New York City, Long Island and Hudson Valley Day Tours

Some ideas and itineraries for day tours within New York City as well day trips out to Long Island and up the Hudson Valley

If you have just one day, or several days to see New York, you can follow one or more of the following day tours to experience many of New York's favourite attractions. We have also included information on outbound day trips to a number of destinations on Long Island and along the Hudson Valley.

The key to seeing more is to plan ahead and follow a logical path from one location to another. By doing this you can cover a lot of area in a day using the transit system.

You can follow these tours as is, modify them, or plan your own to suit your personal tastes by using the resources available throughout the site.

We recommend purchasing a Metro Card prior starting your sightseeing. That way you'll receive the best fares available.

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Day Tour 1 - New York City Highlights Tour.

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If you have just one day to explore New York this is the tour we would recommend. You won't spend much time exploring any one thing, but you will get to see a number of New York's most famous landmarks up close and personal and you should be able to get some great pictures to help remember your visit.

Begin this tour by making your way to Rockefeller Center (Rockfeller Center Subway Station via B,D,F or M Trains). You will have to pay an admission charge to go up to the observation deck, but if have to spend your sightseeing budget on just one thing during your visit to New York this would be our recommendation. Why Rockefeller Center and not the Empire State Building? Well, for one, it has the best overall views including spectacular views of Central Park and you also get a great view of the Empire State Building. Secondly the line-ups are generally shorter than those for the Empire State Building.

Upon leaving Rockefeller Center check out the Radio City Music Hall at the corner of 6th Avenue at 50th Street. Then make your way west along 50th Street to Broadway and follow Broadway south through the Theatre District to Times Square.

Enjoy some lunch at one of our recommended Theatre District restaurants. After you,ve seen enough of Time's Square catch a N,Q, or R Train from Times Square/42nd Street north to 5th Avenue/59th Street where you can enter Central Park via the Grand Army Plaza. Here you can get some photos of the old and colorful horse drawn carriages that are on display.

Continue to explore the southern portion of Central Park, making your way north along the pond and past the carousel. Continue north all the way up to the lake if you wish (and aren't getting too tired), then make your way south again to the Columbus Circle at southwest corner of the park.

From Columbus Circle Station, take the 1 Train south to it's terminus at South Ferry. From there enjoy a round trip to Staten Island on the free Staten Island Ferry where you can enjoy some spectacular views of the New York Skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Afterwards make your way by subway back to your hotel.

The Staten Island Ferry offers spectacular views of the Statute of Liberty and the New York Skyline cc licensed flickr photo shared by Shaun Merritt

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Day Tour 2 - Brooklyn Day Tour

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The Brooklyn Day Tour is best enjoyed on a nice day when you really want to enjoy the great outdoors. Attractions include a beautiful park, beaches and a boardwalk, a botanical garden, a museum, an aquarium, and amusement parks.

We begin the tour by taking the Q train (Broadway Express) and heading all the way out to the Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk where you can just enjoy the sights and sounds while strolling along the boardwalk or enjoy some time at Luna Amusement Park, a ride on Deno's Wonder Wheel or a visit to the New York Aquarium .

After spending the first half of your day at Coney Island, catch the Q Train back to Prospect Park Station where you can visit beautiful Prospect Park and explore the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and/or Brooklyn Museum of Art. And that should easily fill your day!

Japanese Gardens at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden cc licensed flickr photo shared by Lall

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Day Tour 3 - Architectural Highlights Tour

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New York has some truly remarkable architecture. This tour takes you to some of the city's architectural highlights. Wear shoes that are good for walking and don't forget to bring your camera.

Begin the tour by taking the 4, 5, 6, N or R train to City Hall Station. From here you can enjoy views of New York City Hall and the famous Woolworth Tower. A short walk south along Broadway will bring you to St. Paul's Chapel and Trinity Church. Return along Broadway to City Hall Park and follow Park Row along the east side of the park to the Brooklyn Bridge Promenade from where you can begin the Brooklyn Bridge Walk which will give you an up close view of this iconic New York landmark as well as some great views of the New York skyline. You can decide if you want to walk the entire length of the bridge or just a portion of it.

