Day 1 You'll See:
NEW YORK CITY - MAY 11: Times Square with tourists on May 11, 2013. Iconified as "The Crossroads of the World" it's the brightly illuminated hub of the Broadway Theater District.
Day 2 You'll See:
- The Today Show
- Rockefeller Center
- Midtown Walking Tour
- Top of the Rock or Empire State Building
Day 3 You'll See:
Day 4 You'll See:
Non-stop action each day allows your group to experience New York in a variety of ways. Starting with a tour of the NBC studio and Rockefeller Center and culminating with unique cultural experience in Chinatown and Greenwich Village, this 4-day tour has so much to offer.
1
Central Park
A stroll through the Big Apple’s gloriously landscaped 843 acre backyard is a mainstay of any NYC experience; a fixture in the minds and hearts of millions, this iconic landmark is an oasis in the heart of the bustling city, offering visitors a fabulous escape from the frenzied crush of crowds and dizzying pace of life in a metro area. Our Country’s first real park features two ice skating rinks, 21 playgrounds, one of the largest merry-go-rounds in the States, its own Zoo and a stunning heirloom rose garden. Central Park is wound about with scenic footpaths; birding and wildlife watching opportunities abound, and boat/kayak rentals can be secured at Loeb Boathouse. Carriage rides through Central Park are an enchanting tradition, and plenty of open-air performance venues treat audiences to countless concerts and productions – the Shakespeare Festival is not to be missed!
Metropolitan Museum of Art
“The Met” is the largest art museum in the United States, housing a stunning compilation of collections displayed in more than 400 galleries and hosting exhibitions and special events throughout the year. Your student group is welcome to explore this grand museum on their own, or enjoy Museum Highlights on a variety of engaging, hour-long special tours departing every fifteen minutes from The Great Hall throughout the day, between 10:15 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
A visit to this “Wax Museum to end all wax museums” is an absolute MUST while exploring New York City. Madame Tussauds presents the ultimate “celebrity wax experience” in the heart of Times Square, showcasing more than 225 celebrity figures so lifelike you may expect them to duck away from your cameras. If you can’t get to Hollywood, Madame Tussauds is the next best thing! A little trivia: THE Madame Tussaud began sculpting at the tender young age of 17; during the French Revolution’s infamous Reign of Terror period, she was arrested and her head shaved in preparation for execution by guillotine. In a phenomenal stroke of good luck, she was spared from that grisly fate and commissioned to create remarkably lifelike death masks from victim’s heads, which were paraded through the streets on poles like horrifying revolutionary flags.
Times Square
While it’s certainly possible to discover that special brand of the metropolitan magic of “The Crossroads of the World” during daylight hours, there’s nothing like experiencing all the vibrancy of Times Square after dark! Its huge digital billboards, brilliant neon lights and sparkling, show-stopping storefronts just a part of the amazing explosion of sights, sounds, and attractions awaiting visitors opting to visit this world-famous intersection in the heart of the Theater District after sundown. Times Square, depicted time and again in popular cinema, is the home of the New Years Eve Ball Drop we all know and love, the Paramount Building, the Good Morning America show and so much more it’s also earned another nickname: “Center of the Universe”!
2
The Today Show
Get up EARLY and head for the Today Show Plaza to watch a live taping at Rockefeller Center! See how it all comes together, with great tips from the pros on how to create a high-visibility poster; pick a spot at the front of the barricade for the best chance to be seen on TV and be sure to tell your friends and family back home to watch for you. If you want a shot at meeting the hosts, be sure to stand by the 49th Street side of the Plaza! How EXCITING...and so New York!
Rockefeller Center Tour
History buffs and sightseers alike absolutely must-see New York City’s most famous landmark. An expert historian will lead you through Rockefeller Center’s gardens, spaces, and buildings as you tag along and enjoy uninterrupted closed circuit narration on your personal headset. Your hour-long journey begins with insight into John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s vision for this cultural center, details its rich history and lights upon the great works of art and fabulous architecture that comprise it today. After your tour, your group may want to further explore the Channel Gardens, wander the Concourse-an incredible network of underground passageways and retailers connecting every building in the Center, or soar to the top of the “Rock” where you’ll thrill to exhilarating, unobstructed and unmatched 360 degree views of Central Park and the city skyline from the safety of three climate-controlled observation decks!
