others have made. You also have the wonderful and unique ability to choose from so many bookstore and antique shops. There are literally thousands of things you can choose to do and see within the course of a day in New York City, many of them free and some of them are actually freeing.

It is so important that we remember when vacationing what the actual purpose of a vacation is-to renew ourselves in our commitments to our families, our mates, and our work. In doing this we are supposed to come back refreshed and renewed ready to face the challenges that await us. Find something freeing to do while on vacation. Let your hair down and enjoy the ability to dance without worrying about who might see. Sing karaoke in a tavern, act silly with your kids and go walking barefoot on the beach with flowers in your hair. Remember what it was like to be young and have fun for the sake of having fun and most importantly, remember how to smile.

Your New York Vacation should remind you, if nothing else how fleeting life is. The skyline of this great city has forever been changed and that is something we can never forget, it is not something we need to dwell on, but it is something that should really make us think when we remember it. We should seize each moment with our friends and families for the opportunity it is to not only be blessed but also to be a blessing in return.
Use your vacation as an opportunity to read to your children, sing to your mate, hold hands in the rain, and fall in love with each other all over again. Be romantic and sweet and hold the door open for him. Be silly and make up rhyming songs and tell your children often just how much you are enjoying playing with them and remember all of these things when you return home. That is when you will find that you are truly blessed.

The trick to enjoying your New York City vacation while ensuring that your teen enjoys his or her time in the city is compromise. Agree to go watch the skateboarding in the park if he or she will suffer through a museum with you. You just might find that you each find something to enjoy about the other’s activities. There are so many wonderful things to do and see in New York. You don’t have to pay a lot of money in order to have a good time as many of these wonderful events are offered free or for very little cost. You can also purchase passes that allow free entrance to certain city attractions for one low fee. You will find that of the freebie offerings there is usually something that will appeal to various members of your family including your teens.

Compromise is a good idea on any vacation with friends or family and it teaches your teens an important lesson-their opinion matters to you. They also learn to compromise, to share time and experiences, and to think critically. They are forced to weight all the things they would like to do and select the things that matter most to them to do. This is a very good thing for people to learn as early as possible and will be an invaluable lesson, as they grow older and eventually begin making their own decisions in life as well. I even try to offer the younger children a voice in what’s going on. I offer age appropriate choices and allow them to select the one that matters most to them.

Teens are often very hard to please or predict and their wants can change between the time it takes to open a pack of pop tarts and the time it takes to actually drop them in the toaster. Be aware of this when making plans with teens and go with the flow. You do not have to let your teen rule your vacation but by allowing him or her a voice in the decision making process you might all learn some important and interesting things about each other.

Girl teens are often easily distracted by shopping-while New York City has some of the trendiest boutiques you may want to see if you can talk her into some of them any consignment or secondhand stores that abound. You can call it ‘vintage clothing’ if you must in order to get her in the doors but you can score some awesome deals on clothes that look barely worn if that and she’ll have some nice additions to her wardrobe for a fraction of their costs if new. There are also some wonderful outlet malls in NYC as well. The trick with shopping any of these stores is to know the prices of things. Some things are excellent bargains while others are not so much.

Teen boys will have a grand time at places such as Game Time Nation where they can play video games for endless hours. You can even try playing games together if you’re brave enough. Fair warning offered here, teens are brutal in their victories and you will never live down your failures in the video game arena with them so study up before hand.

The most important thing to remember about vacationing with your teen is that you’d like them to have some fond memories of your time together, even during their teen years. Take care that you are including them in your plans rather than making their plans for them. It is time they are let into the decision making process to some degree even if it’s allowing either or options or asking them to list a few things they’d like to do and you selecting from those. If you’re having fun it is quite likely that they will eventually join in.

Whether you consider yourself an enthusiastic supporter of art and the arts, it’s hard to deny the fact that New York has a great deal of art to offer those who are willing to seek it. From the graffiti that is so artfully rendered along bridges, buildings, busses, and signs throughout the city to murals and store windows that are so wonderfully made art comes in this city in many forms. You will find artists, sketchers, painters, and those seeking muses wandering around various parts of the city that may be particularly lovely, inspiring, or even forlorn.

