I Love New York (2-day tour)

The suggested start time for today is between 9 – 9:30 am. 

Our tour starts with a drive down to the southern tip of Manhattan. This is where it all began. The story of New York starts here in the winding streets of the Financial District. 

We will board the Staten Island Ferry – started by Cornelius Vanderbilt in the early 1800s – for a ride across New York Harbor. Along the way we will get an up close view of Lady Liberty herself, welcoming all to New York just as she has been doing since 1886.

There are some things that some of us New Yorkers just never get tired of. This is one of them! Your guide will share with you the story of the Statue of Liberty and her fascinating history. You’ll learn about her symbolic features such as the 7 points on her crown, all while seeing her from just a few hundred feet away!

On the way back to Manhattan the skyline views will just take your breath away. This is where you will come to know how and why New York became known as the Empire State. From here you’ll take in spectacular views of Brooklyn, Staten Island, New Jersey, Ellis Island, Governors Island and, of course, Manhattan.

This is the perfect beginning point from which to understand the story of New York.

If you love history you’ll be in for a real treat. If you don’t… then you will have a newfound appreciation for it. We promise you that!

These are the streets as they were laid out by the Dutch in the 1600s. This is also where George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States. Most don’t realize this but New York was the first capital of the US! 

In this neighborhood you’ll see the statue of the Charging Bull up close and take some pictures. We’ll take you for a walk down Wall Street where you’ll learn about the beginnings of our country and its financial forming. You’ll get an inside look at the Federal Hall National Memorial, the NYSE and other historic sites.

Inside the Trinity churchyard you’ll see the grave of Alexander Hamilton and other important New Yorkers. You’ll also see a very mysterious and haunting tombstone with a riddle on it that you will solve!

The New York Times had voted Lower Manhattan and the Financial District the NYC neighborhood with the most beautiful buildings. We will take a look at all of them, including the Woolworth Building (once the tallest building in the world from 1913 to 1930).

The Financial District is also a favorite site for movie producers! John Wick, Hitch and Batman were all filmed here (among many others). 

Time for lunch! Are you hungry? Next stop: Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side. The oldest deli in New York, Katz’s has been around since 1888. You can still see the sign in the window from World War II: “Send a salami to your boy in the army”.

You’ll want to save your appetite for Katz’s enormous sandwiches. The pastrami on rye with mustard and sliced onions with a side of fresh pickles is the way to go. But you can choose from any one of their many sandwiches. 

Traditional Jewish side dishes like knish, matzoh ball soup, potato latkes, cheese blintzes and others are all on the menu. Try a traditional New York egg cream or a Dr. Brown’s cherry soda. You’re in New York! 

The moment you step inside Katz’s you’ll know you’re someplace special. The smell of smoked pastrami and brisket fills the air. The hundreds of pictures on the walls let you know how special this place is to so many people (most of them famous). 

Time to take the lid off the melting pot of New York. This is the neighborhood that put New York on the map as the most diverse place on earth. Millions of immigrants settled here. 

We’re going to walk the streets of this gritty yet vibrant neighborhood and explore its roots. They run deep. And we’re going to see why. The streetscape of the Lower East Side is quintessential NYC: tenement buildings and fire escapes, mixed in with newer modern apartment buildings and trendy boutiques and restaurants. 

Chinatown and Little Italy are a part of the Lower East Side. Here you’ll get a little history of the gangs of New York, the Italian Mafia and hear some interesting stories to take back home with you.

And if you’re a little hungry we’ll take you to try some of the best cannolis in the city. Even hungrier? How about some fresh mozzarella and imported prosciutto from a traditional Italian deli on Mulberry Street? 

Time to walk off those calories. Next, we’re going to go for a walk over the iconic Brooklyn Bridge. This is a ‘bucket list’ item for many people (even many New Yorkers).

Straight down the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge is an elevated walkway that sits above the traffic. We’re going to either walk completely across the bridge to Brooklyn or just walk over to the first tower then back to Manhattan. The choice is yours! 

This was the longest suspension bridge in the world for 20 years after it opened in 1883. No other bridge has been painted, photographed and written about more than the Brooklyn Bridge. From this vantage point you can appreciate the majesty and architectural brilliance of the most famous bridge in the world.

The views from here are inspiring to say the least. And when you get to the point when you look up as you walk under those famous gothic arches… well… let’s just say this will be one of those magical New York moments you’ll never forget. 

If Brooklyn were not a part of NYC it would be the 3rd or 4th largest city in the U.S. It is the most populous of the 5 boroughs of the city with roughly 2.6 million residents. So many legendary figures came from Brooklyn: from George Gershwin to Jay Z. From Jackie Gleason to Harvey Keitel. 

We’re going to explore the picturesque neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights. Featured in movies such as Moonstruck and Prizzi’s Honor this neighborhood has some incredible history to it as well. Along the Brooklyn Promenade are even more spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. 

In the neighborhood of DUMBO you’ll get a little history on the Brooklyn waterfront and take in the  atmosphere of this vibrant neighborhood. 

Our final stop on our 1st day will be a visit to the 9/11 Memorial. You’ll see the 2 memorial pools that were built in the exact footprints of each of the Twin Towers. Get a breakdown of the days events and pay your respects to the Fireman’s Memorial and Ladder & Company 10, the firehouse located directly across the street from the Twin Towers. 

Learn about the new World Trade Center site, its construction as well as some interesting facts about the Twin Towers and the old World Trade Center. Across the street we’ll also pay a visit to St. Paul’s Chapel, which not only played a vital role during the rescue efforts on 9/11 but also hosted George Washington after his inauguration just down the block at Federal Hall.

