Girl Scouts Group NYC-DC by Zandra Palmer- 9 Days Tour [13 Jul – 21 Jul 2022]

Upon arrival in New York, you will be met by our representative and will be transferred to hotel.

Freshen-up, enjoy your breakfast at the hotel.

Meet your guide and proceed towards Battery Park. We will drive through the Lower Manhattan’s popular neighborhoods like the Flatiron District, Union Square, Little Italy, Chinatown, Soho & NoHo, Greenwich Village & the East Village, Chelsea. Upon arrival at the battery park, we will board the ferry to Liberty Island. With priority access we waste no time waiting in long lines and along the way you’ll learn about the remarkable history behind the Statue of Liberty and its inspirational meaning to millions of immigrants.

Disembark at Liberty Island and tour the grounds with your guide and hear more about the history and construction of this iconic landmark as well as a preview to what you will see inside the Pedestal and the new museum. You will have time on your own to examine the collection housed inside the museum – from the original bones of the statue to one of the first flames of her torch. Then make the climb to the top of the pedestal and enjoy unparalleled views of the NYC skyline from her feet.

Leave Liberty Island behind and hop back on the ferry to Ellis Island, a historical site that opened in 1892 as an immigration station. Explore the National Museum of Immigration and, with the help of the audio guide, learn a little more about the island’s inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking past.

Post tour, we will have some free time for Lunch

Post Lunch proceed to discover the meteoric rise of New York City with this informative walking tour of the financial district. We’ll see the city through the eyes of penniless young immigrant, Alexander Hamilton. From humble beginnings as one of many boys looking for a golden opportunity, he rose to become the first Secretary of the Treasury, epitomizing the enterprising spirit that defines a nation.
Trace the history of NYC from its founding as a small Dutch settlement to its current role as financial world capital. Visit New York’s oldest park, Bowling Green, where Peter Minuit first bought Manhattan Island from the native people in 1626. Then stop in Battery Park where ranks of artillery once stood to protect the vulnerable infant city from marauders. Visit Fraunces Tavern, the oldest building in Manhattan and a key location during the American Revolution. It was here that the final settlements of the American Revolution were hashed out in the British-American Board of Inquiry meetings.

Hear stories of lavish wealth and tragic downfalls while you wander down Wall Street. We’ll pass the New York Stock Exchange where fortunes are made and lost every day, and remember the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which caused the global downturn of the Great Depression. Finally, visit Ground Zero, site of the tragic September 11th terrorist attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died. Take some time to reflect on the bombing that rocked the world, and discover how the indomitable New York spirit has risen from the ashes of disaster to forge a new future.

Go on a guided tour of the 9/11 Memorial to experience the stories of 9/11 told by those who were there. Our guides are survivors, rescue and recovery workers, family members, civilian volunteers and Lower Manhattan residents whose healing is a testament to the perseverance of the human spirit.

On our tours, hear the guides’ powerful stories of their experiences during and after the attacks. They share insight on the history of 9/11 and the memorial pools, the survivor tree and the rebuilding.

Post the 9/11 Tour memorial, you will be transferred to your hotel.  Rest of the evening is at leisure.

Dinner on own arrangements.

Overnight in New York

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Morning after breakfast, meet your guide and we will visit American Museum of Natural History Renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world’s diverse cultures, visitors of all ages will be enchanted by what they find inside these historic walls.

Our admission ticket lets you explore the many wonders of the American Museum of Natural History (which includes the world-famous dinosaur halls)

At the Butterfly Sanctuary, you will mingle with more than 500 live, free-flying tropical butterflies in an enclosed habitat that imitates their natural environment with lush vegetation and live flowering plants.

We get to know our world through some, or all of our senses—sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste—but they’re just parts of a much larger puzzle. The highly experiential exhibition “Our Senses” delves into how our brains work with sensory organs to shape our perceptions and reveals how, until recently in our evolutionary history, humans have been oblivious to nature’s other crucial signals, including UV light, infrared sounds, and electrical fields.

The Space Show: discover the Dark Universe in the Hayden Planetarium, celebrates the pivotal discoveries that have led us to greater knowledge of the structure and history of the universe and our place in it—and to new frontiers for exploration.

Enjoy Lunch at a local restaurant selected for the group

Post lunch, we will proceed to discover the New York City. We will begin with Times Square and continue to iconic sites, such as Rockefeller Center (NBC Studios, Skating Rink in the winter, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral), Madison Square Park (views of the Empire State Building, Flatiron Building, and MetLife Clock Tower), arriving at Central Park.

On this tour of Central Park, you will have learned so much about the park’s history you will never see it the same way. What’s more, you will be able to walk around it in the future as if you owned the place, for you will know it like the palm of your hand.

Since as far back as the 1860s, Central Park has been the lungs of New York City, providing refuge among the foliage from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan life, both for tourists and for New Yorkers. On this two hour walk, we will learn about the physical construction of the largest man-made work of art in New York, visit the beautiful ’literary walk’, relish the wonderful architectural subtleties in the Bethesda Arcade and Terrace, and loose track of time in the rustic Ramble. Among the many sites you will see are the Sheep Meadow, Belvedere Castle, Bow Bridge, the skating pond, Seneca Village, the Casino and the site of the ’rocking chair’ riot.

You will be transferred back to the hotel.  Evening enjoy show on the Broadway.

Overnight in New York

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and visit the National Museum of the American Indian devoted to the culture of the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The National Museum of the American Indian cares for one of the world’s most expansive collections of Native objects, photographs, and media, covering the entire Western Hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. The museum’s sweeping curvilinear architecture, its indigenous landscaping, and its exhibitions, all designed in collaboration with tribes and communities, combine to give visitors from around the world the sense and spirit of Native America.

