As is a ride out to Ellis Island on the Statue of Liberty Ferry

As is a ride out to Ellis Island on the Statue of Liberty Ferry. Taking in both the Immigration Museum and the Statue of Liberty this makes a fun and cheap day out. I’ve spent time in New York both in winter and summer and it really is magical wandering through Central Park in the snow and watching the ice-skating. At the Wollman Rink (001 212 396 1010) you can rent ice-skates (US$3.50 for the day).Shopping, of course, will be on your elder daughter’s list. The famous department stores of Macy’s , Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue are key stopping-off points.

You can also visit some of New York’s many museums or attractions such as the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (001 212 721 1234) or the massive Disney store in Times Square.. Popocatepetl roared last week, shooting gas and ash into the thin air of Mexico. If the tallest volcano is off-limits, then I strongly recommend a climb up its near-identical twin, Iztaccihuatl (hereinafter, happily, referred to by its universal nickname, Izta). Popocatepetl (5452m) means “weeping warrior”; Izta (5286m) is “sleeping woman”.

You wouldn’t want to climb “Popo” right now, even if the government allowed it (which it doesn’t), but Izta is there for the taking And December is the month to tackle it. Popocatepetl roared last week, shooting gas and ash into the thin air of Mexico. If the tallest volcano is off-limits, then I strongly recommend a climb up its near-identical twin, Iztaccihuatl (hereinafter, happily, referred to by its universal nickname, Izta). Popocatepetl (5452m) means “weeping warrior”; Izta (5286m) is “sleeping woman”. You wouldn’t want to climb “Popo” right now, even if the government allowed it (which it doesn’t), but Izta is there for the taking.