New York City is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and our jam-packed itinerary will fulfill bucket list items for many as we visit Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Rockefeller Center. Then, we will discover the historic gems along the tranquil Hudson River Valley — a National Heritage Area — including the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site and a cruise on the Hudson River.

May 15-21, 2026

 

Itinerary Highlights:

• New York City tour
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
• 9/11 Memorial
• One World Trade Center Observation Deck
• Rockefeller Center
• Times Square and Central Park
• Broadway show
• Tour of U.S. Military Academy at West Point
• Historic Huguenot Street, the oldest street in America
• Hyde Park — Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site
• Maple syrup farm
• Boscobel House & Gardens
• Hudson River Cruise
• Kingston, New York

 

Package Includes:

• Round-trip airfare from Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport
• Eight meals: six breakfasts and three dinners
• All admissions and sightseeing per itinerary
• Wine and beer reception
• Professional tour director
• Our State host
• Motor coach transportation
• Hotel transfers
• Baggage handling at hotels

 

Accommodations: 

• Three nights in New York City: Westin New York at Times Square, Marriott Marquis, Sheraton New York Times Square, or similar
• Three nights in the Hudson River Valley: Hyatt Place Poughkeepsie or Courtyard by Marriott, Kingston

Note: Hotels are subject to change.

 

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival
Friday, May 15, 2026

Today, depart on your flight to the New York City area. Upon arrival, meet your tour director and transfer to your hotel in Manhattan to begin a three-night stay. Tonight, enjoy a wine and beer reception with your fellow Our State travelers.

Overnight: Westin New York at Times Square, Marriott Marquis, or Sheraton New York Times Square

 

Day 2: New York City Sightseeing • Broadway Show
Saturday, May 16, 2026

Enjoy a New York City tour with a local guide to learn more about this vibrant city. See many of Manhattan’s most famous neighborhoods and attractions: Greenwich Village, Chinatown, Times Square, Little Italy, Central Park, the Chrysler and Empire State buildings, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Make a stop at Rockefeller Center, a famous venue for dining, shopping, and entertainment. Tonight, head out in the city for a fun-filled evening. Start with dinner at a popular local restaurant before seeing an exciting Broadway show with your fellow travelers in the world’s most famous theater district.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Westin New York at Times Square, Marriott Marquis, or Sheraton New York Times Square

 

Day 3: Statue of Liberty •Ellis Island • 9/11 Memorial
Sunday, May 17, 2026

This morning, board a ferry to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty has become a global symbol of freedom, while Ellis Island was the first stop in the American journey for millions of immigrants from around the world. This afternoon, visit the 9/11 Memorial, a tribute of remembrance to the victims and events of 9/11. Next, travel to the top of the One World Trade Center Observation Deck for stunning views of the New York City skyline. This evening is at leisure to enjoy the wonders of the “Big Apple” on your own.

Meals:Breakfast
Overnight: Westin New York at Times Square, Marriott Marquis, or Sheraton New York Times Square

 

Day 4: Hudson Valley • West Point • Boscobel
Monday, May 18, 2026

Depart New York City and begin your journey to the scenic Hudson River Valley, which extends 150 miles above the tip of Manhattan and is designated as a National Heritage Area. Visit the famous and historic U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the oldest military academy in the country. Trace the footsteps of presidents, generals, and other great leaders as you tour the campus and enjoy a brief film presentation about this prestigious institution. Later, visit the historic and scenic Boscobel House and Gardens. This 1808 house is located in the heart of the Hudson Valley and is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Federal period architecture, furniture, and decorative arts. Later this afternoon, check into your Hudson River Valley-area property for a three-night stay. Dinner is included tonight.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hyatt Place Poughkeepsie or Courtyard by Marriott, Kingston

 

Day 5: Hyde Park • Crown Maple Syrup
Tuesday, May 19, 2026

This morning, travel to Hyde Park for a visit to the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site to learn more about the lives and careers of President FDR and his wife, Eleanor. Enjoy a tour of the well-preserved estate, featuring the home, museum, library, and graves of Franklin and Eleanor. This afternoon, visit and tour a maple syrup farm, a state-of-the-art sugar house where you’ll trace the miles-long journey of organic maple sap from tree to barrel. The popular sweet tour culminates with a tasting and a view into the bottling and sugar-making operation.

Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hyatt Place Poughkeepsie or Courtyard by Marriott, Kingston

 

Day 6: New Paltz • Kingston • Hudson River Cruise
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

This morning, visit New Paltz to tour Historic Huguenot Street, a National Historic Landmark District featuring the oldest street in America, including original architecture dating to the early 1700s. Later, visit the quaint former railroad hub of Kingston — New York’s first capital city, which was burned by the British on October 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga. This afternoon, depart Kingston on a scenic Hudson River cruise. Relax and enjoy clear views of historic Hudson River lighthouses, waterfront mansions, and other notable locations on this sightseeing cruise. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow Our State travelers at a popular local restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Hyatt Place Poughkeepsie or Courtyard by Marriott, Kingston

 

Day 7: Departure
Thursday, May 21, 2026

Today, travel back to the New York City area to fly home. Want to share your memories with other travelers? Post your favorite pictures in the Our State Travel Club Facebook group!

