New York is the ultimate city break destination as far as millions of tourists are concerned. There's fantastic shopping, wonderful restaurants, bars, theatres, museums and world famous landmarks. In the winter you can go skating in Central Park, in the summer you can hire a boat and go rowing on the lake. And all year round there's a great zoo.

Regardless of your family's interests, you will have no trouble filling a week's holiday in New York. The Empire State Building, the United Nations, Central Park with its wonderful zoo, Time Square and its various shops, the bright lights of Broadway and dozens of museums and art galleries. If you get even slightly bored, you can wander around Central Park looking for locations for famous scenes from films, and if you wander a little further you'll usually bump into a film crew. If you're interested in money saving, take care with sights such as the Statue of Liberty. You can spend a lot of money on a boat trip past the statue, but given that boats no longer land on Liberty Island, you might as well just take the Staten Island Ferry. It's free and you still get a great view. While looking at Liberty Island, many tourists will now also take in a trip to Ground Zero to pay their respects at the former World Trade Centre.

Colorado is home to no less than twenty-six ski resorts such as those in Vail and Breckenridge; other winter activities include snowboarding, sledding, sleigh rides, snow hiking and snowmobiling. The state is blessed with national parks, grasslands and forests where in warmer weather you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking or rock climbing. Wildlife abounds, from bears to moose and raccoons to wolverines. More interested in local history? Head for either the Ute Indian Museum or the Koshare Indian Museum, and don't miss the forts such as Fort Garland and Bent's Old Fort. For a complete change, why not take a ride in a hot air balloon from South Park Valley or Boulder and admire Colorado's picturesque landscape from above?

Maryland is a state situated on the eastern seaboard of the United States of America. It is close in proximity to Virginia and West Virginia and these three states are steeped in history as prime battle zones during the American Civil War. As well as its rich history, however, Maryland also is blessed with some beautiful and tranquil locations which mean it’s a great destination for an American holiday.

Situated in Garrett County on the western side of Maryland, the Deep Creek Lake area offers the appeal of mountains, forests, rivers and Maryland’s largest freshwater lake. It’s a fantastic destination for those who like activity holidays or who simply like the opportunity to get away from the frantic pace of city life!

The list of activities that can be enjoyed is impressive and includes hiking, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, fishing, biking, and in the winter there’s the opportunity to experience ice fishing or to indulge in some skiing or snowboarding. At Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park, there’s even the opportunity for your family to experience “snow tubing”, courtesy of 800 foot tubing lanes. All you have to do is get on the tube and then brace yourself for the exciting and bumpy descent!

If you’re looking for sights that will delight and thrill, then it’s not just the mountains to the west of Maryland that you should check out. Assateague Island on the east coast is famous for its feral horses and it’s a magic sight to see them galloping along the sands. The island is 37 miles long and can be accessed by bridge, meaning you can travel right to Assateague Island’s fabulous beaches by car. However, having got there, make sure you ditch your car and explore the island and its coastline by foot, canoe, or kayak.

As you’d expect, the island is popular with sunbathers and also offers pretty much the full range of beach-related activities that you’d expect to find at any top notch beach resort. It’s a great spot for indulging in some sea angling, casting a lure out into the breakers. Or you can swim, fly kites, or book onto a kayak trip to explore the island’s secluded nooks and crannies. It’s also worth taking a look at the Assateague Lighthouse which was built in 1867 and is open for public tours during the summer months at weekends.

A good base for exploring Maryland’s eastern reaches is the charming little town of Berlin, situated within close distance of Assateague Island and which is brimming with its own history and attractions.