travel & tours
October 2017 | 14 Days. 13 Nights
Day 1 Sat 7 Oct – New York
After boarding your ship in New York City, enjoy a delightful afternoon cruising from the metropolitan area to the Hudson River region
Day 2 –Sun 8 Oct – Poughkeepsie NY
Spared from battle during the Revolutionary War, Poughkeepsie became the second capital of New York. Due to the area’s natural beauty and proximity to the city, families such as the Astors and Vanderbilts built weekend homes nearby. Hyde Park, located just north, was the birthplace of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His Springwood estate is now the site of the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
Day 3 -Mon 9 Oct – Troy /Albany NY
The city of Albany was discovered by Henry Hudson in 1609 on a failed attempt to find an expedited passage to China for the Dutch East India Company. Today, the capital city of New York welcomes visitors with majestic architecture and grand views of the beautiful Hudson River Valley. Be sure to explore the New York State Museum and the newly renovated State Capitol building, originally built in the late 1800s
Day 4 – Tue 10 Oct – Kingston NY
When the steamboat debuted in 1807, the Hudson River became a waterway of leisurely travel. Kingston preserves the heritage of the region at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. Kingston is also located in an area of the Hudson River often referred to as “Millionaires Row” – which is replete with palatial estates and grand mansions built by wealthy New York businessmen who bought the property for summer retreats
Day 5 – Wed 11 Oct – Catskill
In Catskill, visit the Clermont State Historic Site, home to Robert Livingston Jr., the first minister of foreign affairs who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase and helped draft the Declaration of Independence. You will also have the chance to visit Olana, home of artist Frederick Church
Day 6 – Thu 12 Oct – West Point
The United States Military Academy at West Point offers visitors the opportunity to walk on the hallowed grounds once marched by some of the nation’s greatest generals. Founded in 1802 by an act of Congress, the Academy has been of significant military importance to America. Tour the West Point Museum and Cadet Chapel, while viewing magnificent vistas of the Hudson Valley from atop the campus grounds.
Day 7 – Fri 13 Oct
The riverside town of Sleepy Hollow is forever immortalized in the works of one of the country’s first great writers, Washington Irving. The author found inspiration in the Hudson Valley, creating legendary stories like Rip Van Winkle. Today, Irving’s country home, Sunnyside, is a National Historic Landmark and welcomes visitors with tales of the man himself
Day 8 Sat 14 Oct New York
After breakfast Once we have docked in Manhattan
Transfer to hotel
Day 9 Sun 15 Oct – New York
Today we will do a Battery to Circle tour
The most popular part of New York City is the area between Columbus Circle and Battery Park. Within those borders are some of the world’s most famous places: the Empire State Building, Chinatown, Grand Central Terminal, the 9/11 Memorial, the Brooklyn Bridge, the South Street Seaport, Washington Square Arch, Little Italy, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square. On tour with a private guide you will see, hear, and explore the city. In some cases you will get out and walk around so you can truly experience Gotham. This tour is customizable. We can focus on art, cuisine, architecture, walking, or a mix of everything.
Day 10 Mon 16 Oct – New York
One World Observatory and National 9/11 Memorial & Museum Tour sightseeing & local
Your private guide will take you to the 9/11 Memorial, a national tribute of remembrance and honor to those who perished in the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. You will also explore the National September 11 Museum, the principal institution concerned with exploring the implications of the events of 9/11.
Now on the site is One World Trade and your tour will end by ascending to the top and experiencing One World Observatory. Look towards the horizon and feel the city’s invincible spirit. Take the iconic sights, surrounding waters, panoramic views of the skyline, and beyond from the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
Day 11Tue 17 Oct – New York
Central Park Sightseeing in the morning
New York’s Backyard
Where else can you see a castle, a sled dog, Alice in Wonderland, a pair of hawks, and a 4,000-year-old obelisk from Egypt in one place? You guessed it: Central Park is more than just a green space in the middle of Manhattan Island; it is an 843-acre oasis 150 years in the making and a favorite retreat for New Yorkers of all walks of life. An essential part of the urban landscape, Central Park is something that no New Yorker could live without. It fits into the Manhattan environment so naturally that many people never realize it is entirely man-made. Follow your guide on the winding paths and over the bridges and through the tunnels, and learn how the architects Olmsted and Vaux created New York’s “backyard.”
This evening Broadway – show to be advised
The backstage door. An unmarked but well-known feature on Broadway. The fans know where it is. They wait to catch a glimpse of their favorite leading man, maybe get a photograph or even eye contact. For you it is a little more concrete. After the performance, you will be met and escorted backstage. See the real deal behind the scenes of a Broadway production. The stage left and stage right, the sets, the costume change areas, and all the pieces that make a show come together. Your escort will make the rounds with you to meet the cast members, take some photos, and get some autographs. When you are done, you stroll on out of the theater like you just performed yourself
Day 12 Wed 18 Oct – New York
Until 1958, the building that houses the famous Chelsea Market was a Nabisco factory, and less than 20 years ago, it was used for light manufacturing.
Fifteen years ago, the area known as the Meatpacking District was known for just that, plus some really “interesting” night clubs, and many used the street as a place to do business.
About 10 years ago, the park called the High Line was an abandoned elevated railway and the park was only on paper.
Today, the area is one of the hottest in Manhattan. Chelsea Market has some of the best food purveyors in the city. Bring your appetite and get something to eat. The Meatpacking District, with its cobblestone streets, still has some grit and its checkered past along with all kinds of new development mixed in. You’ll learn a lot from your guide who will point out things only a professional will know. The most important addition to the area has been the High Line Park, which went from urban decay to metropolitan oasis. Walk a portion of the High Line with your guide and she tells you its secrets and stories.
Day 13– Thu 19 Oct
After breakfast transfer to airport
Tour ends
Download New York & Hudson River cruise flyer here
To express your interest please email info@jhtours.com.au
Liz Cosier
