29/12/2010

78 per cent of us fail to keep our New Year's resolutions, so tourism agency Visit York has come up with ten solutions to help you achieve them.  Visit York, the city's tourism agency, is aiming to help visitors avoid being one of the nearly 8 out of 10* people who fail to keep their New Year resolutions each year with its top ten list of ‘New Year resolutions that'll be a doddle to keep'.

Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of Visit York said, "At this time of year we all pledge to make changes to our lives that we subsequently fail to follow through. We want to help people stick to their New Year's resolutions and have come up with York's top ten easy ways to keep to them'.

According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia men achieved their goals 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting (a system where small measurable goals are set), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from friends.  Male or female, Visit York's easy top ten resolutions for 2011 will help you get fit, save money and finally learn to cook!

 

Visit  York's Easy Resolutions for 2011 are:

 

1              Get Fit

Cycling in York is a doddle...with few hills and a fantastic cycle route network there couldn't be a better excuse to use some pedal power to get around.  Research by the Cyclist Touring Club in 2009 showed that York was the safest place in the UK to cycle.  Book a Yorkshire cycling holiday with Scoot Cycling holidays, visit www.scootcyclingholidays.co.uk or  hire a bike for the day, you can even hire a tandem.  If you prefer both feet on the ground take a walk in the UK's most walking friendly city, visit http://www.yorkwalk.org/ for walking tours.

 

 

2              Save money

Visit York is offering three nights for the price of two at a host of guest houses and hotels up until the end of March, plus to save even more you can buy a two day adult Yorkshire Pass for £30 instead of £42, only available at the Visit York information Centre.  Visit www.visityork.org/342

 

 

3              Try a new career?

In York anyone can become an archaeologist! The Hungate Dig is York's biggest ever archaeological excavation.  Discoveries there have included the remains of 1000 year old buildings as well as the objects that people of Jorvik used in their daily lives, such as knives, combs, pottery and bone ice skates. The dig offers you the chance to make some discoveries of your own by becoming an archaeologist for the day. http://www.dighungate.com/

 

 

4              Learn something new and get creative

York has it all sewn up when it comes to arts and crafts and there's no better place to try out a variety of new hobbies - from knitting to stitching, from beading to papercrafts. Join the trend for quilting at York's Quilt Museum and Gallery, Britain's first museum dedicated to quilt making and textile art, which houses a unique collection of over 700 antique and contemporary quilts from around the British Isles. Create your own quilt at a Viking Loom quilting class.  If quilts don't float your boat, how about a photography?  Visit http://www.jpotter-landscape-photographer.com/ for York based holidays.

 

5              Make some ‘me' time

That's easily solved!  York's Cedar Court Grand Hotel has recently opened a fabulous spa and treatment centre with Swimming Pool, Steam Room, Sauna, Spa Pool and Gym. Hidden away in the vaults of the old North Eastern Railway Headquarters you can choose from a number of treatment packages to relax and rejuvenate with evocative names such as ‘Timeless Surrender in the Heart of York', ‘The Grand Escape' and ‘The Orient Express Overnight Sleeper'.  http://www.cedarcourtgrand.co.uk/

 

 

6              Finally learn to cook properly

Learn to cook some classics at Harmony House Cookery School.  Offering a variety of courses from half day, one day or a two day residential, classes take place in the owners specially adapted country kitchen. You can embrace all things Yorkshire by taking the school's ‘Yorkshire Pride' course or  take part in ‘One For the Boys', a course which offers a day of cooking what men love to eat.  http://www.harmonyhousecookeryschool.co.uk/

 

7              Discover your spiritual side

Stay with the nuns of York's Bar Convent - a Bed and Breakfast establishment, Bar Convent is also the oldest working convent in England and is within an easy walking distance from the city centre. Visit http://www.bar-convent.org.uk/ .  For more inspiration for body and mind book a weekend meditation retreat at the Buddhist centre in Pocklington near York, visit http://www.madhyamaka.org/

 

8              Be more romantic

Romance comes easy in beautiful York.  Betty's Café Tearooms is synonymous with Yorkshire and the York branch is offering  a unique way to show St Valentine's Day romance with a special three-course candlelit meal served to the accompaniment of romantic harp music and followed by tea or coffee with handmade chocolates. Visit http://www.bettys.co.uk/.  Still looking for love?  Get swept off your feet by a Viking at York's Viking Festival 19-27 February, visit  http://www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/

 

9              Spend more time with the kids

Go treasure hunting with the kids, trail leaflets costs just £5 and include all the directions needed for a self guided walk, drive or cycling expedition. The kids will enjoy the 'hide and seek thrill' of having to find the answers to the clues. Pick up your copy of the York Treasure Trail from the Visit York Information Centre at 1 Museum Street as well as online at http://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/

 

10           And finally....feel the fear and do it anyway!

Face your fears and make the most of being in Europe's most haunted city with one of York's year-round ghost walks. The city's compact centre, within the medieval walls, hosts a number of scary ghost walks and tours. The old passageways (snickleways) of York and old medieval buildings make for a really spooky atmosphere.  Visit http://www.visityork.org/ and book a stay during the new Spooksfest in March.

 

For more information visit http://www.visityork.org/

 

*Reported results of a study carried out by the University of Hertfordshire in 2009

 

ENDS