Road Scholar : New York City: Family Adventures by Land and Sea - New York

New York City: Family Adventures by Land and Sea

Program Number:

21019RJ

Start and End Dates:


	7/25/2013 - 7/30/2013;

Duration:

5 nights

Location:

New York City, New York

Price starting at:

$1,275.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city

Program Type:

Family Programs; History & Culture; Intergenerational
Family

Activity Level:

t (see description)

Meals:

9; 5 Breakfasts, 0 Lunches, 4 Dinners

Program intended for grandchildren from 9 - 12 years of age.

Discover the excitement of America’s greatest, most energetic city together with your family. Enjoy expert-led field trips by land and sea to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the United Nations, Rockefeller Center, Chinatown and Little Italy and even walk across Brooklyn Bridge. Learn why New York City is one of the greatest places on earth and take home wonderful memories of your time together.

Highlights

• Explore the “Kids End” of Central Park including Sheep Meadow, the sailboat pond, the carousel and the zoo.
• At the American Museum of Natural History, enjoy the prehistoric thrills of the Hall of Dinosaurs and launch into space via the Hayden Planetarium’s virtual reality simulator.
• Take a boat excursion to the iconic Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, gateway to America for millions of immigrants.

Activity Particulars

Walking 2-5 miles a day with lots of stairs. Public transportation used exclusively throughout program.

This is a family program for grandparents, parents or other family members, and kids ages 9-12.

Coordinated by Explore New York, Corp.

New York City

The City That Never Sleeps, The Capital of the World, The Big Apple: Whatever you call New York, it is undoubtedly one of the world’s great centers for culture, food, finance, style and entertainment, from Broadway to the Bronx.

Accommodations
Quaint hotel with swimming pool in heart of Manhattan.

Meals and Lodgings
	Travel Inn
		New York, NY	5 nights

Travel Inn
	Type:	Hotel
	Description:	The Travel Inn features 160 rooms, a swimming pool, and the only free hotel garage in all of New York City. Built in 1963 in preparation for the World’s Fair, this quaint New York City hotel has maintained its sense of charm and warmth. And the hotel’s prime location on 42nd Street immerses visitors in the heart of New York City.
	Contact info:	515 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036 USA phone: 212-695-7171 web: www.empirehotelgroup.com
	Room amenities:	* 2 double beds * Nightstand, dresser and desk, refrigerators and microwaves * Individual climate control * Extra pillows and blankets, iron, ironing board and luggage rack * Bathroom, bathtub with shower and Ecossential amenities and hairdryer * Flat Screen TV with digital cable channels, pay per view movies and Nintendo Game System * Telephone with voicemail and wake up system
	Facility amenities:	The spacious rooms at The Travel Inn in midtown Manhattan come equipped with flat-screen TVs. And most rooms feature mini-refrigerators and microwaves, making it easy for you to invoke the comforts of home. The Travel Inn is ideal for families who want to see the city’s sights and business travelers attending a convention at the nearby Jacob K. Javits Center. To relax, go for a dip in the hotel’s pool or work out in its impressive fitness center. Free parking at The Travel Inn is an added amenity that you won’t find at other midtown Manhattan hotels. The concierge desk at The Travel Inn is ready to arrange (for a fee) airport shuttles or limousine service, as well as assist you in booking tickets to the most popular shows. Visit the tour desk in the lobby to book tours, like a twilight boat cruise in the New York harbor. The Travel Inn’s helpful staff will craft a customized night on the town for you. The Travel Inn hosts several conferences and meetings. With its versatile meeting room, full-service business center, private voicemail service, and proximity to the Javits Center and Times Square, the hotel is an ideal choice for leisure and business travelers looking for deluxe accommodations while visiting midtown Manhattan.
	Smoking allowed:	No
	Elevators available:	Yes
	Additional nights prior:	negotiable Call 212-695-7171 to make reservations. There is no "Road Scholar" rate.
	Check in time:	3:00 PM
	Additional nights after:	negotiable Call 212-695-7171 to make reservations. There is no "Road Scholar" rate.
	Check out time:	12:00 PM

Travel Details
	Start of Program: 4:00pm registration in hotel meeting room You will be staying at Travel Inn that night.
	End of Program: 12:00 pm hotel check-out. You will be staying at Travel Inn the night before.
	Required documents: The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Driver's License or photo ID
	Parking availability: FREE PARKING but you can not take the car in and out during your stay.

