Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

120  NE W Y ORK CIT Y & THE MID-A TLANTIC REGION

Practical Information Atlantic City. Seat belts are
required for drivers and front-
Successful traveling around New York, New Jersey, and seat passengers in the entire
Pennsylvania benefits from advance planning, simply because Mid-Atlantic Region. Most
there is so much to see and do in such a concentrated area. states also require seat belts
The major cities are packed with attractions, hotels, and for back-seat passengers, and
child seats are required for all
restaurants, while the expansive and diverse areas in between automobile occupants age 4
often double as resort areas, catering to city-dwellers in need and under. Speed limits vary
of a change of pace. Depending upon the time, you can explore but are usually 70 to 75 mph
significant historical sights, appreciate stunning scenery, take (113 to 121 km/h) on Interstate
in a local celebration, or simply relax along the coast. Highways outside of densely
populated urban areas, weather
permitting. Talking on a cell
phone while driving is danger-
Tourist Information
toppling due to strong winds. ous and against the law.
New York, New Jersey, and Western New York State and
Pennsylvania each publishes a Pennsyl vania experience Events & Festivals
wide variety of informative, richly extreme winter conditions;
illustrated travel brochures. All the Adirondacks face severe New York City and the
of this information can be winter storms and sub-zero Mid-Atlantic states stage a
ordered by telephone or temperatures, while sudden diverse range of annual
accessed via websites, and heavy snowfalls often cause community, regional, and
further information is available chaos in New York City. Visitors national festivals. One of the
from the multitude of local should listen for weather nation’s most unusual annual
and regional tourism bureaus warnings and broadcasts on events takes place in central
across the three states. The the radio and TV. Pennsylvania on February 2,
wealth of available information when a chubby rodent named
covers climate, transportation, “Punxsutawney Phil” wakes up
attractions, accommodations, Getting Around from his winter hibernation on
restaurants, recreation, festivals, Unlike much of the US, the Groundhog Day. “Phil” forecasts
regional history, and much more. Mid-Atlantic is a region where the advent of spring, which in
you can get around without a US folklore is related to whether
car. Some of the faster train he can see his shadow. In
Natural Hazards services in the US link New York March, as an expression of New
Thunderstorms occur frequently and Washington, DC with York City’s strong Irish heritage,
across the Mid-Atlantic Region. Philadelphia, bringing the two the city politicians and other
A basic precaution that visitors cities within an hour of each characters march through the
should take, if they find other. Other lines run across city as part of a boisterous
themselves in the middle of a Pennsylvania, up the Hudson St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
sudden storm, is never to stand Valley between New York City Summer brings a deluge of
under a tree, as they are perfect and Albany, then across to outdoor events, fireworks,
targets for lightning strikes. Also, Buffalo and Niagara Falls, and concerts in city parks.
there is danger of the tree and between Philadelphia and Street festivals are the norm
for community celebrations of
the July 4 Independence Day
The Climate of the Mid-Atlantic Region holiday. County and state fairs
Weather across the vast Mid-Atlantic Region can be as varied as crop up in the Mid-Atlantic
the scenery. New York’s Adirondack countryside in July and August,
Mountains are famed for the NEW YORK CITY as do music festivals like the
extremities of climate, while in Glimmerglass Opera Festival
Long Island and the coastal areas in Cooperstown. The Christmas
of New Jersey the climate is ºF /°C 79/26 shopping season kicks off with
milder. Western New York and 69/20 the annual extravaganza of
Pennsylvania see some of the 59/15 63/17 massive inflatable figures in
nation’s heaviest snowfalls in 32°F 43/6 49/9 the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day
37/3
winter. By late spring, the snows 0°C 26/-3 parade in New York City.
melt and the foliage returns to the
gardens. Summer brings warm 17 20 19 16
weather and high humidity, and days days days days Sports
thunderstorms that can put a 3.8 4 3 3
sudden end to a pleasant day. in in in in With high-quality professional
Late summer and fall have month Apr Jul Oct Jan teams in every major sport, the
comparatively stable weather. New York and Mid-Atlantic
Region is a great place to watch

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