The art doesn’t end with sketches, drawings, or paintings. It goes well beyond that. In this great city you will see sculptors with magnificent works that might be inspiring to you and might be utterly and completely unintelligible and you might find art that touches your heart and simply won’t let go. For whatever reason, art for most of us is purely emotional. This isn’t only true for the painter but also for those who witness the beauty of the art that has been created.

There is also pottery, blown glass, metal works, wood works, and literally dozens of other works of art within this city. You can stroll through the many galleries of the city or walk along the streets and through the parks seeking art and the artists that create these wonderful works. You might find the grandest work of art in the hands of the slightest of creatures or in the most unlikely of places. New York is full of surprises that go far beyond the beaten paths.

If you are truly seeking art to bring home from your trip to New York, the best place to look is in second hand or consignment shops. You can generally find nice pieces of art at unbelievably low prices. This is one of the best ways to begin building your collection and there are some second hand shops that specialize in artwork or ‘junk art’. Of course there are galleries that deal with rare second hand art and it is highly unlikely that you’ll find a discount there. Stick to the consignment shops, flea markets and used furniture stores if you are truly seeking some nice pieces that are seriously undervalued.

Keep in mind that the art you choose only needs to speak to you (and hopefully match your décor to some degree, unless of course you are searching for an excuse to redecorate) and doesn’t have to really mean anything at all. When you do find a piece of art that you feel you must own, price is often not a consideration. This makes the fact that you’re looking in a second hand store a much better way to shop. At least in this instance you won’t have to deal with sticker shock from the massively over inflated price tags you will find in most galleries. Of course that is because they are recovering their commissions off the top so you’re automatically knocking off that much of a discount by shopping second hand and off the beaten path.

As a result of the constant movement and often constant stress of keeping pace in the city that never sleeps there is a huge demand for spas, massages, and a service industry that is devoted to helping these over worked, over played, and over stressed people learn to relax. Of course there are other industries in New York City that are equally dedicated to keeping them awake and alert.

If relaxation is the order of the day you will be glad to know that there is a spa on almost every corner in New York City and if your vacation is one in which you wish to have a relaxing time of things then you may want to select a hotel with a spa on the premises and never walk outside. I can’t imagine being in New York City and staying in my hotel the entire time but for some getting away is the only way they’ll be able to leave work and responsibilities behind in order to truly relax and receive the full benefits of a spa treatment.

In addition to the many spas that are available there are also gyms and sports complexes that will allow you to work out your frustrations or aggressions through physical exertion in addition to the many parks scattered throughout the city that offer places to walk, run, jog, ride bikes, roller blade, and participate in dozens of other physical activities as well.

If the physical activity and the spa treatment don’t help you reach your relaxation goals, then perhaps an evening out is in order. You will find all kinds of ways to spend your evenings in New York City. There are bars, lounges, comedy clubs, dance clubs, and simple hotel bars where you can have a nice drink or two to lighten your mood and then head back up to your room without the worry of how you’re going to get back to your room.

Of course, many believe that laughter without a doubt is the best medicine for whatever might ail you so the many comedy clubs around New York might be the best place to look for a night of fun and relaxation. Chances are if you’re standing in New York City, pretty much anywhere you are kind of near a comedy club. If there’s doubt I can almost guarantee that a bellhop or concierge might be able to help you find one close by and rather quickly.

Then of course, there’s the last resort. Well for some, for me it’s the first thought that comes to mind for relaxation: hot tub and massage. Not necessarily in that order but either or both is a great way to spend the evening. If you are fortunate enough to have a loved one along with you it is a great idea to share both the hot tub and the massage. While giving massages to each other is nice, there is something deliciously sinful about lying beside each other while receiving the royal treatment. You know you will be heading back to reality soon so enjoy this while you can.

Vacations do not have to cost a vast fortune, even vacations in cities that are known for being expensive such as New York City. Most people fail to realize that people of all economic backgrounds live in these cities as well and there are some forms of entertainment that offer a little something for everyone and many of these are free. If you plan carefully you can have two or three activities that are low or no cost in one area of the city each day followed by a restful hour or two in your room during the afternoon and a very nice event for each evening. This gives you budget control, down time each day for you and your kids and (if planned right) activities in one general area each day rather than spending a lot of time and money on transportation.

