Held annually in Randall's Island in New York City, The Governors Ball Music Festival is a multi-day music festival, featuring a mix of genres and styles of music, including rock, electronic, hip-hop, indie, Americana, pop, folk, and more. Launched back in 2011, the event is produced by Founders Entertainment, a New York City-based festival promotion company that also produces The Meadows Music & Arts Festival.  Previous event: May 31-June 2, 2019.

Next one will be 5-7 June 2020.

Apart from the music performances, the festival also provides activities and games as well as large number of popular New York restaurants and food trucks. Whether you want to dance the night away or sit back and indulge yourself in some delicious meal, The Governors Ball Music Festival caters to all tastes and moods. As the organisers state on the event's official website: “The next best thing after live music is delicious food, and Gov Ball features some of the best eats in town. With help from our friends at The Infatuation, we select restaurants, food trucks, and menus that prove why NYC is the foodie capital of the world.”

Some of the activities featuring in the event include mini golf, silent discos, interactive photo booths, life-size board games, and unique outdoor activities.

2018 headliners included Eminem, Jack White, and Travis Scott, along with a fantastic lineup: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Post Malone, James Blake, Shawn Mendes, Damian ‘Jr. Gong' Marley, The Glitch Mob, Maggie Rogers, 6lack, Dram, Godlink, Tash Sultana, Alvvays Wolf Alice, Belly Flight Facilities, Pond, Two Feet, Sir Sly, A$AP Twelvyy, Lou The Human, Lophile, Slaves, Silk City (Diplo + Mark Ronson, The Gaslight Anthem, 2 Chainz, Cut Copy, Galantis, Russ, Manchester Orchestra, Pusha T, Kelela, Japandroids, Lany, The Menzingers, Jay Electronica, Moses Sumney, Aurora, VHS Collection, Cuco, The Spencer Lee Band, Mikky Ekko, The Regrettes, N.E.R.D., Khalid, Chvrches, Lil Uzi Vert, Sylvan Esso, Dirty Projectors, Amine, Kali Uchis, Margo Prince, Vic Mensa, Third Eye Blind, Billie Eilish, Quinn XCII, The Struts, Middle Kids, Knox Fortune, Westside Gunn & Conway, Berhana, Alice Merton, and Confidence Man.

If you are planning on attending this festival, here is some useful information. You should bring sunscreen, hats and sunglasses as it is quite sunny. You should also bring earplugs, non-professional film and digital cameras, factory sealed bottles of water (non-glass containers) or better yet, bring an empty refillable bottle, phone charging case or phone charger, a super sweet outfit, small backpacks or bags, blankets or beach towels, valid Driver's License for will-call and/or to drink alcohol, comfortable shoes, not just a good attitude… a GREAT attitude. What is not allowed at the event are weapons, fireworks, illegal substances, tobacco/smoking products of any kind, outside food - a personal sized food item is allowed for those with specific dietary restrictions, with a doctor's note only - large or hard sided coolers, picnic baskets, skateboards, scooters, or personal motorised vehicles, large umbrellas (personal sized are okay), hard back chairs/lawn furniture, totems made of wood, metal and/or PVC material will NOT be allowed (this includes flap poles and heavy sticks), pets, glass containers of any kind, alcohol, instruments, chains, large backpacks, selfie sticks, laser pointers, professional still camera equipment, audio/video recording equipment, drones or hover cameras, emotional baggage, no illegal vending is permitted, and anything really valuable.

The festival takes place in two adjacent fields of Randall's Island Park: the Harlem River Event Area (right by Icahn Stadium) and the Randall's Island Golf Center Driving Range. The two main entrances are the East Entrance - located right next to Ichan stadium, which is for people who arrive by MTA bus, taxis/ubers, the Queens RFK bridge walkway, and the 103rd street footbridge - and the West Entrance - located right by the ferry dock, which is for people who arrive by Manhattan Ferry and the Manhattan RFK bridge walkway.

The event has been described by The New York Times as “A Festival with a New York Heart.” And the organisers said on their website that they live and breathe music: “We started all this 8 years ago because we were music lovers who lived in a city that needed - that deserved - a contemporary music festival. Music is always our primary focus, and with 60+ artists of all genres across 4 stages, there is something for everyone.”

Second largest Hawaiian island, Maui is famous for its top-class beaches, the sacred Iao Valley, migrating whales, and ethereal sunrise and sunset from Haleakala. Also known as “The Valley Isle,” this Hawaiian island has been voted “Best Island in the U.S.” by Conde Nast Traveler readers for over 20 years.

Maui is home to the world's largest dormant volcano, Haleakala, which towers over the island of Maui and is visible from any point. At 10,023, this volcano is the setting of magnificent landscapes and skyscapes.

The name of Haleakala stems from the Hawaiian language and it means “house of the sun.” The name stems from a legend that tells that the demigod Maui diverted the sun from its journey across the sky as he stood on the volcano's summit, and therefore it slowed its descent and made the day last longer.

The Haleakala Visitor Centre attracts numerous visitors who flock to the volcano to watch what many have referred to as the most spectacular sunrise on earth. As the sun starts to appear over the horizon, a range of colours and light dance across the sky, which was described by Mark Twain as “the most sublime spectacle I have ever witnessed.”

Although the sunrise and sunset are a good reason to visit Haleakala, visitors also flock to the volcano to admire the otherworldly landscapes that range from deserts to rock gardens near the summit to lush waterfalls and streams in the park's coastal Kipahulu section, near Hana and the beautiful Pools of Oheo.

There's no better to explore this magnificent volcano than by paragliding off its slopes.