We will end the day today with a personal tour of the 9/11 Museum by your guide. Hear the touching, heart-warming stories of New Yorkers from that day. As intense and sad as a visit to this site can be, we promise you’ll leave feeling touched and uplifted by the kindness and compassion this horrible event brought out in all of us.

On the 2nd day of our tour we suggest starting a little later, somewhere between 10 am and 1 pm so we can experience our 2nd observation deck in the evening. 

We start our tour today in Harlem which is in Upper Manhattan. Here you’ll discover the rich history of this vibrant neighborhood, from the beautiful 19th-century architecture to an old mansion used by George Washington during the Revolutionary War. We’ll take a walk through the largest Gothic-style cathedral in the world, see the famous diner from Seinfeld and stop for some photos in front of the legendary Apollo Theater. 

Then we’ll head to the Upper West Side where we’ll pass by Lincoln Center (remember that scene from Moonstruck?). Then we’ll get out at the Dakota Apartment Building where John Lennon lived and where, unfortunately, his life was ended. 

Across the street from the Dakota we begin our invigorating stroll through Central Park at Strawberry Fields. From here we’ll see the Bethesda Terrace and other landmarks of Central Park you will not want to miss. 

So much of Central Park is recognizable from TV and the movies. This will be a favorite place to take many photos!

Next, we’ll go for a ride up Madison Avenue and Park Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. One of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country you’ll see some gorgeous early 20th century mansions and townhouses (including some infamous ones). 

We’ll drive down 5th Avenue’s Millionaire’s Row for a glimpse at some famous addresses and landmark buildings. 

As we make our way from Uptown to Midtown Manhattan we’ll come into that part of Manhattan where it’s most recognizable landmarks are located. 

One of the first stops in Midtown is also one of our personal favorites, the Flatiron Building and Madison Square Park across the street. We have some great vintage film to show you here! 

Next, we’ll take you to the perfect spot on 5th Avenue to see the most iconic skyscraper in the world, the Empire State Building. You’ll hear how it was constructed in only 18 months and learn some interesting facts and trivia you’ll be talking about for years. 

Then it’s over to Grand Central Terminal for an eye-opening 20-minute tour where you’ll discover many of its secrets. This is one of the most beautiful interior spaces you’ll ever see. And of course it’s been in many movies, from Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest with Cary Grant to the lovable animals from Madagascar!

Nearby you’ll see the impressive spire of the Chrysler Building and hear the story of the greatest and most legendary skyscraper races in history. Just down the road on 42nd Street is the United Nations Headquarters where we’ll get an outside look at this important landmark.

Next, we’ll take you to Rockefeller Center. You’ll get a peek at NBC’s Today Show studios, take a walk past Radio City Music Hall, the famous Channel Gardens and view some of Rockefeller Centers iconic artwork and sculptures. 

Our final stop in Rockefeller Center is 65 stories high at the Top of the Rock observation deck. You’ll skip the lines with your guide and go straight to the top! These views are something you will never forget. That’s a promise! You’ll have your guide with you to point out all the landmarks and give you an overview of the surrounding city.

Finally, you’ll complete Midtown Manhattan at the Crossroads of the World: Times Square. Learn some facts and trivia about the spectacular billboards, hear some interesting history and see some landmarks from the glory days of Broadway and The Great White Way! 

Next, we’re going to make our way downtown where the high-rises and skyscrapers give way to narrow, tree-lined streets and picturesque alleyways. Welcome to Greenwich Village!

Learn about the lives of NYC’s bohemian counter-culture, beatniks, poets and musicians. There’s an amazing energy here. The Village has a real neighborhood feel to it. Most buildings are no more than 6 stories tall! 

Your guide will share with you the rich history that Greenwich Village holds. This tends to be our guests most favorite part of the City. We think it might be yours too! It’s certainly one of ours.

By now it’s time for dinner so we’ll stop at Joe’s Pizza (of Spiderman fame) for some authentic, thin crust NYC-style pizza. Check out the walls of photos! Everyone from Leonardo di Caprio to P Diddy loves Joe’s!

Just south of Greenwich Village is the small yet energetic and vibrant neighborhood of Soho. A landmark neighborhood filled with 19th century cast-iron buildings Soho evolved from a manufacturing district into an enclave for artists in the 1960s. Today it’s a popular shopping destination and still very well known for its dozens of free art galleries.

In the northwestern corner of Greenwich Village is one of New York’s most unique and interesting sites: The High Line Park. Located in the Meatpacking District (a part of Greenwich Village) The High Line was an old abandoned elevated railway that was transformed into a public park!

We’ll take you on a walk along The High Line where you’ll get some unusual perspectives of the City as we wind our way through various buildings, tunnels and walkways. A short distance away you’ll be able to see the old pier where the survivors of the Titanic arrived.

At last our tour comes to a close. But not without some more NYC-style excitement to end the night!

We love showing our guests the City at night. It’s truly magical. We’re going to take you way up to the highest outdoor sky deck in the western hemisphere: Edge Observation Deck at the Hudson Yards. 

The Hudson Yards is one of the biggest construction projects in the United States. It’s an innovative mix of retail, public, residential and commercial space with a lot to offer. 

Our view from the top takes us 1,100 feet into the sky with a glass-bottomed view below! Looking out into the Manhattan night your guide will give you the lay of the land and point out all the noteworthy buildings and sites.

All your questions will be answered and you’ll be so much more oriented to the City by the end of this tour. It’s a once-in-lifetime experience that’s worth every penny. You will never forget it!