Most cities have city guides that can be found easily online. New York City is no different. In fact there are several city guides. It would be a good idea to find out the activities you can do for little or no cost, choose several of those activities that interest you or may interest other members of your family and see where they are all located in reference to each other. Try to bunch the several that are geographically central to each other for one day’s activities and doing the same for subsequent days.

Keep in mind that you aren’t marrying the plan and shouldn’t overlook things you happen upon that may not have been in the guide or may not have seemed as appealing in the guide as they do in person. Some of the best trips we’ll ever make in life are detours. Not only that, but if you allowed yourself the cushion of time each day I recommended earlier you have the option of adjusting your schedule slightly and enjoying less rest or skipping one of the less appealing items on your itinerary in favor of this new attraction you found.

Vacations are meant to be fun for the entire family. We often forget that and make plans without getting the input of the family. If you do not allow for open dialog and at least get some input from all family members no one is going to enjoy the vacation. The kids are going to be fussy and irritated, the spouse is going to feel neglected and overlooked, and you are going to feel that no one is sticking to the plan. This is why getting everyone to look over the plan, sign off on the plan, and to compromise is by far the best way to go about things. This way everyone has input, everyone gets something that is important to them out of the vacation experience, and there are no major surprises or upsets involved. Everyone knows what to expect along the way.

It is better by far when you can build happy vacation memories rather than of hours spend in the hot sun with cranky children who feel as though no one is taking their input seriously or spending a day with cranky spouses in desperate need of some downtime themselves. So plan for these times as well as the activities (particularly the more costly activities) in which you will participate. No ahead of time where the bulk of your money will be spent and make it clear that there is only so much money to be spent. Many people don’t keep close enough track of vacation spending and find they’ve spent far more than they anticipated.

If you are considering a vacation in New York, planning ahead is the only way to go. There are simply so many things to see and do that you must have at least a general idea of how you want to spend your days before you can even begin to get started. New York is one of the greatest cities in the world, it didn’t get that way without a reason and it has a long history that is part of its greatness.

If I were to choose how to spend my time in New York and what wonderful things about New York City to introduce my children to, I would choose to introduce them to those things that bore the most historical significance first in order for that to really sink in and not be competing with the Nintendo Store or the really cool keyboard at FAO Schwarz. I would want my children to understand the history of our country good and bad and I want them to someday instill in their own children the importance of that history.

By visiting the national parks first, I will have enjoyed the benefits of the price tag (free is good almost anyway you slice it, particularly when you and your children are getting an education) in addition to fresh minds on which to impart this crucial knowledge about the birth of our democracy. Ellis Island is a great place to visit, but I think I will show them the statue from afar rather than taking the ferry ride out there. There is just so much to do in New York and every second counts. I want them to have a wonderful time as much as I want them to gain some wonderful insights that they can share with their friends at school as well (something other than the latest and greatest new Game Cube game that is coming out soon).

Some of the important national parks I’d like to take my children include: Federal Hall, where Washington was inaugurated, Grant’s Tomb, Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthplace, and Castle Clinton, which was designed in order to keep invaders out. I would also like to take them to Saint Paul’s Church. Not for religious reasons but for Religious freedom issues. I think there is an important lesson to be learned here even today, perhaps especially today.

I think the lessons that can be learned about the history of our nation in New York City are just as important as the lessons that can learned in Washington or Philadelphia. This country has taken many steps along the road to democracy and we’ve stumbled a few times along the way. There would have never been the Salem Witch Trials, the Civil War, or the Civil Rights Movement if he hadn’t but we’ve come so far and still have so far to go. I want my children to learn from our past and to look forward to our future.

I think these are the lessons we can learn from our state parks and those are much more valuable than the lessons we can learn in toy stores and throwing Frisbee in Central Park. I want my children to visit museums and toy stores and see new cultures, I also want them to take home with them a deep sense of the history of our great nation.

