East Coast events for your American tour

Thursday, 30 December 2010 4:20 PM

America’s East Coast offers a range of exciting events for gap year travellers, and for this reason Virgin Atlantic has picked out the best of the bunch to spark your imagination before you head across the pond.

Start the New Year with a swimming experience like no other. New York’s most eccentric swimmers will gather at the Boardwalk on Coney Island on January 1 for a freezing plunge into the Atlantic.

Once you’ve dried off and warmed up, why not take a tour round the nearby New York Aquarium before heading into central Manhattan to grab a bargain in the January sales?

Alternatively, if you’re looking to try some new food in 2011, then the Boston Chowderfest could be just up your street. This summer event features twelve of the city’s most famous restaurants serving up hot and creamy seafood soup in an attempt to win your vote and be crowned the best of Boston.

Just a few dollars gets you unlimited access and tastings for this gastronomic festival, which runs from June 29 up until to July 3.

Virgin Atlantic flights to New York start from £425 return, while Boston can be reached for just £447 per person. For more information, visit: www.virginatlantic.com

Best places to celebrate St Patrick’s Day

Although an Irish festival, St Patrick’s Day parades and celebrations seem to have been adopted throughout the entire world. Whether you’re backpacking across the United States, a gap year working holiday in Australia or simply travelling around Europe - here are the best places to celebrate St Paddy’s Day.

Best American street food

While countries in South East Asia, Europe and the Middle East have created delicious kinds of traditional street food for centuries, the Americans have taken it to a whole new level. This is where the evolution of street food has happened – from the American pizza, to the Philly pretzel and the Tex-Mex burrito.

Global recipes: Haggis

To celebrate Burns Night tonight, the birthday of the great Scottish poet – Robert Burns, we’re teaching you to make haggis, for a traditional Burns Night supper. Not a recipe for the faint hearted, due to its use of sheep’s stomach, haggis is most often bought, but if you want to have a go then here’s your chance. Haggis is traditionally served with neeps and tatties – mashed swede and potatoes.