Transportation

	Train or bus availability:	Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and Long Island Railroad all serve Pennsylvania Station. MetroNorth serves Grand Central Terminal. Most highway coach lines serve Port Authority Bus Terminal.

	To Start of Program
	Location:	New York, NY
	Nearest highway:	I-95, I-78, I-87
	Nearest airport:	JFK, LaGuardia, Newark (NJ)
	Transportation to site:	There is public transportation from LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports in bus/train/subway combinations. You can also call a Super Shuttle from baggage claim to take you to the hotel from the airport and costs about $25 per person. Taxi fares from LaGuardia are approximately $50+tip, from JFK $60+tip, and Newark $65+tip. There are 5 subway lines that service the hotel which can be accessed at JFK and Newark Airports via monorail. Direct subway service is available from Penn Station and Port Authority Bus Terminal. Explicit directions for public transportation will be sent in a welcome letter 6 weeks prior to the program. Websites: Metropolitan Transportation Authority: www.mta.info; Port Authority of NY & NJ: www.panynj.gov; New Jersey Transit: www.njtransit.com

	From End of Program
	Location:	New York, NY
	Transportation from site:	Shared car services and taxis are available directly from the hotel; otherwise directions via public transportation will be given during the program.
		(Additional transportation information same as above)

Driving Directions
	From New Jersey	Take the Lincoln Tunnel into Manhattan. Follow the signs to 42nd Street. Turn left the hotel is on your right
	From the East	I-495 to Midtown Tunnel Exit East 34th Street Right onto 34th Street, Right onto 3rd Avenue, Left onto 42nd Street proceed to 10th Avenue. Hotel is on the right.
	From the Northeast	I-95 to I-278 West Exit 6B toward Triboro Bridge Exit toward "RANDALLS-WARDS ISLANDS/MANHATTAN/FDR DRIVE" Merge onto Triboro Bridge Merge onto FDR Drive Exit #8 toward I495/MIDTOWN TUNNEL/East 34th Street Right on 34th Street. Right onto 3rd Avenue, Left onto 42nd Street proceed to 10th Avenue. Hotel is on the right.

Elevation Note: None

Equipment Requirements: None

The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Daily Schedule

Day 1:

Arrival/Orientation/Movie Night
(Thursday, July 25)

Afternoon:	Hotel check-in available after 3:00pm. 4:00pm: After checking in at the hotel front desk, come to the meeting room to register with your Program Coordinator and pick up your arrival packet. Programs are planned far in advance, so local circumstances may require changes from time to time. We will notify you as quickly as possible should there be any changes and appreciate your understanding.
Dinner:	5:00pm: Pizza Party! With pizza provided by an iconic pizzeria.
Evening:	6:15pm: We begin our orientation to the program and introduce staff and members of the group. We’ll review the schedule and any updates and answer any questions you may have. Following orientation, to prepare us for the next day's activities, we will watch the comedy "Night at the Museum" with Ben Stiller.

Accommodations:	Travel Inn
Meals Included:	Dinner

Day 2:

Spend the entire day at the Museum of Natural History and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Re-live the Night at the Museum or make new discoveries of your own!
(Friday, July 26)

Breakfast:	Continental Breakfast in the hotel Meeting room
Morning:	Travel with your guide to the American Museum of Natural History, where you'll be able to visit thousands of exhibits. Learn about things like dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, or how the solar system was formed!
Lunch:	Lunch on your own at the Museum
Afternoon:	Journey to the Stars with the museum's very own space show! Projected onto a domed screen with state-of-the-art technology, this show is not to be missed. You'll have some more time afterward to fit in a few more exhibits before leaving the museum and view the latest IMax movie.
Dinner:	Chinese food!
Evening:	Learn about the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from a former Park Ranger assigned to the islands.

Accommodations:	Travel Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3:

Start your day off and be greeted by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island just as millions of immigrants were greeted before! Then, make your way through Chinatown and Little Italy to dinner; two of New York's most famous immigrant communities!
(Saturday, July 27)

Breakfast:	In a cafe at the Battery
Morning:	We'll get an early start for our trip to the Statue of Liberty.
Lunch:	Lunch on your own at the Statue or Ellis Island
Afternoon:	Continue your afternoon at Ellis Island. Learn the history of the immigrant station and what brought immigrants to America. You might even be able to look up relatives that made their way into America here!
Dinner:	We'll follow in the footsteps of the arriving immigrants to Manhattan's Lower East Side and visit Chinatown on our way to dinner in Little Italy
Evening:	Spend more time exploring this interesting neighborhood and maybe sample some gelato or cannoli.

