Rather than stay cooped up at home, surrounded by leftovers and the boob tube, choose from this list of nine adventurous and relaxing activities in NYC and beyond to help launch a live out loud 2014.
Winter Hike: Storm King Mountain
Get the heart racing, burn off the holiday calories and break away from the city on a six-mile intermediate hike with Outdoor Bound throughout Storm King State Park in the Hudson Valley. Enjoy 14 spectacular snowy overlooks and conquer two peaks in the highlands. $69
A Chocolate Getaway
So you’ve sworn off sweets for 2014, even though the diet books and Joy Bauer say you have to reward yourself every once in a while. Go for a hard workout in the morning then make your way over the bridge to Fulton Ferry Pier where the Dominican Republic’s Cacao Prieto has opened a pop-up chocolate shop inside the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. Share something dark and enjoy the views of Manhattan.
Spend the Day in a Cozy Café
Make the most of the first of the New Year with a delicious brew and a good book you haven’t had time to finish (or start one you just got for the holidays) at one of these six cozy, quiet cafés in Brooklyn. If you’re finally ready to work on that book, bring the laptop and enjoy free wi-fi with your eco-friendly beans and a crackling fire.
Let Loose
If your New Year’s resolution is to become a pop star or caroling didn’t sate your singing voice, stake out a spot in the limelight at Union Hall in Brooklyn, where a special edition of Karaoke Killed the Cat will be underway for free at 11:30pm. Have some Drunken Jamaican Wings, play a little Bocce, and get ready to rock the mic.
Get High
Nothing quite compares to the feeling of flying through the air, albeit on safety lines. Never tried the Trapeze? Well, what better time to try something new—and awesome like aerial artistry—than on the first day of a new year? Pull on those leggings, have a good long stretch, climb the ladder 23 feet, and commence flying. Slots sell out fast, so book now. (There are also Trapeze Schools in Boston or D.C. if you happen to be out of town for the holidays.) $65+$22 one-time registration fee.
Listen Up
Baby it’s warm inside at Barbès in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where an incredibly long and diverse list of spirits, a cozy ambiance, and free wi-fi are just a few reasons why you should spend your New Year’s night here. You’re in for a treat with the western swing band Brain Cloud who is set to perform its Tiffany radio-inspired tunes; you can’t help but tap your feet and nod your head to the sounds of the fiddle.
Photo: Courtesy of Karaoke Killed the Cat
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
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Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
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