Midtown Walking Tour
Midtown Manhattan is arguably the busiest, most exclusive and most crowded piece of real estate in NYC; a typical “Midtown movie scene” is likely what groups who’ve never been to the Big Apple envision when planning their first trip! Midtown is home to many of the most important NYC landmarks; you’ll find that “classic city skyline”-type architecture here. Stops on this Walking Tour include the Times Square Theater District, Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, The Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and everybody’s favorite Big Apple icon – the Empire State Building! Bring your camera, wear comfortable shoes and prepare to be impressed on this fascinating and educational two-hour trek.
Top of the Rock or Empire State Building
For a bird’s eye view of the City that Never Sleeps, grab your group and beat feet to Rockefeller Center - NYC’s most famous landmark – home to so many businesses it has its own zip code! Step aboard a supersonic elevator and soar straight to the twinkling, LED-lit “Top of the Rock” where you’ll enjoy exhilarating, unmatched and completely unobstructed 360-degree views of Central Park and the breathtaking splendor of the dazzling city skyline from three observation decks. Purchase a special Sun & Stars ticket and score Heavenly views twice in one day – the view after dark is nothing short of spectacular! In an Empire State Building frame of mind? Zip to a comfortable 86th floor stop featuring indoor and outdoor viewing options, or climb 200 feet higher to the climate-controlled privacy of the 102nd-floor observation deck – the highest public point in New York City! Both sky-high perches will offer incredible 360-degree views from 1,250 feet above the heart of Manhattan; on a clear day, you really can see forever – or at least into Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
3
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The 151-foot tall Statue of Liberty was a generous gift to our Nation from the good people of France and is one of the most recognized statues in the world. She stands tall and proud on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, a breathtaking monument to freedom and democracy around the globe. Statue Cruises provide wonderful tours, ferrying you and your group out to our beautiful Lady, then on to landmark Ellis Island’s Immigration Museum for a little family tree research; did your ancestors enter America here?
9/11 Memorial
Every New York City student travel itinerary should include a sobering stop at this stunning memorial, created to observe the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center September 11, 2001, and the devastating bombing on February 26, 1993. The National September 11 Memorial Museum serves as our country's principal institution concerned with exploring the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the untold impact of those unspeakably tragic events, exploring 9/11's continuing significance and honoring the memory of those killed in the senseless attacks with a series of moving and relevant exhibitions, with portraits of more than 3000 9/11 victims displayed on site.
Broadway Vibes
Lower Manhattan Walking Tour
Now that you’ve met Midtown; why not spend a little time exploring Lower Manhattan? This iconic center of business in NYC, the fourth largest business district in the Nation and the place American history started deserves a little of your student group’s time and attention. It’s where the first U.S. Congress assembled and produced the Bill of Rights and where our first President George Washington was first sworn into office. It’s the home of Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange, and it is here, sadly, that the unspeakable 9/11 terrorist attack occurred, and where an important rebirth is underway. Walking tours depart from the Charging Bull Statue, cover approximately one mile’s distance and take around 2 hours to complete. You’ll see Wall Street, Trinity Church, Chinatown, Ground Zero and a host of other landmark attractions.
Broadway Play
Decide what to see, head to the theatre, find your seat, then sit back and enjoy the show – there’s really nothing like catching a live performance on one of the World’s greatest stages! No visit to the Big Apple would be complete without a “Great White Way” experience; with 40 Broadway theatres to choose from, there’s something for everyone – and absolutely no reason to miss out. P.S.: Don’t forget to wait by the stage door for autographs!
4
United Nations Tour
Fantastic one-hour guided tours of the United Nations Headquarters offer an exciting behind-the-scenes view of the Organization at work. You’ll visit the Security Council Chamber, the Trusteeship Council Chamber and the Economic and Social Council Chamber in the newly renovated Conference Building, learn how the United Nations handles important issues such as disarmament and peace and security and have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with multilingual tour guides from 15 different countries!
Macy's Herald Square
Iconic Macy’s Herald Square - a longstanding NYC shopping tradition, especially around the Holidays – is billed as the largest department store in the world; it presently occupies an entire city block and features eleven floors housing a huge inventory of more than half a million items. Over the past 150 years, it has become a true New York City icon; built in 1902, Macy's Herald Square was the first building to house the modern-day escalator. Explore on your own, or opt for a popular guided tour; you’ll learn all about the mega-stores incredible retailing history and unique architecture, discover tried-and-true merchandising industry secrets like why products for the home are sold on the top floor and find out why most mannequins are created without features. Visitor Tip: Isidor and Ida Straus, co-owner of Macy's, died tragically on the Titanic; a memorial plaque honoring the two can be seen on the main floor at the memorial entrance.
Free Time!