New York City Explorer Trip

New York, the city that never sleeps. You’ll want to get stuck in immediately with a free day to explore to your heart’s content before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers this evening for a rooftop Welcome Reception at your centrally located midtown Manhattan hotel.

Visit Battery Park, the former gateway for immigrants coming to America in search of a new life, and see South Street Seaport, a designated Historic District featuring some of Manhattan’s oldest architecture. You’ll also come across New York’s cultural diversity in Chinatown and see Times Square and the United Nations before heading to Rockefeller Center, where you’ll ascend to the Top of The Rock for dramatic views over the Manhattan skyline. After some time for lunch, head to the trendy Upper West Side for a private guided tour of Lincoln Center. The famous performing arts venue serves as the home for resident arts organizations such as the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, New York City Ballet, Julliard School, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Only a few blocks away lies Central Park, New York’s favorite playground and the most visited urban park in the United States. Break into groups of two and enjoy your own personal pedicab guided tour with a Central Park Local Expert. See the Bethesda Terrace & Fountain, Tavern on the Green, The Carousel, and the John Lennon Memorial at Strawberry Fields. YOUR CHOICE OF: DINNER Enjoy your choice of dinner this evening. Choose to dine on a dinner cruise along New York Harbor seeing the skyline from a different perspective. Or if you prefer, a three-course dinner with wine at a local Midtown Manhattan restaurant popular with locals. Your day of guided exploration of New York City comes to a close after dinner unless you decide to hit the town and see the lights on your own.

Enjoy your choice of sightseeing this morning. Embark on a behind-the-scenes walking tour of Broadway, during which you’ll learn how a show is created from the first rehearsal to when the curtain rises and all the craziness in between. You’ll also have the chance to get up close and personal with one of the performers from the hit show Hamilton. You could instead choose a guided tour of Manhattan’s west side, from the historic Meatpacking District up to the growing Hudson Yards neighborhood via popular High Line park. See how the Meatpacking District has been preserved while also evolving into a trendy neighborhood of boutique shops and restaurants. Visit the famous Chelsea Market and stop at a few must-sees among dozens of shops and food and wine purveyors. Walk along the High Line, discovering the history of the rail line and some hidden secrets of the park, set along the Hudson River. Make your way north, viewing fascinating historic architecture as the Hudson Yards comes into view. This $25 billion private development, the largest in US history, is an entirely new neighborhood on top of the old Hudson rail-yards, with 16 new skyscrapers designed by world renowned architects, including Frank , to name a few. The afternoon and evening are free to experience New York on your terms. Your Travel Director will have options to help you plan the rest of your day.

Enjoy your choice of sightseeing this morning. Choose a visit to the poignant National September 11 Memorial Museum where multimedia displays share the story of 911. After visit Eataly - this sprawling Italian food complex will have all of your Italian food cravings covered! If you’d rather, head to Brooklyn for walking tour. Your introduction to this leafy borough begins with a walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge before hitting all the popular spots with your Local Specialist celebrity guide. See the DUMBO district and visit historic Gleason’s Gym where you’ll step into the ring to learn about their history, their champions and the movies. Then, ’Dive Into Culture’ experience featuring the local hip hop scene. This afternoon is free to take a bite of the Big Apple before joining your travel companions for a lively Farewell Dinner.

Say goodbye to energetic New York and your newfound friends, then take a transfer to the airport or extend your stay.