Itinerary

Arrive in New York and take your private transfer to your hotel in a spectacular location right on Manhattan’s famous Times Square.

New York’s iconic sites are innumerable – from the majesty of the Empire State Building to the greenery of Central Park, the elegant Statue of Liberty, the theatres of Broadway and the engineering feat of Brooklyn Bridge. Be sure to explore newer attractions like the Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock, One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Consider getting the CityPASS New York City to gain discounted and free entry to more than 150 attractions.

Explore more of New York’s incredible array of attractions today. A must-see attraction included in your tour is Summit One Vanderbilt. Set atop the tallest commercial skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, Summit One Vanderbilt is an observatory high above Grand Central Terminal with five multi-sensory experiences occupying the top three floors of the building.

Highlights include a spectacular mirrored space spread over two floors, floating orbs that change colour in tune with a light show at night, and transparent glass enclosed ledges offering sweeping views of the city over 1,000 feet from the city streets below. Entry is through the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal.

You will certainly enjoy the city’s varied gastronomy. Fast food such as New York pizza, cheesecake, hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches are favourites but New York also has some of the best restaurants in the world and astonishingly multi-cultural dining – from Chinatown and Koreatown to Harlem Soul Food and East Village gourmet.

Spend another day in the Big Apple. Take the ferry across to the Statue of Liberty and explore the history at nearby Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, while enjoying fantastic views of the city from the bay.

A newer attraction, spectacular in a wholly different way, is Hudson Yards. In Manhattan’s West Side, there are 14 acres of plazas, gardens, shops, restaurants and culture. The district’s centrepiece is the incredible Vessel’s 154 interconnecting flights of stairs. Wander along the High Line, a regenerated 1.5-mile walkway 10 metres above street level, and brave the spectacular but vertigo-inducing 100th floor Edge Sky Deck, the highest outdoor observation deck in the western hemisphere.

Pick up your hire car this morning and drive east out of the city to the Hamptons.

New York’s celebrity set has been decamping to this string of beachside communities on the south-east coast of Long Island for years. The biggest draw is the sunbathing, surf and people-watching on beaches such as Cooper’s in Southampton, Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett and Main Beach in East Hampton.

You’ll be staying at the peaceful Roundtree in Amagansett. Browse the boutiques and galleries in nearby East Hampton and Bridgehampton, sample the wineries and feast on seafood in the restaurants.

Spend another day relaxing in The Hamptons. Beyond the beach, highlights of the region include Montauk Point State Park, the most easterly tip of New York State. The Lighthouse was commissioned in 1792 by George Washington.

Sah Harbour Whaling Museum charts the region’s maritime history, while Hither Hills State Park is good for hiking with woodland trails and dunes in Napeague Harbor.

This morning drive north-west from the Hamptons into the Catskills Mountains. Dutch settlers named this region 100 miles north-west of New York City after the mountain lions that originally inhabited it, and while the wild cats may be long gone, the Catskills’ landscape of mountains, forests, lakes and gourmet towns remains a haven for hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and scenic drives.

Catskill Forest Preserve encloses some 300,000 protected acres with hiking trails past meadows, lakes and waterfalls. The Catskill Scenic Trail is a particular highlight along 26 miles of former railroads beside the Delaware River. The Catskills is also famous for fishing with the Fly Fishing Center and Museum the world’s largest such centre, set on 50 acres beside the Willowemoc River.

Spend another day exploring the scenery and culture of the Catskills. The famous Woodstock Festival was held in Catskill Park in 1969, and the best place to explore the history is Bethel Woods Center for the Arts with a museum dedicated to the 1960’s and regular cultural and musical events.

Another artistic highlight is Opus 40, a 6.5-acre stone sculpture inspired by Mayan ruins built into a quarry near Woodstock by sculptor Harvey Fite over 37 years. It’s considered one of the greatest sculptures in North America and testament to one man’s dedication.

Art lovers can also follow the Hudson River School Art trail, visiting locations of famous paintings from Thomas Cole and other 19th century landscape artists. Thomas Cole’s former home Cedar Grove is now a museum in the town of Catskill.

