Itinerary
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Sunday, 5 May 2019: Arrive New York City; Welcome Dinner (D)
Welcome to New York City! Schedule your flight to arrive into a New York City airport no later than 4:00pm to have time to transfer to the hotel and check-in. Should you arrive earlier in the day, relax or go exploring. The tour begins at 6:00PM in the lobby of the hotel. Our Welcome Meeting will be followed by a Welcome Dinner to get acquainted and discuss our upcoming adventure. Overnight NYC - 6 nights
Monday, 6 May 2019: Manhattan Guided Walking and Subway Tour; 9/11 Memorial & One World Observatory (B)
Manhattan – the Big Apple – home to the world’s most recognizable skyline and the borough most people think of when they picture New York City. Some might even say that Manhattan is the heart and soul of New York City. So this is where we begin. With a guided tour that combines walking and the city subway system for an insider’s view of the neighborhoods and landmarks that define Manhattan as well as an introduction to a few of her lesser known sights. Later in the afternoon, we visit the powerful 9/11 Memorial and Museum and ascend to the top of One World Observatory for a sunset view of Manhattan.
Tuesday, 7 May 2019: Staten Island: Staten Island Ferry; Postcards Memorial; Free Time (B)
No vessel is a more recognizable symbol of New York City’s great harbor than the bright orange Staten Island Ferry. In operation since 1817, the Staten Island ferries today shuttle nearly 70,000 commuters and visitors between Manhattan and Staten Island each day. For visitors like us, the ferry is more than transportation – it also offers up spectacular views of the Statute of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the lower Manhattan skyline. We spend the morning walking along the revitalized waterfront and pause at the Postcards Memorial, the first 9/11 memorial completed in New York City. The ferry returns us to Manhattan early in the afternoon and the balance of the day is yours to enjoy. Perhaps you'll want to visit the Statue of Liberty this afternoon or take in a Broadway show this evening.
Wednesday, 8 May 2019: A Day in Queens: Museum of the Moving Image; Queens Food Tour (B,L)
Just across the river from Manhattan lies Queens, New York’s largest borough and the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world. It is also the backdrop of a television show that generations grew up watching. We begin our day at the Museum of the Moving Image, a museum that showcases the history of movies and television and explores the craft and technology behind these arts with interactive exhibits, commissioned art works, video sequences, and artifacts. The permanent exhibition on the career of Jim Hensen, creator of “Sesame Street” and the “Muppets,” is a recent addition to the museum. But some might say that the borough’s most exciting feature is its complex and diverse culinary identity. We’ll embark on an afternoon food tour that will give insight into the culture, history and architecture that defines the borough, and enjoy a few signature specialties along the way. The afternoon and evening are then yours to explore as you wish. This might be a good opportunity to discover New York’s Meatpacking District, including a sunset walk along the High Line, a series of re-purposed out-of-use railroad trestles that have been converted to a public landscape.
Thursday, 9 May 2019: Brooklyn Bridge; Brooklyn Heights Promenade; Exploring Neighborhoods; Ferry Ride (B)
The Brooklyn Bridge, an icon of New York City for over 125 years, connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. We begin with a walk over this bridge, making plenty of stops to hear about its history and design and to have opportunities to take in the spectacular views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the New York Harbor. The bridge delivers us to Brooklyn Heights, a quaint historic neighborhood known for its brownstones, quiet tree-lined streets, and promenade with breathtaking views of the city skyline. We spend some time in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), a neighborhood that was once a scattering of vacant warehouses but is now home to a thriving artist’s colony and a model of a unique urban landscape. We return to Manhattan via ferry with time for you to explore lower Manhattan or midtown on your own.
Friday, 10 May 2019: A Day in theBronx: NY Botanical Garden; Bronx’s Little Italy; Free Time; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
Famous as the home of Yankee Stadium, elevated trains, and dense apartment blocks, the Bronx is also the greenest of New York City’s boroughs. We experience this at the New York Botanical Garden, a 250-acre garden that is considered one of the world’s leading horticultural and educational resources. It is also one of the oldest and largest, featuring more than a million plants, 40 specialty garden and plant collections, and 40 acres of old growth forests with dramatic rock formations, waterfalls, ponds and wetlands. We leave the tranquility of the gardens behind us as we head off to Bronx’s Little Italy for time to explore the old world ambience of the Arthur Avenue neighborhood. The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish. We gather together this evening for our Farewell Dinner.
Saturday, 11 May 2019: Return Home from New York (B)
Sadly, our time together has come to an end. Based on the departure time you provide WTT, your Tour Leader will organize travelers into small groups so you can ride-share to the airport if you wish.