By bus or by boat, City Sightseeing eases travel planning and helps groups navigate New York City with ease
So you’ve got some group travel to New York City planned. What’s the big deal? Seeing the sights of New York shouldn’t be all that complicated. Its skyline is familiar, seen on countless TV shows and movies. Its streets and avenues are on a famous grid system, with the avenues running one way and the streets running the other. It’s got airports, subways, taxis, buses – all the public transportation you could want. And it’s absolutely packed with interesting things to do. No problem, right?
Complicating matters is New York’s frantic pace, ferocious traffic and densely-packed populace.
No wonder that group travel planners often leave tours to the experts, like City Sightseeing.
That’s Manhattan: Familiar Sights, Small Area
For most people, the New York we think of is the isle of Manhattan: 22 square miles of diverse architecture, cultures and people. Only Manhattan could be home to the UN Building and Greenwich Village, to Chinatown and Broadway, to Wall Street and Times Square.
Group travel to New York is undoubtedly very popular. Although river-bound Manhattan can’t really sprawl, physically speaking, as Los Angeles or Chicago seem to do, it does pack a whole lot of famous people, places and things into one small bit of geography. What can you do if you want to get a visual on some local landmarks but your group doesn’t have a lot of time to spend? Your best bet is a sightseeing tour.
What can you see on a City Sightseeing tour? The following landmarks come to mind:
- The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Greeting visitors, immigrants, and New York residents alike since 1886, the Statue of Liberty is the symbol of New York and the entire United States. The hefty Lady Liberty – she stands 151 feet tall (305 feet with the base) and weighs 450,000 pounds – was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and presented to the United States as a gift from France. Nearby sits Ellis Island, the gateway to the US from 1892 to 1954. While other ports were used, Ellis Island is the most well-known; it processed over 12 million entrants into America.
- Brooklyn Bridge. Built in 1883, this suspension bridge still amazes visitors today. It spans the East River and connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge, once the longest of its kind in the world, is an excellent example of neo-Gothic architecture and structural know-how.
- Freedom Tower, also known as One World Trade Center. September 11th’s attacks may have changed the world, but they didn’t dampen the spirit of Manhattan’s builders. Sitting on part of the site of the former World Trade Center, Freedom Tower is the city’s tallest skyscraper; its slivery form stretches 1,776 feet into the New York sky. Also on-site is the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
- Empire State Building. The darling of New York’s skyline, the Empire State Building is recognizable thanks to movies that range from Spider-Man to An Affair to Remember. At 102 stories and 1,250 feet, it was the tallest building in the city until the completion of One World Trade Center. The World’s Most Famous Office Building has two observation decks and hosts over four million visitors a year.
- The Manhattan Skyline. The Manhattan skyline could be considered a work of art in itself. The view differs as you move from Midtown Manhattan to Lower Manhattan. Thanks to Manhattan Island’s exceptionally strong bedrock, more skyscrapers were packed in here than other places could support. The result is a soaring skyline with a mixture of styles, including Art Deco, Gothic and modern.
4 Great Options for Exploring the Sights
Once you’ve decided which attractions your group can’t miss, it’s time to choose how you want to get from place to place. City Sightseeing New York believes there’s no wrong answer when it comes to touring transportation, and offers guided tours using all of the following.
- On Foot: Guided walking tours give your group 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 group 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 group’s 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 City Sightseeing 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 City Sightseeing 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.
What Other Amenities Does City Sightseeing Provide?
- Convenient departures from Midtown Manhattan, just outside Times Square
- Photo ops with the Statue of Liberty
- Affordable prices for kids and adults
- Licensed, live tour guides
- Newly renovated boats for the harbor cruises
- Private double decker bus tours available
- Choose from afternoon or evening departures
In other words, City Sightseeing takes some of the planning out of travel planning, while your group gets to see some of New York’s top sights in a relatively short amount of time.
Group travel to New York City highlights both the best of group travel – the shops! the museums! the shows! the food! – and the worst, at least from a transportation and logistics standpoint. Rather than battle crowds and traffic, let the pros at City Sightseeing arrange a private tour of New York landmarks. Visit City Sightseeing New York to start planning your travels today.
