Travel Tidbits: Good News for Sports Lovers and Bad News for Smokersby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 02 May 2008 06:24 PM GOOD NEWS FOR SPORTS LOVERS I grew up in a house with four guys and every one of them was a sports fanatic (and still is). If your brother, father, son, or husband has dreamed of taking the wheel of a NASCAR racecar or slamming a stick into a NHL hockey puck coming at him at 120 mph make sure your summer travel plans include a stop in New York City. That's where your favorite sports nut (male or female) can experience what life is like as a professional athlete. On May 7th the Sports Museum of America will open its doors to wannabe football, basketball and tennis stars. The 45,000-square-foot museum is housed in three floors of a Lower Manhattan building and contains more than 600 artifacts, 1,100 photos and more than two dozen hands-on exhibits. When you are done eyeing up the original Heisman Trophy you can hit one of the interactive displays where you can vote for the best college football player. The top vote getter will receive the trophy each December at the museum. The museum also features the Billie Jean King International Women's Sport Center, which includes the first hall of Fame dedicated to women's sports. Admission to the Sports Museum of America is $27 for adults, $24 for seniors and students, and $20 for children 4-14. BAD NEWS FOR SMOKERS But good news for travelers who can't stand inhaling second-hand smoke. Attention gamblers who detest smoke-filled casinos: According to hotel execs, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has submitted plans to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs that will make the property the first 100% smoke-free casino in Atlantic City. Which is not to say that the resort is trying to sever ties with its smoking guests. Borgata managers say they will accommodate smoking guests by offering several outdoor lounges that will be designated smoking areas. The outdoor spaces will reportedly be climate-controlled so smokers can feel comfortable as they puff away on their cigarettes. A Borgata spokesperson says by offering smokers a "special area" the hotel will best be able to maintain its "fresh, upscale atmosphere." Borgata execs say the move to create the new smoking areas comes on the heels of the tougher smoking/casino rules that take effect in Atlantic City this fall. The resort could have opted to build non-gaming smoking lounges in its casino area, but it simply chose not to. Planning a trip to New York? Check out these other Big Apple-related articles: Traveling to New York? Think Broadway New York's Must-See Attractions---The Empire State Building New York's Must-See Attractions---The Statue of Liberty Little People in the Big Apple: Central Park Zoo and FAO Schwartz Little People in the Big Apple: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Patriotic Travel Destinations-Taking A Cruise of New York Where To Get Your Chocolate Fix In New York Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevanttravel tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags Atlantic City, family travel, new york, new jersey, sports Discuss this article
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