What: Hornblower New York’s Red, White and Cruise
Where: Departs from Pier 40, West Village
When: July 4, 2012. Boarding time is 5:00 p.m. Anchors aweigh at 6:00 p.m.
Why: When New York is ablaze with American pride next month, instead of watching the magic unfold on the boob tube or from the streets, wedged between sweaty strangers, you could have a front row seat to the fireworks. Thanks to Hornblower, NYC’s newest (and greenest) cruise company, two lucky people will take in the Independence Day festivities for free aboard the gorgeous 210-foot yacht Infinity. Enjoy sparkling skyline views, unlimited booze, delicious, locally-sourced food—think crab cakes, pulled pork sliders, vegetable dumplings, pastries galore—DJ entertainment, and dancing all night long on the Hudson River. Talk about a truly spectacular 4th of July.
Value of the giveaway: $350
How to enter to win:
1) Follow us on Twitter and tweet this message (if you already follow us, just tweet!):
“Win two tickets to Hornblower’s July 4th dinner and dancing cruise. Just follow @offMetroNY and RT! http://bit.ly/freejuly4cruise”
OR
2) Sign up for our email list. (If you’re already a subscriber, you are automatically entered for a chance to win the giveaway.)
Note: Tickets are for use on Red, White & Cruise package on July 4, 2012 only. Not valid on any other cruise or date, no cash value. Gratuity is additional on board. Reservations must be made in advance by contacting Lindsey Guinn at lguinn@hornblower.com.
Directions: Take the 1 train to Houston subway stop. (Hornblower NY, hornblower.com)
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.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
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.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram