New York
New York City at a Slower Pace: The Best of the Big Apple
Program No. 2302960MEADV-1116-60
Hear New Yorkers’ formidable stories and join art, architecture and history experts to explore New York at a slower pace.
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800-454-5768
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At a Glance
Discover the best of the "big apple" as you explore the city at your own pace. Walk in the footsteps of millions of migrants at Liberty and Ellis Islands, and learn their stories at the Immigration Museum. While visiting Rockefeller Center, stop at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a symbol of the successful assimilation of New York's Irish population, on fashionable Fifth Avenue. Taste the diverse flavors of this city as you dine like a New Yorker! See the city through the eyes of art, architecture and history experts as they lead you through New York's iconic sights.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
This program is specifically for those who want to avoid subways. We will have a private coach to transport us on most field trips. Walking up to a mile at time and climbing stairs.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Discover the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a museum that is to New York what the Louvre is to Paris.
- Recall the heady days of the world’s largest privately owned entertainment and business complex at Rockefeller Plaza.
- Explore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, gateway to America for millions of immigrants.
General Notes
There are lots of different ways to explore New York City depending on your preference of pace and modes of transportation, program inclusions and time available for travel. Visit www.roadscholar.org/collections/nyc to explore them all!
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Richard Turnbull
Richard Turnbull is an assistant professor in the History of Art Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and lectures regularly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. He has published numerous articles on topics from the challenges of being an adjunct professor to the photography of Luke Smalley, and has forthcoming articles on Islamic art and 70s pop music and culture. Richard earned his Ph.D. in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Richard Turnbull
View biography
Richard Turnbull is an assistant professor in the History of Art Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and lectures regularly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. He has published numerous articles on topics from the challenges of being an adjunct professor to the photography of Luke Smalley, and has forthcoming articles on Islamic art and 70s pop music and culture. Richard earned his Ph.D. in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts.
Tom Bernardin
View biography
As a National Park Service Guide at Ellis Island, Tom Bernardin became an avid collector of Statue of Liberty memorabilia — and his association with Ellis Island inspired him to write "The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook: The Story of Our Past Told Through the Recipes and Reminiscences of our Immigrant Ancestors." He has made guest appearances on National Public Radio, the TV Food Network, Arts and Entertainment and the History Channel.
Angela Christensen
View biography
Angela Christensen is a licensed New York City excursion leader who has extensive experience in event planning and hospitality. She worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society managing events in the Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Prospect Park, the Queens Zoo and the New York Aquarium. Now, she loves showing off her city with lifelong learners from around the world!
Karl Baudendistel
View biography
A New York City resident for more than 25 years, Karl Baudendistel loves sharing his knowledge of the city with visitors from around the world. Having spent 20 years overseeing ‘the business of show business’ for numerous Broadway and touring productions, chances are he’s been to a city near you. Karl is a member of The Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, is a trained sommelier and was educated at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Suggested Reading List
(12 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
New York City at a Slower Pace: The Best of the Big Apple
Program Number: 23029
Mannahatta: A Natural History of NYC
The Big Oyster
Downtown: My Manhattan
Harlem
Let The Great World Spin
Here Is New York
The Island at the Center of the World
Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway
New York
Time and Again
Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center
American Passage
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
New York
Program Concludes
New York
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
11
| 5B |
2L |
4D |
Activity Level
Discover the best of the "big apple" as you explore the city at your own pace. Walk in the footsteps of millions of migrants at Liberty and Ellis Islands, and learn their stories at the Immigration Museum. While visiting Rockefeller Center, stop at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a symbol of the successful assimilation of New York's Irish population, on fashionable Fifth Avenue. Taste the diverse flavors of this city as you dine like a New Yorker! See the city through the eyes of art, architecture and history experts as they lead you through New York's iconic sights.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Discover the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a museum that is to New York what the Louvre is to Paris.
- Recall the heady days of the world’s largest privately owned entertainment and business complex at Rockefeller Plaza.
- Explore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, gateway to America for millions of immigrants.
General Notes
There are lots of different ways to explore New York City depending on your preference of pace and modes of transportation, program inclusions and time available for travel. Visit www.roadscholar.org/collections/nyc to explore them all!
Featured Expert
Richard Turnbull
Richard Turnbull is an assistant professor in the History of Art Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and lectures regularly at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. He has published numerous articles on topics from the challenges of being an adjunct professor to the photography of Luke Smalley, and has forthcoming articles on Islamic art and 70s pop music and culture. Richard earned his Ph.D. in art history from the Institute of Fine Arts.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Tom Bernardin
As a National Park Service Guide at Ellis Island, Tom Bernardin became an avid collector of Statue of Liberty memorabilia — and his association with Ellis Island inspired him to write "The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook: The Story of Our Past Told Through the Recipes and Reminiscences of our Immigrant Ancestors." He has made guest appearances on National Public Radio, the TV Food Network, Arts and Entertainment and the History Channel.
Angela Christensen
Angela Christensen is a licensed New York City excursion leader who has extensive experience in event planning and hospitality. She worked with the Wildlife Conservation Society managing events in the Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Prospect Park, the Queens Zoo and the New York Aquarium. Now, she loves showing off her city with lifelong learners from around the world!
Karl Baudendistel
A New York City resident for more than 25 years, Karl Baudendistel loves sharing his knowledge of the city with visitors from around the world. Having spent 20 years overseeing ‘the business of show business’ for numerous Broadway and touring productions, chances are he’s been to a city near you. Karl is a member of The Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers, is a trained sommelier and was educated at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
This program is specifically for those who want to avoid subways. We will have a private coach to transport us on most field trips. Walking up to a mile at time and climbing stairs.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(12 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
11 meals | 5B | 2L | 4D |
5 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
New York
Meals:
D
Stay:
Hampton Inn Manhattan/Times Square Central
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:30 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. Between 4:00 - 4:30 p.m., come to the hotel’s boardroom located on the lower level to register with the Group Leader. Orientation: 4:30 p.m. In the same space, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Group Leaders on our programs are highly trained and knowledgeable about many aspects of the city. We will also have the benefit of local experts who will provide information and commentary on areas of particular interest. If you wish to attend an event independently, such as a Broadway show or a performance at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, etc., you may want to order tickets in advance. Same-day tickets for many performances are available at 20% to 50% off regular prices at the TKTS Discount Booth. The Group Leader will be happy to give advice on how to make it go as smoothly as possible. See www.tdf.org for details. The app TODAYTIX is also helpful. One can purchase future performances at a discount. The fee is modest and well below those paid on Ticketmaster or Telecharge. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
6:00 p.m. We will walk to a neighborhood restaurant. This program is able to offer vegetarian and gluten free meal alternatives. The gluten free meals are not guaranteed against cross contamination. While modifications to accommodate other dietary restrictions might be possible on a case by case basis, they cannot be guaranteed. Participants requiring other alternatives should discuss with the group leader upon arrival, be prepared to self-select from the included menu choices and discuss modifications with the serving staff at the restaurants.
Evening:
Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
NYC Intro, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Location:
New York
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hampton Inn Manhattan/Times Square Central
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking a few blocks in Rockefeller Center area, approximately an hour; urban terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll be joined by an historian for an introductory lecture on New York City, a city with its own unique personality. We’ll then board our motorcoach and ride over to Fifth Avenue where we’ll explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center, including Top of the Rock for a bird’s-eye view of the city.
Lunch:
At a neighborhood restaurant.
Afternoon:
This afternoon, we'll stop in at Radio City Musical for a private look behind the scenes. On our return to the hotel via motor coach, we'll travel through Times Square. The hotel is a short walk from the heart of this famous district, maybe return later during free time to explore on your own. Before dinner, we'll meet a former National Parks Ranger for a historical look at Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty in anticipation of our visit tomorrow.
Dinner:
At a neighborhood restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island; Little Italy
Location:
New York
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Hampton Inn Manhattan/Times Square Central
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Getting on/off New York harbor ferries. Walking at your own pace on Liberty & Ellis islands.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll board our coach and head downtown to the very bottom tip of Manhattan island where we'll board the ferry for our day on Liberty & Ellis Islands. We will explore both islands at our own pace to see and do what interests each of us most. Liberty Island features a wonderful state of the art museum dedicated to the statue. It is not to be missed. Additionally, you may choose to stroll around the island while listening to the included audio guide or join up with a NPS Ranger. The Statue of Liberty was an amazing gift to the people of America from the people of France — our oldest ally — celebrating freedom and democracy. We’ve seen this national monument in countless movies and TV shows and may even take it for granted, but at its unveiling on the Fourth of July 1884, it was the biggest event in the country. Years later, these words of poet Emma Lazarus were added: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” With the opening of the new museum, the park service no longer includes entry into the pedestal or the statue as part of our admission. If this is something you would like to do, these tickets may be arranged separately, in advance of the program and at your own cost via the NPS exclusive ticket seller: www.statuecruises.com. Note: Choosing to arrange this for yourself will require a great deal more time on Liberty Island and will necessarily reduce your time on Ellis Island.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. Both Liberty and Ellis Islands have cafeterias.
Afternoon:
Next, it’s on to Ellis Island. From 1892 when the immigration station opened until it closed in 1954, more than 12 million people coming to America passed through Ellis Island. This was their “golden door” to new lives. Today, the descendants of these immigrants make up almost half of all Americans. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration tells the story of where people came from and what their experience was like. Many went first from Ellis Island to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, at one time the most densely populated neighborhood on earth. The museum includes numerous exhibits, an included audio guide, NPS Ranger-led walks, a documentary film and the family research center where you may choose to look up the historical documents that pertain to your family’s history through Ellis Island. We’ll reconvene with our Group Leader mid-afternoon for a brief visit to the 9/11 Memorial before returning to the hotel. You may choose to return to the site during your free time on Wednesday if you wish to visit the museum. Advance tickets are encouraged and they can be obtained by going to the museum's website.
Dinner:
At a restaurant near the hotel.
Evening:
The evening is at leisure.
Day
4
Broadway History, NY Public Library, Free Time
Location:
New York
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Hampton Inn Manhattan/Times Square Central
Activity Note
Walking about 2 miles with frequent stops; city streets. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll begin this morning with a talk about the Broadway theater. Broadway is a huge economic engine for the city, generating more income that all 10 of our major league sports teams, combined. Later, we'll stroll over the main branch of the New York Public Library where we'll visit their marvelous Treasures Exhibit, displaying incredible pieces from their collection including a Gutenberg Bible, the original Winnie the Pooh dolls, the Commissioner's Plan map laying out the grid of NYC; Dickens' desk, etc.
Lunch:
We’ll have a bag lunch “picnic” in Bryant Park, a wonderful oasis in the heart of midtown. Located just a couple blocks from the hotel, the park is centrally located to begin an afternoon of independent exploration.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Location:
New York
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Hampton Inn Manhattan/Times Square Central
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; city driving. Walking at your own pace through the museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Before heading up to The Metropolitan Museum of Art, we'll reconvene in our meeting room where an art historian will give us an overview of this expansive museum, covering some of its more notable collections and helping us plan our self-directed visit. We will then board our motor coach and ride up to The Gold Coast of 5th Avenue where The Met is located, nestled into Central Park.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like. The Metropolitan offers both a cafeteria on the lower level of the Lehman Wing offering a wide range of choices and a café in the American Wing offering soups, sandwiches, coffee and pastries. Or you might take the opportunity to grab a famous New York City hot dog from one of the vendors out on Fifth Avenue. Our badges allow re-entry to the museum.
Afternoon:
During this self-directed field trip, we’ll explore The Met, each at our own pace. Bring your smart phone and ear buds. The Met has recently moved all of their audio guides online for easy and free access in the galleries. The Met, founded in 1870, is one of the world’s greatest museums with a collection spanning more than 5,000 years of creativity. Its artistic treasury from every corner of the world includes paintings, arms and armor, costume, decorative arts, musical instruments, photography, works on paper, and much more. There are 26,000 objects from ancient Egypt, the largest collection outside Cairo; 2,500 European paintings, one of the most extensive collections anywhere; and the most comprehensive collection of American decorative arts, paintings, and sculpture in the American Wing. The Beaux-Arts façade and Great Hall of the flagship building — designed by architect and founding museum trustee Richard Morris Hunt — opened in 1902. Today, tens of thousands of objects are on view at any given time. We’ll regroup mid-afternoon and return to the hotel for a little break before dinner.
Dinner:
At a neighborhood restaurant. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure after our closing session in the morning.
