EC Escapes New York

Join us for a memorable day exploring the beauty and history of Central Park, starting with iconic spots like Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Fields, and Bow Bridge. As you stroll through the park, your guide will share fascinating historical details and fun facts, bringing the rich heritage of this beloved green space to life. You’ll also get to relive the magic of countless movie scenes filmed in Central Park, from classic films to modern hits. Afterward, get to know the rest of EC Escapes travellers with you over an intimate dinner in Manhattan’s charming Upper West Side.

In a snapshot:
– Visit Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain, Strawberry Fields, and Bow Bridge
– Discover fun facts and movie locations with your guide
– Enjoy dinner with fellow travellers in Manhattan’s Upper West Side

Duration: approx. 4 hours
Meeting Point: EC School reception
Meeting Time: 3:00 PM

Experience the magic of Broadway by enjoying one of New York City’s top hit musicals. Known as the world’s premier theatre district, Broadway has been home to iconic shows for over a century, including timeless classics like The Phantom of the Opera, Hamilton, and Wicked. With its dazzling lights and vibrant atmosphere, Broadway offers an unforgettable cultural experience. Whether you’re a theatre enthusiast or a first-time viewer, you’ll be captivated by the world-class performances and stunning production values that have made Broadway a global entertainment destination.

In a snapshot:
Enjoy one of New York City’s hit Broadway musicals

Duration: approx. 3 hours
Meeting Point: EC School (Outside)
Meeting Time: 4:00 PM

Visit the United Nations Headquarters in the heart of New York City and embark on a one-hour guided tour that offers a unique glimpse into international diplomacy. Led by one of our multilingual tour guides, you’ll explore the historic corridors where global decisions are made. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history and vital work of the United Nations. Highlights of the tour include visits to the iconic General Assembly Hall and the Security Council Chamber, when meetings allow, giving you a rare look inside these important spaces.

In a snapshot
– Tour the United Nations Headquarters in New York
– City with a one-hour guided visit
– Learn about the history and work of the UN from a multilingual guide
– Visit the General Assembly Hall and Security Council Chamber, meetings permitting

Duration: approx. 3 hours
Meeting Point: EC School Reception
Meeting Time: 3:00 PM

Experience the breathtaking views from New York’s most famous open-air observatory, where you can take in 360° panoramas of the entire city. From this iconic vantage point, you’ll see landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty. To cap off your visit, join your fellow travellers for a farewell drink at one of Manhattan’s stylish rooftop bars, soaking in the vibrant
atmosphere of the city one last time. 

In a snapshot:
– Enjoy 360° views of the city
– Visit one of the tallest and iconic buildings, the
– Empire State Building
– End your trip with a farewell drink at a Manhattan rooftop bar

Duration: approx. 3 hours
Meeting Point: EC School Reception
Meeting Time: 3:00 PM

Enjoy a round-trip ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, with access to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. This experience includes round-trip ferry access to the Statue of Liberty grounds on Liberty Island, a visit to the new Statue of Liberty Museum, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Additionally, explore the interior of the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal for an up-close look at this iconic monument. Embark on a food tour featuring seven unique tastings from minority and women-owned businesses, curated by the James Beard Foundation.

• Chinese dumplings with a twist from a Chinatown institution
• Crunchy sushi-style rice patties, a modern take on Japanese comfort food
• Oyster chowder from Brooklyn’s only oyster cart
• Hearty Italian sandwich from award-winning female butchers
• Caribbean-inspired empanadas from a Harlem mainstay
• Seasonal tasting from the James Beard Foundation’s incubator program, Good To Go
• Classic, handmade natural Mexican paletas from a husbandand-wife duo showcasing Mexican comfort food
• After the food tour, enjoy a relaxing walk through some of New York City’s most unique spots:
• Little Island: A new public park offering a blend of nature and art in an urban oasis on the Hudson River.
• High Line: A 1.45-mile elevated linear park, greenway, and rail trail, repurposed from a former New York Central Railroad spur.
• Hudson Yards: Hudson Yards has become the cultural centre of Manhattan’s New West Side. A template for the future of cities, this new neighbourhood has not only changed the way New York looks to the world, but the way the world sees New York.