Accommodations:	Travel Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4:

Adventure through Central Park with a scavenger hunt!
(Sunday, July 28)

Breakfast:	In a French Bistro near Central Park
Morning:	Get your map ready! A scavenger hunt is a great way to learn the trails and discover the sights of Central Park!
Afternoon:	Afternoon free to see a Broadway matinee, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and just spend time together in New York City.
Dinner:	Free evening.

Accommodations:	Travel Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast

Day 5:

Go on a guided tour of the United Nations. Then take a walk through Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Have time to explore the 5th Avenue and Times Square area this afternoon, too!
(Monday, July 29)

Breakfast:	American breakfast in a nearby Diner
Morning:	Step outside of the United States for the morning and visit the United Nations. See how this peace-keeping organization brings hundreds of countries together to make decisions that affect people world-wide.
Lunch:	Have lunch on your own at Grand Central Station and have your choice of vendors all originating in New York City.
Afternoon:	Take a walk over to beautiful Rockefeller Center, a building complex full of unique architecture and history. Cross the street and visit Saint Patrick's Cathedral; another historic site in Gothic style. Get a bird's eye view of Manhattan from The Top of the Rock and have the opportunity to do some exploring on your own!
Dinner:	Near Times Square
Evening:	Have the evening free to do some last-minute exploring before you leave or walk across the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge as the sun sets over Manhattan!

Accommodations:	Travel Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6:

Program Wrap Up, check-out of hotel and depart
(Tuesday, July 30)

Breakfast:	Continental breakfast in the hotel meeting room
Morning:	Say your farewell and conclude the program with a discussion and re-cap of what you learned about your heritage throughout the week.
Afternoon:	Check out is 12 noon or you can store your bags in the hotel for a later departure

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
New York, NY	General Overview Hotel is centrally located. Within walking distance is: Times Square, Empire State Building, Penn Station, and everything else is a short subway ride away. For additional information, visit www.nyc.com/visit

Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

722 Miles: The Building of the Subways and How They Transformed New York

Author: Clifton Hood

AIA Guide to New York City

Author: Norval White and Eliot Wilensky, eds.

Downtown: My Manhattan

Author: Peter Hamill

Fiorello H. La Guardia and the Making of Modern New York

Author: Thomas Kessner

Five Points

Author: Tyler Anbinder

Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898

Author: Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace

Guide to New York City Landmarks

Author: Andrew S. Dolkart, Matt Postal, et al.

La Storia: Five Centuries of the Italian American Experience

Author: Jerry Geralando

The Epic of New York City

Author: A. Robb Ellis

The Great Bridge

Author: David McCullough

The New York Irish

Author: Ronald H. Baynor and Timothy J. Meagher, eds

The Rise of New York Port

Author: Robert Greenhalgh Albion

The Wedding of the Waters: the Erie Canal and the Making of a Great Nation

Author: Peter Berstein

Water for Gotham: A History

Author: Gerard T. Koppel

World of Our Fathers

Author: Irving Howe

Writing New York: A Literary Anthology

Author: Phillip Lopate, ed

Description: Recommended: F. Scott Fitzgerald's "My Lost City" pp 569-580 Jan Morris' "Manhattan"

You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.

As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.

Specifically, this program includes:

5 nights accommodations
9 meals: 5 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 4 dinners
Expert-led lectures: 1
Expert-led lectures

Led by one or more of our world-class instructors, typically in a classroom setting, lectures come in the form of presentations, discussions or workshops and offer expert insight into your area of study.
Field trips: 10
Field trips

The world is your classroom, as you're on location with an instructor to pursue your educational theme firsthand.

Plus these special experiences...

Excursions to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the United Nations
Visits to Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Public Library
A fun morning exploring Central Park on a scavenger hunt

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:

Learning led by expert instructors who are authorities in the field of study.
An experienced Group Leader attuned to the needs of Road Scholar participants.
Customary gratuities throughout the program that you would normally pay yourself.
The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, providing 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage.
Taxes