Good Times Travel - New York City, Upstate & Niagara


Day By Day Itinerary:


Day 1	Tuesday, 9/6/2022 - Arrive in New York City Optional transfers from our departure points will have us at LAX this morning for a scheduled nonstop flight arriving in New York City this afternoon. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight arrival time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. Our deluxe motorcoach will transfer us from the airport to the heart of Manhattan and our stately hotel situated on 7th Avenue between 52nd and 53rd streets. Enjoy the balance of the evening at leisure – Times Square is just a few short walkable blocks from the hotel.

Day 2	Wednesday, 9/7/2022 - New York City This morning we’ll board a deluxe motorcoach for a full-day of sightseeing in Manhattan with a local guide aboard. We’ll tour inside St. Patrick’s Cathedral and walk through Rockefeller Center before we continue with a short walk in Central Park to see Strawberry Fields – the tribute to the late John Lennon. See Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, the celebrity apartments along Central Park East and West, the Plaza Hotel, the legendary Ed Sullivan Theatre, Radio City Music Hall, and much more in Midtown! We return to the hotel late this afternoon with the evening at leisure. Optional tickets for a variety of Broadway musicals are available for this evening (prices vary and show selection will be available with final invoice) – most theatres are just a short walk from the hotel.

Day 3	Thursday, 9/8/2022 - New York City to Hudson River Valley This morning we'll travel to Lower Manhattan and visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. We'll then travel north, crossing the George Washington Bridge and continuing to the beautiful Hudson River Valley. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point which showcases the hallowed grounds where American heroes like Generals Patton, Eisenhower and MacArthur graduated. Take in the view from Trophy Point and see the Cadet Chapel and Michie Stadium – home of Army Football. Enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite in Rhinebeck before we begin a two-night stay at our downtown Poughkeepsie hotel.	Dinner

Day 4	Friday, 9/9/2022 - Hudson River Valley Following an included breakfast, we’ll be joined by a local guide for a full-day touring the Hudson River Valley. We’ll visit the Culinary Institute of America – the premier cooking school in the United States for a guided tour. We continue to Hyde Park and visit Val-Kill National Historic Site where we’ll see where Eleanor Roosevelt lived and made her mark on civil rights and humanitarian issues. At the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Home & Presidential Library we'll see his cluttered White House desk (left as it was the last day of his presidency), his beloved 1936 Ford Phaeton with the original hand controls, and the home where FDR and Eleanor entertained world leaders. Pay your respects to FDR and Eleanor, both laid to rest in the rose garden. This evening we’ll enjoy an included dinner at a locals' favorite in Poughkeepsie.	Breakfast Dinner

Day 5	Saturday, 9/10/2022 - Hudson River Valley to Cooperstown After an included breakfast, we’ll take a walk over the Hudson River via the “Walkway Over the Hudson” – the longest pedestrian bridge in the world! We'll then visit Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site and tour this country castle containing 54 rooms and offering majestic views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains! Late this afternoon we arrive in the small town of Cooperstown. Set along the edge of tranquil Otsego Lake, the little village of Cooperstown boasts an almost unfair amount of history for its size. Enjoy time at leisure for browsing and dinner on your own in this charming town with tree-lined streets and beautiful Victorian-era houses.	Breakfast Lunch

Day 6	Sunday, 9/11/2022 - Cooperstown, 1000 Islands Following an included breakfast, we’ll visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Enjoy ample time at leisure to explore this amazing museum that features entire exhibits devoted to Babe Ruth (complete with his bat and his locker), Hank Aaron, and the Hall of Fame Gallery where the bronze plaques for all the Hall of Famers are displayed. This afternoon we continue north to Alexandria Bay in the 1000 Island region. Situated at the southern end of the Saint Lawrence River and eastern shore of Lake Ontario, most people’s only knowledge of this area is the salad dressing that originated here. Enjoy an included dinner at our waterfront resort.	Breakfast Dinner

Day 7	Monday, 9/12/2022 - 1000 Islands, Niagara Falls Enjoy an included breakfast before we begin a narrated two-nation boat cruise to discover this stunningly beautiful region known as the “Venice of the New World.” We’ll see Millionaire’s Row and enjoy time at leisure to explore Boldt Castle on Heart Island. We continue west to the Canadian Side of Niagara Falls (a passport is required for this tour). Begin a two-night stay (with views of Niagara Falls from your room) at a hotel located in the heart of the entertainment district.	Breakfast

Day 8	Tuesday, 9/13/2022 - Niagara Falls After an included breakfast we’ll join a local guide for a tour of the Niagara Falls area. We’ll visit the picturesque Floral Clock and take in views of the Falls from a variety of view points. Feel like royalty while enjoying an included tea lunch at the iconic Prince of Wales hotel, the Victorian era hotel located in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake. This afternoon we'll don our complimentary ponchos and experience the awe-inspiring Voyage to the Falls boat tour which takes us face-to-face with Niagara Falls. Enjoy a memorable farewell dinner this evening.	Breakfast Dinner

Day 9	Wednesday, 9/14/2022 - Erie Canal, Journey Home Following an included breakfast we’ll take a narrated cruise on the Erie Canal including “locking through” a set of locks. We continue to Buffalo for an afternoon flight returning us to LAX this evening. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight departure time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the airport. Back in Los Angeles those guests with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective drop-offs. While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your understanding, flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. While these have always been necessary traits for travelers, they are needed now more than ever! Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary. Now more than ever, our 30 years of knowledge and tour planning experience helps us navigate a unique travel environment on your behalf. You can put your trust in us knowing we are experts in travel planning and will do everything possible to provide wonderful new experiences and create amazing new memories for our guests while on the road with us.	Breakfast