In a snapshot:
– Round-trip ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands with Statue of Liberty access
– Food tour with seven tastings from diverse local businesses
– Explore Pier 57, Little Island, and Rooftop Park
– Walk through Little Island, High Line, and Hudson Yards

Duration: approx. 10 hours
Meeting Point: EC School (Outside)
Meeting Time: 8:00 AM

Take a walking tour of the Bushwick Brooklyn Neighborhood to discover the history of urban culture in these vibrant New York City neighbourhoods. Bushwick is world famous for hosting the best street art in the United States. Our tours take you through the streets and show you dozens of these vibrant murals and teach about the artists and their process. Led by a local artist, you gain insight into the graffiti culture and discover amazing murals and spontaneous pieces along the way. The massive warehouses that line the streets of this neighbourhood provide a perfect canvas for this diverse array of vibrant masterpieces, including works by Nick Walker, BK Foxx, Calicho, Jeff Henriquez, Yok and Sheryo, and more. Your tour ticket helps fund the murals which you see on the tour.

Who better to guide our tours than street artists and curators themselves? Your tour guides will have an intimate knowledge of the street art and graffiti world and may even show you some of their own art during the journey! On this educational tour, you gain a fuller understanding of the difference between tagging, graffiti, and street art. Not only do the knowledgeable tour guides lead you through a diverse array of artwork, but they also describe the backstory behind and techniques used in the creation of these awe-inspiring pieces.

Get an insider look at some of the most talked-about artwork in New York City! Don’t forget to bring your camera along so you can capture these incredible pieces before they’re gone.

In a snapshot:
– Explore Bushwick’s renowned street art on a guided walking tour See vibrant murals by artists like Nick Walker and BK Foxx
– Learn about graffiti culture, tagging, and street art
– Tour led by local artists; ticket supports mural funding

Duration: approx. 2 hours
Meeting Point: EC School Reception
Meeting Time: 12:30 PM

Head down the mighty Hudson River, past Hudson Yards and Little Island, gliding by the towering One World Trade Center, past Ellis Island until you are just feet away from the Statue of Liberty. Experience breathtaking views of lower Manhattan before quietly slipping under the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges for a short journey up the East River before returning to Pier 83 in midtown Manhattan. Our world-famous tour guides narrate the story of New York City as you sit back and relax in the comfort of our modern boats.

In a snapshot:
– Enjoy a narrated river cruise tour along Hudson River on modern boats 
– See views of Little Island and One World Trade Center
– Pass by Ellis Island and Manhattan
– Cruise under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges

Duration: approx. 2.5 hours
Meeting Point: EC School Reception
Meeting Time: 2:30 PM

Visit Manhattan’s first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Distilling New York is a one hour guided tour of our distillery which will include an overview of our story, our ingredients, process, equipment, and a tasting of three Great Jones whiskeys – Our Straight Bourbon, Four Grain
Bourbon, and Rye.

In a snapshot:
– Visit a whiskey distillery
– Learn about the history, ingredients and process of whiskey making in New York
– Taste three Great Jones whiskeys

Ever since most of Chicago’s top musicians moved to New York in the mid-to-late 1920s, New York City has been the Jazz Mecca. Nearly every major jazz style of the past seventy years has been initiated in the Big Apple. Experience the sounds of live jazz in an intimate concert with a drink and some nibbles Then, finish your evening with farewell drinks at Don’t Tell Mama, a local piano bar where you’ll experience the incredibly talented singing from the waiters and bartenders!

In a snapshot:
– New York City has been the Jazz Mecca since the 1920s
– Enjoy live jazz in an intimate concert setting with a drink and light snacks
– Visit the piano bar, Don’t Tell Mama

Duration: approx. 2.5 hours
Meeting Point: EC School (Outside)
Meeting Time: 5:00 PM