Niagara Falls

Day 1

NEW YORK

Arrive in New York City, America’s premier city and greatest attraction. After settling into your hotel, head out into the streets and join in on the action. An afternoon tour could begin with a visit to Times Square, followed by a stroll past Broadway’s theaters, some people-watching in Central Park, and a return along 5th Avenue’s skyscrapers and storefronts. Still a little tired after your long journey? Check with your hotel concierge for last-minute tickets on a sunset harbor cruise, join a hop-on/hop-off bus tour, or simply settle into a drink and watch the city lights come up at one of New York’s rooftop bars & restaurants.

Day 2

NEW YORK

A full day to explore New York and everything it has to offer. New York’s story begins in downtown Manhattan, originally the colonial Dutch city of New Amsterdam. Follow the immigrant story at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, then take a moment at Ground Zero to reflect on our own changing times. Continue north past SoHo’s stylish shops to Greenwich Village’s genteel streets, or wander through Chinatown’s kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and smells on your way to Little Italy and the Lower East Side

Day 3

NEW YORK » HUDSON HIGHLANDS » CATSKILLS » FINGER LAKES (ITHACA) (325 mi / 520 km)

Rich in history and scenic beauty, the Hudson River is one of America’s great waterways. Your day begins with a riverside drive en route to Sleepy Hollow, where 18th-Century life is recreated at the Dutch settlement of Philipsburg Manor. Continue north on winding roads to enjoy panoramic river views in the Hudson Highlands. Cross the Hudson River on your way to Woodstock in the Catskill Mountains, an artist’s colony long before residents such as Dylan and Hendrix or the music festival made it famous. Continue on to the Finger Lakes and Ithaca, whose colleges ensure excellent dining on any budget and a good selection of musical entertainment to choose from. (note: Philipsburg Manor is closed Tuesdays).

Day 4

FINGER LAKES (ITHACA) » FINGER LAKES (CANANDAIGUA) (125 mi / 200 km)

The Native American Iroquois believed the 11 long and slender Finger Lakes of Central NY were the handprint of the Great Spirit, left behind when he blessed the land. Today, the Finger Lakes remain a picturesque region of rolling hills, country roads, quaint villages and world-class wineries. Depart this morning for Taughannock Falls, taller than the mighty Niagara, and Seneca Lake, where you can hike a 2 km winding gorge and admire a series of 19 waterfalls, one of which you can even walk behind. Then explore the Finger Lakes’ wineries and New York’s Amish country on your way to the lakefront town of Canandaigua, where you can enjoy an evening dinner cruise or enjoy the lakeside beach

Day 5

CANANDAIGUA » GANONDAGAN » NIAGARA FALLS (105 mi / 165 km)

Depart this morning for the short drive to Niagara Falls. Along the way, make a stop at Ganondagan State Historic Site, once an important Seneca Indian village, to learn the history and culture of the Senecas and their Iroquois brethren. Then, arrive in Niagara Falls by mid-day. A scenic natural wonder, Niagara Falls’ thundering cascade empties the waters of four Great Lakes – at a rate of 3 million liters per second – on their way to Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls can easily be explored by foot, and is especially impressive on a Maid of the Mist boat tour, where a 180° curtain of water surrounds you. In the evening, enjoy dinner from high above the Falls at Skylon Tower, where on a clear day you can see Toronto. Afterwards, enjoy the sunset and the colorful nighttime illumination of the Falls, and try your luck at one of Niagara Falls casinos.

Day 6

NIAGARA FALLS » GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE » LETCHWORTH STATE PARK » CORNING (175 mi / 280 km)

Spend more time in Niagara Falls and drive directly to Corning, or depart this morning and make a stop at Genesee Country Village, a collection of 57 original historic homes and buildings brought together to recreate a typical 19th-century New York State village. Guides in period costume are happy to demonstrate how people once lived, worked and played in the young American republic. Continue south to Letchworth State Park, also known as a “Grand Canyon of the East”, where three major waterfalls cut a 200 m path deep into the Genesee River Gorge. End the day in Corning, a picturesque town famous for the world’s premier glass museum, and enjoy the shops, restaurants, and numerous pubs along Market Street, a particularly enjoyable Main Street USA.

Day 7	CORNING » NEW YORK (285 mi / 455 km)
Today you’ll have time for a relaxing breakfast before departing, and you’ll be back in New York City by mid-afternoon. Be sure to make a stop across the Hudson River for some skyline photos of Manhattan to remember your trip by.

Day 8	NEW YORK
A final day to enjoy the Big Apple. Take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping for your friends and family back home, or revisit a favorite neighborhood to enjoy a relaxing morning before your flight departs.