On a government level, this usually include city or township governments, local governments, Native American tribal governments, special district governments and state governments. Various federal agencies are at work here and this may include the Department of Justice, Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce to name a few.

For schools, these consist of public and state controlled institutions of higher education, independent school districts and private institutions of higher education that are under the Department of Education.

For housing, a federal grant is usually given to public and Indian housing authorities that fall under the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Non-profit organizations may also get a federal grant. This is regardless if the organization has or does not have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.

Small businesses may also avail of a federal grant as long as it meets the size standards that are set by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

To give you an idea, this includes most manufacturing and mining industries that have 500 employees, wholesale trade industries that have 100 employees, retail and service industries that make $6 million, general & heavy construction industries that make $28.5 million, special trade contractors that make $12 million and agricultural industries that make $0.75 million.

If your organization is not within the standards set the by the SBA, you can check their website to find out if there is another way to get a federal grant.

Individuals may also apply for a federal grant as long as this is not used for personal gain. To do this, you submit your application together with your proposal not on not on behalf of a company, organization, institution, or government. Remember you can apply for a grant proposal that is catered to organizations and vice versa.

To find out what federal grants there are available, you are advised to go online at grants.gov. As you explore the site, you will be able to see if you qualify and what are the requirements.

You can even complete the application form and submit this online. You also have the option to download everything and then send this through registered mail.

After visiting the website, you will notice that anyone is eligible for the Federal Grant. Since there are not that many programs issues every year and this is divided into the different federal agencies, you should write a very good proposal detailing what you want to achieve.

So you can monitor the update of your application, don’t forget your CFDA Number, Funding Opportunity Number, Competition ID or Grants.gov Tracking Number.

If you don’t get it this year, don’t be discouraged and try again the following year or whenever it is once again open. Be sure to submit all the documents on or before the deadline so whichever agency that will handle your application will have ample time to review your proposal.

Once you get the federal grant, spend it wisely because the money you are using belongs to the taxpayer.

But what is a federal grant? Basically it is financial assistance given from one of the 26 federal agencies. When it is given, it is suppose to carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by a law of the United States.

There are two types of federal grants namely project and formula grants.

Those covered by the project grants are those aimed for the arts, education, health care, scientific research, social services and technology development.

The formula grants on the other hand are mandated by law and there are various levels for this type of grant namely categorical, block and earmark grants.

Categorical grants have a narrowly defined purpose and recipients must have the same amount of money needed to avail of this program. To get a block grant, you don’t need to produce the same amount of capital. Of the three, earmarks grants are quite controversial because lobbyists not ordinary people are the ones involved in securing it.

But how do you apply for a federal grant? To apply for it, you have to fill up an application form and then attach certain documents with it. The most important of which happens to be your proposal.

Your proposal should not only have a nice cover letter. It must have something worth reading from beginning to end.

While introductions are nice, those reviewing the proposal would like to know more based on the problems your proposal wishes to address, the objectives, how you propose to do it, how much money you will need, the length of time of the project, the measures of success and in the end, a summary of what you are proposing.

If you are able to submit a good proposal which falls under Executive Order 12372 and you are able to get the support of business and community leaders as well as elected officials, the chances of it being awarded are much higher.

Before you send out your proposal for the federal grant, write it one or two times and then have this checked by an outside party. If you are not happy with the proposal, rewrite it again because everything should be clear and concise.

When the final draft has been made, bind everything together using either clamps or hard covers. To get good points, find out from the Federal agency you are writing to which one they prefer. Send this by registered mail and just wait for a reply from the government.

Aside from the federal grant, this is also offered by private non-profit organizations such as foundations, not-for-profit corporations or charitable trusts which are all collectively referred to as charities. So don’t lose hope if your application for a federal grant was given to someone else.

You just have to go through the same process because this is the way it is done when you need funding for a special project.

The federal grant is one way for the government to give back the money that it gets from the taxpayers. If after careful review the committee sees that your project will benefit your community or even a greater number of its citizens, there is no doubt that this will be awarded to you.

The first is the Agency for International Development. The job of this agency is to provide economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. So if you are organization wants to provide food and other aid to poverty stricken nations, this is the agency you address your proposal to.