Proflyght

Paragliding has daily flights taking off from the slopes of Haleakala, which at 10,000 feet is the highest peak on Maui. You don't have to start with the highest peak, but begin with the shorter 1,000-foot descent. Those more experienced can try the 3,000-foot option features up to 15 minutes of airtime over the island's lush tropical landscape and lavender farms.

Proflyght Paragliding is owned and operated by Advanced Tandem Instructor Dexter Binder. All of their instructors are certified by the United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association. They are the oldest and only full-time paragliding school in Hawaii.

Located on the lee side of Mt. Haleakala, Polipoli Flight Park is protected from the trade winds and is flyable around 330 days a year. Its unique geography allows pilots to fly for about two to three hours in the morning until the clouds begin to appear.

The “Ferns” launch consists of 3,000 feet descent to landing zone. On good days, you will have the chance to launch two to three times from Ferns before the clouds shut down the launch. On these flights you can expect to get lift at 300 fpm to 600 fpm.

“Echoes” launch is 1,000 feet to landing zone. “Echoes is simply the top of our training hill,” organisers state on Proflyght website. “With a thousand feet of grass, and numerous top-landing spots, it is the perfect pace to hone your skills. Cloud base is usually above the launch, so it's possible to get multiple flights in one morning!”

There are also other Maui flying sites are maintained by local hang gliding and paragliding pilots, but they are not affiliated with Proflyght Paragliding.

You don't have to visit an exotic place to go waterfall rappelling. Climbing outfitter Northeast Mountaineering offers the opportunity to try in in New England, in The White Mountains. Covering a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Main, the White Mountains are the most rugged mountains in New England.

Waterfall rappelling through New Hampshire's White Mountains has often been described as the best extreme outdoor adventure in America. Here you'll have the chance to rappel the Ripley Falls, one of New Hampshire's magnificent, 100+ foot waterfalls with the spectacular scenery of the White Mountains surrounding you.

You will have the opportunity to enjoy a short hike into the falls before you hike up to the top and rappel back down. During this adventure, you can skip any rappels that you are not comfortable with, and if you feel like sitting the whole experience out, there is an option to walk back down. There are mountain guides guarding all rappels, so this experience is the safest it can be.

You will meet your guides at the Bunkhouse at Northeast Mountaineering in Bartlett, NH at your designated time. The operator will take 30 minutes to outfit you with any rental gear, watch an introduction video and learn to rappel at the Bunkhouse. If you are cliff rappelling instead, you will meet your guides at the Bunkhouse at Northeast Mountaineering in Bartlett, NH at 10am.

“The Hike to Ripley Falls is 0.5 miles and usually take approximately 20-30 minutes. The trail is classified as Easy/Moderate by White Mountain standards. These standards may differ from the ratings you are used to. It is uphill the entire way and there any many roots, rocks, mud, and loose footing. The last 0.1 mile of the trail to the top of the waterfall is particularly steep and requires care. This adventure also requires an easy river crossing. Participants need to be able to walk on rough, rugged trails, have a solid sense of balance, and be in reasonable physical shape.”

You should wear synthetic materials that will dry out quicker than cotton, including wool, polyester, or techwich. “For Waterfall Rappelling, please bring sneakers, water shoes, strap-on sandals or hiking boots that can get soaked as you will be standing in water at times. You will appreciate having a towel and a dry shirt for after the fun has ended. A small backpack to carry these items plus some food and water is recommended. For Cliff Rappelling, please wear comfortable activewear. We recommend that you wear a t-shirt and shorts because you will be wearing a harness.” They also recommend you should bring a small backpack to carry these items as well as some food and water.

New York Zipline boasts the largest zipline canopy tour in North America and second largest in the world, you'll be whizzing with 600 feet above ground just under the highway speed limit along a 3,200-foot cable. There's also a milder option for beginners which is the 650-food-long midmountain tour, which also traverses rope bridgs and a rappel.

New York Zipline is located just two hours north of NYC, at Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl. They run three family friendly adventures, which are the SkyRider, Mid Mountain Canopy Tour and the Adventure Tower. On the operator's website, the organisers state ‘as a leader in the industry with over 30 years' experience, Canopy Tours adheres to the strictest safety and construction guidelines in the industry.”

New York Zipline also has a sister local which is Jamaica Zipline Adventure. They claim that their outdoor activities are designed as challenged-by-choice and are known for “our professionally trained and enthusiastic guide staff that combine entertainment with our superior safety standards.”

Before you book your ride, you need to meet certain requirements. Given the gravity-fed nature of these ziplines and to keep your speed and zipline arrivals safe, there are weight and height requirements. For the adventure tower, you need to be at least 4'2'' tall. For Mid Mountain & Night Zipline Tour, you need to weigh between 60 and 250 pounds, and should be no taller than 6'5''. For the SkyRider Tour you need to weight between 110 and 260 pounds and be no taller than 6'5''.

New York Zipline Canopy Tours features a family friendly tour which is the Mid Mountain Tour. this adventure sweeps you off your feet and into the tree canopy with a variety of activities. This adventure is particularly recommended for first timers, and it also suits any thrill seeker. The ride rewards you with wonderful views of the spectacular backdrop of the Catskill Mountains.

The Night Zip Tour takes place on the Mid Mountain Tour. This is an adventure that is family friendly and is accompanied by the moon and the stars of the night. There are bight tree platforms, topped off by stargazing and nocturnal animal sightings. This adventure features six ziplines and four suspension bridges, along with nine illuminated tree platforms.

The Skyrider tour is the longest, fastest and highest ziplines in North America, which begins with a scenic chairlift or off-road ride to the Summit Lodge. Attend Zipline Pilot training school so you can get a safety briefing and to maximize your skills. This is the most extreme attraction and it lasts three hours.

The Adventure Tower is located at the base of Hunter Mountain and is suitable for all ages. Guests must overcome nine different obstacles as they spiral up the tower.