Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, take your bags to your room. At 4:00 p.m., come to the designated hotel meeting room (location will be posted) to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your envelope when you check in.

Dinner: 5:00 p.m.: In the Tick Tock Diner just off the hotel lobby, we’ll have our first meal together and order from a select menu. This 24-hour diner features American cooking and “comfort food.” Dinner in the diner is included even if you arrive late. You may eat later but please attend Orientation first. Or, get “take out” and bring your plate to the meeting room.

Evening: 6:15 p.m.: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. This active program involves extensive walking and use of public transportation including the New York subway system with many stairs up and down. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. To prepare for tomorrow’s field trips, we’ll have an introduction to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Expert-led lectures: 1

Activity note: Use of public transportation (subway, ferry). Walking up to 8 miles throughout the day.

Breakfast: In our hotel meeting room, we’ll have bagels, muffins, bananas, hard-boiled eggs, cold cereals, cream cheese, jelly, and butter, plus milk (regular and low-fat), orange juice, coffee/decaf, tea.

Morning: We’ll walk from the hotel with our Group Leader and ride the subway to the ferry that will take us on to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty. The National Park Service has just opened a fantastic new museum on Liberty Island for your exploration. There is also a family-friendly audio guide included with each ferry ticket and can be picked up at the Acoustiguide booth on Liberty Island or perhaps choose to take a Ranger-led tour. Another short ferry ride goes from Liberty Island to Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty was an amazing gift to the people of America from the people of France — our oldest ally — celebrating freedom and democracy. We’ve seen this national monument in countless movies and TV shows and may even take it for granted, but on the Fourth of July 1884, it was the biggest event in the country. Years later, these words of poet Emma Lazarus were added: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” You will be able to explore Liberty and Ellis Islands at your own pace before we regroup in the afternoon.

Lunch: We’ll have vouchers for lunch at the Statue of Liberty cafeteria on Liberty Island.

Afternoon: At your own pace, it’s on to Ellis Island. From 1892 when the immigration station opened until it closed in 1954, more than 12 million people coming to America passed through Ellis Island. This was their “golden door” to new lives. Today, the descendants of these immigrants make up almost half of all Americans. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration tells the story of where people came from and what their experience was like. We all came from somewhere. This is a chance to learn more about your own family heritage at the genealogy center (small additional fee.) We’ll meet on the front steps of The Ellis Island Museum to take the ferry back to Manhattan as a group. Arriving back on Manhattan Island, we’ll explore the oldest inhabited area of the city and learn about some of New York's ties to the American Revolution. Then, we’ll follow in the footsteps of immigrants, many of whom went first from Ellis Island to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, at one time the most densely populated neighborhood on earth. The Lower East Side is today home to New York's Chinatown and Little Italy.

Dinner: At a restaurant in Little Italy, we’ll order plated meals from a select menu with beverages choices of soda, coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Before we return to the hotel, we’ll have some independent time in this iconic neighborhood. When people came from other countries, they brought their language, customs, and favorite foods. You might like to taste some authentic Italian gelato.

Activity note: Use of public transportation. Walking up to 8 miles throughout the day. Areas of the U.N. we get to see will depend on what’s taking place that day.

Breakfast: In the Tick Tock Diner, we’ll order from a select menu.

Morning: The United Nations owes its existence to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He worked through the last years of his life — when World War II was still raging — to create an organization that would encourage nations to settle their differences peacefully. The U.N. opened on October 24, 1945. It now has 192 member states working through the U.N. to resolve conflicts, keep peace, and provide humanitarian assistance around the world. We’ll step into this world arena and explore with one of the U.N.’s trained expert aides. These bright and talented young people from all over the world have learned about international issues and get daily briefings on current developments. We’ll see how the U.N. works and how the member countries make decisions that affect people everywhere. We’ll also be able to talk with our U.N. aide and learn where s/he came from and about the hopes and dreams of kids in other parts of the world. We’ll then go to Grand Central Terminal.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and will tell us when and where to regroup. Grand Central has a fantastic food hall with vendors offering tastes of New York City’s many different peoples and cultures.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll walk over to Rockefeller Center, a building complex full of unique architecture and history, and get a bird's eye view of Manhattan from The Top of the Rock! Across the street, we’ll go into Saint Patrick's Cathedral, considered by many the most beautiful Gothic style cathedral in the new world. We’ll then return to the hotel as a group.

Dinner: At a restaurant near the hotel and Times Square, we’ll order from a menu with “kid friendly” choices.

Evening: We’ll walk up to Times Square, where millions gather to cheer in the new year.

Activity note: Use of public transportation. Walking up to 5 miles throughout the day.

Breakfast: In the meeting room.

Morning: We’ll take the Subway up to Columbus Circle, the magnificent southwestern entrance to Central park. We’ll divide into two smaller groups and set out on a walking field trip to explore Manhattan’s biggest and best green space. We’ll have maps and clues to discover some of the famous sights — like Balto the Dog — and take pictures to document our discoveries.

Lunch: In the Park, we’ll have box lunches.

Afternoon: Free time. This time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There’s so much to see and do we can’t even begin to mention all the possibilities. You might like to visit the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or any of 100 other museums; have another walk in the Park; or just spend time together taking in the sights and sounds of the city. If you want to attend an event such as a Broadway show or a performance at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, etc., you may want to order tickets in advance. There are always a lot of options available for same-day tickets at 20% to 50% off regular prices at the TKTS Discount Booth. The Group Leader will be happy to give advice on how to make it go as smoothly as possible. See www.tdf.org for details.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Use of public transportation. Walking up to 8 miles throughout the day.

Breakfast: In the Tick Tock Diner.

Morning: We’ll take the subway to Coney Island and visit the New York Aquarium, which has been going through big improvements. During our self-directed exploration, we’ll be able to see what interests each of us most.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like. There are lots of choices along the Coney Island Boardwalk and we’ll see what’s there. Nathan’s — everybody’s favorite! — has been serving classic New York beef hot dogs since 1916. It was founded by a Polish immigrant who started with a small hot dog stand. Today, it’s the most famous hot dog joint in the world. (They also have other choices.)

Afternoon: Next, we’ll visit Luna Park, named after a famous amusement park established in 1903. The new park has 20 rides and games. We’ll have an “unlimited ride” wristband to enjoy what we like. (FYI: The Cyclone and several other “extreme thrill” rides are not included but you can purchase tickets onsite if you want.) We’ll also have some independent time to walk along the boardwalk and pier before returning to the hotel.

Dinner: Near the hotel, we’ll have Chinese food. Try using chopsticks!

Evening: With our Group Leader, we’ll take the subway to Washington Square Park, the heart and soul of Greenwich Village. There's always something interesting going on; Washington Square has attracted musicians and street performers for a very long time. There’s also great ice cream. Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and departure after our wrap-up session in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon. If you like, you may leave bags at the hotel for pick-up later in the afternoon.

Breakfast: In the hotel meeting room.

Morning: We’ll have a fun wrap-up session to share what we’ve learned and enjoyed the most. We’ll be finished by about 10:30 a.m. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!