The region is renowned for farm-to-table cuisine in towns such as Catskill, Windham and Woodstock – from American to French fusion, as well as a range of craft breweries and wineries.

Head north today from the Catskills towards Syracuse. On the way, it’s well worth stopping off in Albany, capital of New York State, for its beautiful architecture and rich history.

Albany is one of the oldest cities in the USA with an historic heart centred around the stunning Empire State Plaza, overlooked by the 180-metre Erastus Corning Tower and its observation deck. The chateau-like New York State Capitol is one of the most beautiful and extravagant in the country, dating from the 1890’s with a neo-Gothic façade, Moorish and Romanesque interiors, and sweeping staircases.

Continue to the city of Syracuse where you will spend the night. Explore some of the city’s sights including Erie Canal Museum, before some shopping and dining at the huge, six-storey Destiny USA, the second most visited shopping centre in the country.

Stay at the beautiful Georgian-style Hotel Skyler, a former synagogue in the university district of the city.

Today it’s time to experience the natural wonder of the world – Niagara Falls. Witness the incredible sight of millions of gallons of water – around a fifth of the world’s fresh water – plunging over the sheer cliffs.
There are three sets of falls on the US-Canada border – the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls on the US side, with the iconic 170-foot Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side.
The US side has observation decks at Cave of the Winds, and boat trips and helicopter tours can be taken on either side, but the Canadian side offers better views of Horseshoe Falls with more attractions. These include the 175-foot Niagara Skywheel, the observation deck of Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls History Museum and the Niagara IMAX Theatre. Journey behind the Falls is also on the Canadian side, offering a fascinating alternative perspective.
A highlight in the evening is the nightly illumination of the Falls and fireworks.

Get an early start this morning to enjoy incredible views of Niagara Falls before the crowds arrive. Enjoy some of the attractions you may have missed yesterday, then explore hiking trails around the Falls. On the US side, enjoy Niagara Falls State Park and Whirlpool State Park, while on the Canadian side you can hike further afield to the Dufferin Islands.

Spend another evening enjoying the illuminations and fireworks.

Head south this morning to the Finger Lakes. This region is named after the long finger-shaped lakes between Lake Ontario and the Pennsylvania border, famous for its breathtaking scenery and some 150 towering waterfalls.

You’ll be staying on the northern shore of Canandaigua, the fourth largest lake. The surrounding countryside is filled with vineyards, renowned for the Cayuga Wine Trail, and dozens of waterfalls include the towering Taughannock, which is actually higher than Niagara.

Spend another day relaxing in the beautiful Finger Lakes region. State parks worth visiting include the spellbinding Watkins Glen where a stream descends 400 feet past dramatic cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls with paths winding over and underneath. Letchworth State Park is equally breathtaking with Lower, Middle and Upper Falls tumbling over cliffs on the Genesee River and 66 miles of surrounding hiking trails. Buttermilk Falls is a more serene spot with a pool popular for swimming at its base.

Follow one of the many wine trails and sample a range of farm-to-table food served in local restaurants. Trying the local grape pie is a must.

Head south-east to the Hudson Valley this morning. On the way, an hour south of Canandaigua, it’s worth stopping off at Corning Museum of Glass, the world’s largest collection of glass art with more than 50,000 objects.

If you didn’t stop at Albany earlier in your tour then this is another chance to visit the historic New York State capital with its extravagant Capitol building in Empire State Plaza, overlooked by the 180-metre Erastus Corning Tower.

Arrive in Hudson River Valley, where a chain of charming, historic towns lines the river south towards New York City. This National Heritage Area is filled with historic sites and highlights include the home of Franklin D Roosevelt and Presidential Library and Museum.

Nearby, don’t miss the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, a 19th century railroad bridge over the Hudson river, transformed into the world’s longest elevated pedestrian park. Another historic highlight further south is Kykuit, the grandiose mansion and grounds of a former Rockefeller estate.

You’ll be staying at the award-winning The Abbey Inn & Spa in Peekskill, a former nunnery constructed in the 1900’s, commanding fantastic views over the river opposite Bear Mountain State Park.

Drive back to New York, drop off your hire car at the airport and take your flight home as your tour comes to an end.