After this make your way back to City Hall Park again and take the N or R train north from City Hall Station to East 23rd Street Station. Here you will see the famous The Flatiron Building. From the Flatiron Building proceed north along 5th Avenue to the Empire State Building (about a 12 minute walk) and then on to the New York Public Library (about 5 minutes). Continue north on 5th Avenue then right on 42nd Street for 2 blocks to Grand Central Terminal and 2 more blocks to the Chrysler Building.

Walk back to Grand Central Terminal and catch a 4 or 6 train to 51st Street. Proceed west 2 blocks to St. Patrick's Cathedral, 2 more blocks to the Radio City Music Hall and the Rockefeller Center. Time permitting you may want to finish your day by going up to the Top of the Rock observation deck for some spectacular views of the city as night falls.

Top of the Chrysler Building as seen from the Empire State Building cc licensed flickr photo shared by Matthias Rosenkranz

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Long Island Day Tours

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Long Island is an ideal destination for a day trip from New York City and offers a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the city. The easiest way to enjoy a day tour to Long Island is to choose from one of the numerous one day self-guided getaway packages offered by the Long Island Railroad with departures from Penn Station in Manhattan. Some of these include a short bus/taxi and or ferry connection as well. More information is available from LIRR Getaway Packages.

We recommend any of the following packages (some are only available during the summer season):

• North Forks Villages Train and discount package. Enjoy the idyllic scenery, shops and dining in these four northeastern Long Island villages.
• Freeport Nautical Mile Train and Taxi Package. Explore Freeport's four acre waterfront park and marina. Stroll the boardwalk. Enjoy a meal at one of the many resaurants and pubs along the waterfront.
• Oyster Bay Village Train Package and discount package. Includes a self-guided audio walking tour. Visit the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum, the Raynham Hall Museum, Earle-Wightman House and enjoy discounts at local shops and restaurants.
• Kismet and Fire Island Lighthouse Train, Taxi and Ferry Package. Enjoy the relaxed village of Kisment and enjoy spectacular views from the top of the very old Fire Island Lighthouse.
• Long Beach Train Package. Enjoy this beautiful seaside park with it's miles of white sandy ocean beachfront and a two mile boardwalk along with an assortment of restaurants and bars.
• Jones Beach Train and Bus Package. Another beautiful Long Island oceanfront park with miles of sandy beaches, two miles of boardwalk, swimming pools and more.
• Ocean Bay Park Train, Taxi, Ferry Package. Enjoy this laid back Fire Island communit. Miles of sandy white beach, and several dining choices including oceanview.
• Watch Hill Train and Ferry package. Watch Hill is ideal for nature lovers with it's many trails and ocean front beach.

To see the full list of available getaway packages see LIRR Getaway Packages.

Fire Island Lighthouse is one of many possible destinations available on a day trip to Long Island cc licensed flickr photo shared by jeffpearce

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Hudson Valley and Connecticut Day Tours

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The Hudson Valley and Connecticut also offer a number of possiblities for exciting day trips out of New York City. This region is served by the Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and they too offer a good selection of getaway packages.

We recommend any of the following packages:

• Boscobel House and Gardens Train and admission discount package. Enjoy a one hour train ride alongside the Hudson River followed by a discounted visit to this spectacular 19th century mansion and it's beautiful grounds and collections of art and furniture.
• Wave Hill Train and admission discount package. Explore this beautiful 28 acre garden and cultural centre.
• Hudson River Museum Train and discounted admission package. Learn about the Hudson River and view galleries of spectacular American art; see the Glenview a historic Hudson river mansion restored inside and out; on weekends enjoy a planetarium show (small additional fee).
• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk Train and discounted admission package. Visit the affordable Maritime Aquarium featuring frogs to sharks and everything in between. Take in a show at the IMAX theatre and visit the nearby Sheffield Island Lighthoue, the Norwalk Museum and local shops and restaurants.

To see the full list of available getaway packages see Hudson Valley, Connecticut Getaway Packages.

Conservatory at Wave Hill in the Bronx. Wave Hill is one of numerous day trip getaways offered by the MNR cc licensed flickr photo shared by shinya