Day
6
Living in New York City, Program Concludes
Location:
New York
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll reconvene one final time in our meeting room for a closing discussion about NYC and how we experienced it this week. We expect the session to end by 10:30 a.m. This concludes our program.
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MEALS
11 Meals
5 Breakfasts
2 Lunches
4 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025
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- Jul 27, 2025 - Aug 01, 2025
- Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 12, 2025
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- Oct 25, 2026 - Oct 30, 2026
Participant Reviews
Based on 19 Reviews
Sort By:
I have recommended this trip to many of my friends. It was my first time in NYC and I learned SO much!
The group leaders were excellent, as were the guest speakers. My 2 biggest 'take-aways' from this week in New York are: 1) New Yorkers are ALL in a hurry, therefore the streets, bike lanes and sidewalks are jammed.
2) New York City is so much safer than depicted on T.V. or in the Press.
I am considering another NYC 'adventure' with Road Scholar.
— Review left October 24, 2024
New York is an experience. And it can be overwhelming to someone like me that had never been. Angela made it easy. I love to walk in cities and go to the different neighborhoods. We did that. Our last day my husband and I walked 4 miles. I learned a lot. Can't wait to go on another Road Scholar trip!!
— Review left September 23, 2024
Interesting, informative, and enjoyable overview of NYC - so glad we did this!
— Review left September 22, 2024
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a memorable trip. Would never have experienced so much on our New York City Signature trip if not for Road Scholar.
— Review left September 21, 2024
Great trip. Loved seeing NYC by bus instead of subway. Great leader and participants. Just the right size group. Had a great time with good mix of sites.
One restaurant (DK?) should be changed--it was the steak house that didn't serve us steak or beef of any kind and had no idea what flavor the petit four desserts were.
— Review left August 12, 2024
I traveled with three of my cousins from Germany and they were very impressed with all aspects of this program and was I.
— Review left July 27, 2024
The program New York City at a Slower Pace: The Best of the Big Apple is a great way to be introduced to the City that Never Sleeps! Just be sure and pack your most comfortable walking shoes!
— Review left May 20, 2024
Great program for first or return visits to NYC. Seeing NYC by bus with an excellent RS leader is a great introduction to the neighborhoods and vastness of the City. You will want to return!
— Review left May 18, 2024
Want to travel, feel safe, learn behind the scenes information, see wonderful sights, great hotels and food? Road Scholar can fulfill all those desires. Many Road Scholars travel alone but once they join their group, they are no longer alone. Meet amazing people, explore exciting locations and make new memories, all with Road Scholar.
— Review left October 24, 2023
If you’re looking for a guided, all exclusive vacation trip, Road Scholar will take care of the hassle of planning and taking a trip so you can feel at ease and enjoy what is panned to see and do.
— Review left October 21, 2023
Interesting programming well presented by interesting people. I have recommended the program and these specific leaders in particular to my friends
— Review left October 20, 2023
The preparation, the program, and the participants all added to this wonderful experience. Everywhere I looked there was something interesting to see and learn about. Inspires me to continue living life to the fullest!
— Review left October 14, 2023
I came away with an enlightened and new perspective of Broadway's live theater world.
— Review left September 25, 2023
Going to New York City was a wonderful experience. The weather was great, the food was great, and the program was great! Can’t wait to go back and learn and discover more about New York City.
— Review left September 21, 2023
A Great Tour of a Great City... Very Pleased!!
— Review left September 17, 2023
If you have not visited NYC before this is a worthwhile way to do so. It takes the stress out of having to decide what to see and how to get there. Best of all, you'll have a seasoned travel guide, in my case a native New Yorker.
— Review left September 17, 2023
This program gave me a 4-day plus overview of NYC which is exactly what I was looking for. Buildings, people, and daily life of New Yorkers.
— Review left September 16, 2023
Fabulous program! A great introduction to New York City.
— Review left June 22, 2023
FIVE STARS (The website is not letting me assign stars to my reviews)
A wonderful trip! A wide variety of experiences, yet easy to do because we had a private coach to get around. Our group leader, Angela was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and positive, and personally assisted anyone who wanted to explore on their own. The hotel was located in a place which was convenient, but just far enough from the noise of Times Square.
My one advice : if you are flying into Newark, take the Coach USA shuttle, not the methods in the RS literature. So convenient, and only $12 for seniors.
— Review left June 4, 2023