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Day 01 (Thursday): Newburgh/New Windsor (NY)

Upon your early evening arrival at Stewart International Airport, your guide will provide a warm greeting and transfer with you to a local hotel across the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge offering your first glimpse of splendid views on the magnificent Hudson Valley.  No matter what time of year, the scenery is always stupendous out your window.

 

Day 02 (Friday): Exploring the Hudson Valley and The Big Apple (NYC)

You will experience a hearty breakfast at your hotel, then depart on the day of exploring the lower portions of the Hudson Valley.   The first stop will be in the picturesque village of Cold Spring.  You may wish to walk along the village’s waterfront admiring the Hudson River, Bear Mountain, and peer across the Hudson River at West Point Military Academy.  Perhaps you will want to wonder experience its ‘Americana’ main street lined with antiques shops and superb farm-to-table eateries.

After a few hours in Cold Spring, you will continue along the Hudson Valley with a second stop, time permitting, will be made in Tarrytown with a visit to Philipsburg Plantation.  You will have the opportunity to lean about Sleepy Hollow as we pass by Washington Irving’s home Sunnyside.

With so much to see and do in the Hudson Valley, your guide will provide you with an enlighten narrative as you continue your journey south towards Manhattan.  As you begin to approach Manhattan you will notice an increase in traffic and activity as you pass though the swanky suburbs of Westchester before entering the Bronx and crossing over into the ‘City That Never Sleeps’, New York City.

After checking into your hotel in Mid-town Manhattan you will want to start exploring the city by popping over to Times Square to see a Broadway Show (you can pre-order show tickets before leaving home); look for celebrities at Rockefeller Center; or perhaps hail a NYC Taxi to take a walk in Central Park.  The evening is yours to see Manhattan.  As Frank Sinatra says, ‘if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere’.

 

Day 03 (Saturday): The Big Apple (NYC)

After breakfast at your hotel, slip on your walking shoes, as your tour guide will take you on an eight-hour tour on Lower Manhattan.  While a bus will whisk you about the city, your guide will be taking you on multiple walking tours to see the ‘real’ New York.

One of the excursions during the day will be of Manhattan’s West Village, stopping along the way to climbing the steps up to The High Line.  The High Line is a magnificent linear park stretching along 1.45-miles of an abandoned section of the elevated subway section of the New York Central Railroad.  The park has beautiful murals by local artists, magnificent views of the city and Hudson River, and multiple opportunities for the perfect photo of the New York City skyline.

After the excitement of exploring the city and a lot of walking, you will have the opportunity to recharge with a cup of coffee in Chelsea’s Market.  With a little caffeine in your system you will continue to Downtown.  You will visit the reflecting pools of the 9-11 Memorial with the opportunity to pay homage to the 9-11 victims.  Back on your feet, you will walk to Wall Street, feeling the vibrant financial heart of the free world, with a brief stop at the National Museum of the American Indian.  Along the way you may want to sample a pretzel or hotdog from one of the many street vendors that feed the busy New York City workers?  Next you are embarking on a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

While driving back to your mid-town hotel, you will have the opportunity to rest, as it is now time to prepare for an evening out.  Times Square is packed with numerous restaurants and clubs for your dining and entertainment pleasure.  Maybe try a ‘good steak’ from America’s famous Midwest or experience an evening of sultry jazz or dance the evening away in a swing club.  After a busy day, this is your opportunity to explore New York on your own.

 

Day 04 (Sunday): The Big Apple (NYC)

Your morning starts with a hearty breakfast at your hotel, then off for an eight-hour discovery tour of Upper Manhattan and Harlem.  

After departing your hotel, you will drive pass many famous NYC landmarks, such as: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; Central Park; Columbia University; and stopping at Saint John the Devine.  Later in the morning you will and participate in a music filled gospel service in Harlem.  Make sure you dress-up as the church members dress for show!  It is a truly fun unique way to experience a little bit of Americana.

After a service filled with uplifting music, you will dine at the world famous Londel’s Supper Club, dining on delicious Southern American cuisine such as: fried chicken; whipped sweet potatoes; collard greens; and corn on the cob.  No longer hungry, you will explore Harlem’s rich heritage by visiting: Striver’s Row; Hamilton Grange; Sugar Hill; and the legendary Apollo Theater.

In the afternoon, you will continue your tour down the east side of Manhattan passing by the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  You will step off your motor coach for a walk in Central Park.  Central Park provides the opportunity to relax and enjoy a typical Sunday afternoon enjoyed by New Yorker’s.  You will stroll by the Boathouse; Bethesda’s Terrace and Fountain; and the Belvedere Castle in Sheep Meadow.  Who knows, maybe you will treat your someone special to horse drawn carriage ride or steal a kiss while paddling in a canoe?  Central Park is perfect for admiring the contrast that is New York City: the green oasis that is Central Park and Manhattan’s skyline surrounding it.

Save a little energy as tonight you will say farewell to the Big Apple with a dinner cruise.  Your evening will be filled with excellent food and music and as you cruise around New York’s harbor, with breath taking views of the Statue of Liberty and New York’s ever-changing skyline. 

 

Day 05 (Monday): New York City – Shopping and our flight back home

After a little extra sleep and breakfast at your hotel, you will depart for the world-famous Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. It’s now time to ‘shop until you drop’ with over 220 stores for your shopping pleasure. 

On your way, back to Stewart International Airport, you will stop for a pre-departure dinner at a typical American Diner, your last chance to enjoy cuisine al la Americana before your evening flight home.