 

Tour Rates:

Discounted rate*: $4,599 per person (based on double occupancy)
Regular rate: $4,699 per person (based on double occupancy)
Single rate: $6,374 ($6,274 with booking discount*)

Click here for information on payment schedule, cancellation policy, and trip insurance.

*Make your final payment by check prior to the final payment due date and receive a booking discount of $100 per person.

 

For Reservations & More Information:

Premier World Discovery
Melissa Grant
(877) 953-8687, ext. 238 (Pacific Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com

This tour is Activity Level 3 of 4 — Active. For more information on physical requirements and what to expect on an Our State trip, click here.

 

Explore More

Get excited for your trip and learn more about your destination with our curated list of books, films, music, and more.

 

Read

Up in the Old Hotel by Joseph Mitchell (1992) — This collection of true stories by one of The New Yorker’s most notable profile writers (who was born and raised in North Carolina!) introduces readers to eccentric, working-class characters who shaped the city’s mid-century waterfront neighborhoods.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles (2011) — Set in 1938 Manhattan, this New York Times best seller follows Katey Kontent, the sharp-witted daughter of a Russian immigrant, whose chance encounter with a wealthy banker draws her into New York City’s high society — and the complicated relationships that come with it.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (1943) — Through the eyes of young Francie Nolan, this semiautobiographical coming-of-age novel captures the joys and hardships of growing up in a tenement neighborhood in early 1900s Brooklyn, where books, imagination, and family offer hope amid poverty.

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving (1820) — Irving set this classic American short story in the quiet village of Sleepy Hollow, near his home of Tarrytown on the Hudson River. There, Ichabod Crane, a nervous schoolmaster, is chased through the misty valley by the mysterious Headless Horseman.

The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett (1934) — In 1930s Manhattan, retired detective Nick Charles and his witty wife, Nora, find themselves entangled in a murder investigation involving an old acquaintance, the mob, and hidden motives.

 

Watch

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961; rent online) — In perhaps her most iconic role, Audrey Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, a stylish young woman who seeks to reinvent herself as a paid “party girl” in 1960s Manhattan. While pursuing a wealthy suitor, she unexpectedly bonds with a struggling writer who moves into her building.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-2023; Amazon Prime) — Set in the 1950s and ’60s, this acclaimed comedy series follows a witty Upper West Side housewife turned stand-up comedian as she moves through jazz clubs, garment factories, and downtown cafés on her way to fame.

The Hudson River School: Artistic Pioneers (2016; purchase on Apple TV or YouTube) — This PBS documentary traces America’s first fraternity of landscape painters — led by British-born Thomas Cole — whose 19th-century depictions of the Hudson River Valley helped define the country’s artistic identity.

West Side Story (1961; Amazon Prime, rent online) — Set in the tenement neighborhoods of mid-century Manhattan, this timeless musical — full of classic Broadway hits — tells the tragic story of two lovers caught between rival street gangs, the Sharks and the Jets.

 

Listen

“Theme From New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra (1980) — Originally performed by Liza Minnelli but made iconic by Sinatra, the singer’s last big hit is an enduring ode to the city that shaped his career.

Liza Minnelli — Winner of four Tony Awards, two Golden Globes, an Emmy, an Academy Award, and two honorary Grammys, Broadway legend Minnelli is best known for her powerhouse performances of “New York, New York,” “Cabaret,” and “Maybe This Time.”

Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Rodgers and Hart Song Book (1956) — The “First Lady of Song” — an influential jazz singer of the Harlem Renaissance — lends her smooth vocals to the lyrics of prolific songwriters Rodgers and Hart. Her song “Manhattan” offers a playful, affectionate tour of New York City neighborhoods.

Pete Seeger — A longtime Hudson Valley resident and folk icon, Seeger sang about the river he loved and worked to protect through his decades of environmental activism. Many of his simple, earnest songs honor the natural beauty and working history of the river.

The Bowery Boys: New York City History (2007-present; Apple Podcasts, Spotify) — This long-running podcast dives into the forgotten corners of New York history — from ghost stories and subway tunnels to neighborhoods, landmarks, and local legends.

Plus, enjoy these songs inspired by New York City and the Hudson River Valley:

• “Autumn in New York” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
• “Lullaby of Broadway” by Doris Day
• “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel
• “On Broadway” by The Drifters
• “New York, New York (It’s a Helluva Town)” from On the Town
• “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys and Jay-Z
• “New York City Serenade” by Bruce Springsteen
• “Welcome to New York” by Taylor Swift
• “The Hudson” by Dar Williams
• “New York City” by Norah Jones
• “Manhattan” by Sara Bareilles