“I Love New York”
It’s a slogan found on bumper stickers, t-shirts, posters and mugs, but if you’re in the middle of trying to organize a student trip to the Big Apple, you might be feeling a little differently. Thanks to its history, charm and undeniable charisma, the bustling metropolis of New York City is one of the most frequented locations in the entire world. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the trickiest cities for first-time tourists to navigate. With so many “must-see” landmarks and “can’t be missed!” attractions, figuring out how to get yourself from one place to the next is hard enough, but adding a group of excited students to the mix complicates the planning process even more. What attractions should you see? How are you going to get your students there? Can you do all the activities you want and stay within your budget?
Most importantly of all, where do you even begin to start?
Take a deep breath and put your trip in the capable hands of CitySightseeing New York. With a history of guided tours that dates back all the way to 1926, CitySightseeing New York has stood the test of time and spent almost a century giving tourists the best trip of their lives. Their combination of knowledgeable tour guides, flexible modes of transportation and reasonable rates makes them perfect company to work with when planning a trip for your students. Put your worries to rest, and let CitySightseeing New York make touring New York City as easy as one, two, three.
Pick your attractions.
The New York City Classics
Whether the trip is your students’ first time in the Big Apple or a triumphant return visit, all tourists in New York City should:
- Head to the city’s heart to encounter the pounding pulse of New York at the Empire State Building
- Driveway along the Brooklyn Bridge, the lifeline between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn
- Stop by the Rockefeller Center to see where Saturday Night Live is filmed and take in the skyline from the very top of the GE building
- Stroll through Battery Park and watch the Statue of Liberty glisten in New York Harbor
- Discover an oasis in the center of Manhattan at Central Park, where you can enjoy gardens, fountains and a relaxing break from the bustling downtown area
- Pause for a moment at the National September 11 Memorial, which humbly rests beside the One World Trade Center
- Get an inside look at famous landmarks like Madison Square Garden, Times Square, Museum Mile and the United Nations Headquarters
The Sky High Views
If your students want a bird’s eye view of the city, try:
- Top of the Rock Observation Deck: Take in New York City’s most famous sights with your head in the sky. Located in the Rockefeller Center and open daily until midnight, Top of the Rock offers unparalleled views of landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and more.
- NY SKYRIDE: See the New York City skyline without ever leaving the second floor of the Empire State Building. With the aide of an 18-foot projector screen and narration provided by Kevin Bacon, embark on a virtual tour that whisks you over some of New York’s most breathtaking attractions and allows you to appreciate the city’s majesty like never before.
- Empire State Observatory: Take a quarter mile ride up to the building’s 102nd floor. Here, nestled in the clouds, you’ll find an observation deck that allows visitors to take in sweeping panoramic views of bustling downtown New York.
Pick your mode of transportation.
Once you’ve decided which attractions your students can’t miss, it’s time to choose how you want to get from place to place. CitySightseeing New York believes there’s no wrong answer when it comes touring transportation, and offers guided tours using all of the following.
- On Foot: Guided walking tours give your students the chance to get up close and personal with urban New York. While it may take a little longer to get where you’re going, your students will feel unencumbered as they take in the sights and smells of the Big Apple at their own pace. If on the way to an attraction something unexpectedly piques your students’ interest, walking tours naturally allow for brief, unplanned stops. This makes exploring the city on foot perfect for curious groups who aren’t in a rush
- Double Decker Bus: If your group wants to stop at all of New York City’s famous attractions but is operating on a tight schedule, touring the city by bus is the best way to go. Bus touring has always been a fast and easy option when it comes to seeing the sights, but with New CitySightseeing New York’s “Hop on, Hop off” program your group can leave the bus to get up close and personal with any of the attractions on the itinerary. Once you’ve had your fill, take your seats once more and relax as you head onwards to your next stop.
- Cruises: Stick to the seas with a narrated cruise around New York Harbor. Be amazed by views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and more as you soak up the sunshine and drink in the salty air, or embark on a nighttime cruise and watch the skyline come to life as its lights twinkle cheerfully in the twilight.
- Ferry: Combine the best of both worlds and tour the Big Apple via a CitySightseeing New York ferry. Your group can still take advantage of the same “Hop on, Hop off” program as the double decker bus tour, but also enjoy the unique experience of discovering New York from both the land and the sea. Complete with professional guided narration and four different stops in Manhattan and Brooklyn, ferry tours of New York City are perfect for groups of all ages.
Find your perfect tour.
You’ll have to talk to a CitySightseeing New York representative to find out which tour is the best fit for your group, but in the meantime, here are the company’s top three tours.
Twilight Cruise: Spend 90 minutes drifting along the New York City skyline as the “city that never sleeps” awakens to the night. Watch as the buildings are transformed from imperious places of work into a romantic and vibrant visual display that your students will never forget.
The Big Three Combo: CitySightseeing has combined three of their top experiences to give your group a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity without breaking the bank. Spend an afternoon cruising around the harbor on a ferry tour, then see panoramic views of the city from the Empire State Observatory. Wake up the next day and conquer the bustling city center on a Downtown Double Decker Bus Tour that stops at all of New York’s most famous attractions.
Freestyle New York- Pick Five: Choose five stops from a seemingly endless list of New York attractions to create your own designer tour of the Big Apple. Spread out over the three days, this option allows you to take control of your sightseeing and handpick the landmarks, museums, tours and restaurants that you think are best suited to your group. The list of attractions can be found here.
What other amenities does CitySightseeing New York provide?
- Convenient departures from Midtown Manhattan, right outside Times Square
- Affordable prices and great group deals
- Licensed, knowledgeable tour guides
- Wide availability for tour times
- Private tours available
Once you’ve gotten your itinerary squared away, all that’s left to do is look forward to your upcoming adventure with your students. Let CitySightseeing New York handful the stressful parts of planning your trip, and spend more time enjoying your visit to New York City.