On a national level, if you want to encourage volunteers to help fellow Americans, you can address your grant proposal to the Corporation for National and Community Service.

If you are a farmer and have not yet switched to organic farming, you can get a federal grant from the US Department of Agriculture.

The country’s economy needs to thrive despite the economic recession. If you have ideas that can help sustain that or provide jobs to thousands that are currently unemployed, you can write a grant proposal to the Department of Commerce.

After 9/11, the US government have stepped up efforts to prevent terrorist attacks from happening again. If you have an idea that could help improve that both at home and abroad, you can apply for a federal grant through the Department of Defense, the Department of State or the Department of Homeland Security.

Our children are the future of this nation and this can only be done through the educational system. If your organization wants to improve the quality of education, your grant proposal should be addressed to the Department of Education.

Scientific research is important as the president encourages renewable energy sources. If you have ideas in mind that could further reduce the dependency on oil and other non-renewable resources, you can get federal funding from the Department of Energy.

The health of the citizens is important. If you have ideas which you want to explore that will help the current healthcare system, you can send your application and proposal to the Department of Health and Human Services.

A lot of people have lost their homes and their jobs due to the recession. If you know a way how to improve the housing or the unemployment situation, send your proposal to the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Department of Labor.

The country should always support the arts and its history. While we have museums and other institutions that do that, new ideas are always welcome so you can write a proposal to the National Endowment for the Arts, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Archives and Records or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

People should be more concerned about the environment especially since we have begun to experience climate change. To continue this struggle and to protect the environment even more, a grant proposal must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA.

The various federal agencies mentioned focus on a lot of things from agriculture all the way to the nation’s security. When you do apply for a federal grant, this is not for personal gain but rather your contribution to make this country a better place for you and your children to live in.

Those who can apply for a grant should establish that they are organizations established for public purpose.  Federal grants are provided to increase the capability of the organization to provide public service and public-driven activities.

Aside from encouraging non-government organization to assist the public,  federal grants also help the federal government to establish a working relationship and partnership with other organizations without spending too much.  These grants also help in combining resources and expertise from the government and those in the non-government organizations for the benefit of the public.

One thing is clear with federal grants though, it cannot be used to acquire or buy any property or services for the benefit of the federal government.  But it can be used by any means by the recipient through any kind of activities created by the organization or by any means following the restrictions created by federal government who granted the assistance.

Even with the intention of helping out the public, the grant cannot be used on any expeditious method of acquiring services.  There are always requirements and particularities mentioned in the contract upon the presentation of the grant.

The truth is federal grant is not “free money or financial aid”.  A grantee or the recipient of the grant is required to fulfil obligations expected by the federal government who awarded the grant.  If the recipient for any reason failed to comply with the responsibilities that the grant requires, the recipient would definitely face legal woes.

Most of the projects by non-government organization who received a grant would include re-training of workers who have just recently lost their jobs, projects that would attract investors in depressed localities, street or road projects, and other projects or programs similar to these.

Aside from fulfilling the obligations awarded along with the grant, the recipient should also be prepared for complete financial auditing that the government will do.  The grant money spent should be properly accounted for and have followed the restrictions that come with grant money.  The money not spent is forwarded to the National Treasury.  If there would be changes while the grant money is being used, the government should be notified and approve the said changes.  If there is a time frame or project phasing, the dates should be met accordingly.

Usually, a grant will be take as long as 3 years.  All those three years should be properly accounted for.  Government audits are done at least annually.  Not following these rules or any guidelines stated by the grant could result to imprisonment due to theft of public funds and other economic and legal trouble.

Federal grants also have similar programs outside the United States.  There are subsidies offered by other countries’ governments to charities and foundations to subsidize and continue their projects.

To acquire for a grant, it is important to prepare it like how you prepare a business plan.  When writing or applying for a grant, the reasons for applying and the how to public will benefit fro the project should be clearly stated.  You would like to make an impact on the federal agency reviewing the federal grant application.

Government money came from the public, therefore it is important to make sure that the public’s money serve the people.  And that is what federal grants are for.