Post museum we will drive towards Harlem to explore the cultural, beautiful neighborhood or Harlem, New York.

Cradle of African American culture and bastion of the struggle for equal rights, Harlem is not the ghetto that it was in the 1970’s. On the contrary, Harlem became one of the most vibrant neighborhoods and trendy areas in New York! And even if it was done at the cost of some gentrification, the area has preserved much of its cultural heritage; the street art, hip-hop, gospel, jazz and of course, soul food.

We cannot count the number of people who were born or lived in Harlem – Louis Armstrong, James Baldwin, Malcolm X, Sugar Ray Robinson, Marcus Garvey and countless others! They all contributed to the exceptional heritage of this area, steeped in history. Baptist churches, the legendary hall of the Apollo Theater, small streets with typical brownstones and the prestigious Columbia University … succumb to the discreet charm of Harlem!
Post lunch in Harlem (venue to be advised). We will transfer you back to the hotel. Rest of evening is free at leisure. Explore New York city on own.

Overnight in New York

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and depart New York through New Jersey and Pennsylvania and to the city of brotherly love Philadelphia. Arriving in the Philadelphia’s historic Old City neighborhood. Your first stop will be at the Independence National Historical Park where your guide will lead you on a brief walking tour. You will have the opportunity to see some of the main historical sites such as the Liberty Bell, the famous symbol of America’s independence, and Independence Hall, the birthplace of the United State. It was within its walls that America’s founding documents – the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) and Constitution – were debated and adopted. Your visit to Philadelphia concludes with a stop at the Rocky Steps, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where you’ll have an opportunity to re-enact the famous scene from the 1976 movie by ascending to the top of the steps.

Stroll Elfreth’s alley the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. Continue on a panoramic tour of Philadelphia that includes the financial district, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Historic Philadelphia and more (Philadelphia Mint is temporarily closed until further notice)

Post lunch, we will continue our Journey to Washington DC. Upon arrival, check-in and spend rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight in Washington

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Morning after breakfast, board your coach for your transfer to the National Museum of African American History & Culture.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a place where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped us shape this nation.  Search the collection and explore the exhibition centers and digital initiatives. Discover signature objects of the Museum. Some of the highlights include – Harriet Tubman’s hymnal; Nat Turner’s bible; A plantation cabin from South Carolina; Guard tower from Angola Prison; Michael Jackson’s fedora; and works by prolific artists such as Charles Alston, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, and Henry O. Tanner

Evening, meet the driver and proceed back to the hotel. Rest of the evening is at leisure.

Overnight in Washington

Meals: Breakfast

Meet your tour guide and the driver. begins at US Navy Memorial.

Your next stops are the White House, the United States Capitol grounds, and the National World War II Memorial. Along the way, you will see the Canadian Embassy, the National Gallery of Art, the headquarters of the American Red Cross, the Daughters of The American Revolution (DAR), and the Organization of American States (OAS)—just to name a few sites. Onward, to the Jefferson Memorial.

Once you have marveled at the Jefferson Memorial, we will visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial just across the Potomac Tidal Basin.

On the walking segment of the tour, you will stop by the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and via a nice stroll along the tree line, you will emerge in front of the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Potomac River with your guide, who will answer any questions you might have. Guests have their choice of lunch options (cost is not included in the tour price) at the newly renovated L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, DC!

Second to the last stop is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial, which will take you back in time to the years 1933-1945.

For the final stop, we’ve arranged reserved access to the National Archives Building!

Evening you will be dropped back at the hotel.  Rest of the evening is at leisure.

“The United States Capitol Building is currently closed to the public. Guests will be able to view the exterior building and grounds. However, entry is not included until further notice”

Overnight in Washington

Meals: Breakfast

Your adventure will begin in Washington, DC, as you pass through numerous remarkable sights en route to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia – all aboard a luxury climate-controlled tour vehicle! Look out for the Washington Monument, Pentagon, and Air Force Memorial! While in Old Town Alexandria, you will see Robert E. Lee’s boyhood home, the George Washington Masonic Temple, and the Historic Christ Church amid more than 200 colonial-style restaurants and boutiques.

Next, you will enjoy a scenic ride along the Potomac River just before visiting George Washington’s Mount Vernon – one of Washington, DC area’s premier sightseeing attractions. You will explore the historic estate – from its mansion’s interior where President Washington resided to his beloved gardens, and final resting place. Furthermore, you will have an opportunity to purchase lunch while at Mount Vernon; in addition to time at the education center and much more!

Continue to Arlington Cemetery. Arlington National Cemetery is an enduring tribute to those who’ve dedicated their lives to defending the ideals of our nation. A visit here will leave an indelible impression on your spirit. There are more than 600 acres of hallowed ground and they’re best explored aboard Arlington National Cemetery Tours.

In addition, experience a narrated trolley tour of the Arlington National Cemetery (self-guided tour with tickets for narrated trolley tour). Take the tour of the Arlington National Cemetery including stops near the Ord & Weitzel walking gate to see President John F. Kennedy grave site, U.S. Coast Guard Memorial, U.S. Army Gen. John J. Pershing’s grave site, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Arlington House (The Robert E. Lee Memorial).

Post Lunch you will be dropped-off at the hotel.  Rest of day is at leisure. Explore the City at your own pace

Overnight in Washington

Meals: Breakfast

Morning after breakfast, day is free at leisure.  [Visit Howard University depending upon the confirmation]

You Will be transferred to airport for your return flight home.

Meals: Breakfast