Get Your Ride On

You know a Manhattan Spring is in full bloom when our parks become the city’s cultural hub. With today's companies more and more conscious about the health of their top performers, creative (and affordable) ways to include some athletic teambuilding look to be a hot fixture of 2009 New York incentive and meetings travel. What better way to experience Manhattan’s outer beauty than by bike? Two of the best--and safest--routes in town are the Central Park loop and the path along the Hudson River in Riverside Park. Meeting planners looking to save a little money can skip the $25-a-head continental breakfast and plan a custom bicycle excursion instead. Even on weekday afternoons, Central Park bustles with activity, and Riverside Park boasts one-of-a-kind views of the George Washington Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

After an active bike excursion, your group is bound to need a little nourishment. Luckily, some of Manhattan's best-kept-secret-restaurants are within two blocks of the parks, and they’d love nothing more than to provide a special lunch you'll be talking about long after you return home. So if you want to add a little value to your 2009 conference, we are glad to suggest a few ways to start by adding a few breaths of fresh air.