Pre-Trip in New York City - The 'City that Never Sleeps'
Tuesday, August 26th - Thursday, August 28th, 2025
Note: Below is a tentative list of activities.
The final schedule will likely
change as the event draws nearer.
Activities may be added, deleted, or modified as plans solidify.
What can we say about this place called Gotham? The City that Never Sleeps is the land of skyscrapers, the
world's economic engine. We're heading to the Big Apple!
For a select few, this year’s JOE Pre-Trip will visit NYC and nearby from Tuesday, Aug. 27 to Thursday, Aug.
29. Led by natives who know the city as well as their grandmother’s matzot-ball soup, this trip will introduce
both newbies and seasoned visitors to some of the city’s most intriguing destinations.
You’ll get to choose one of the following day-trips:
After our individual choices, we’ll converge on a sunset cruise on the city’s famous Circle Line Tour Harbor Lights Cruise.
Then, hit the town to see the lights of Times Square and other parts of the city.
On Thursday morning, we will head to the wilds (so to speak) of New Jersey. You can check out the Meadowlands
via Kayaking or Guided Birding Walk.
We’re basing this trip just over the Hudson River in New Jersey and near the Airport, where lodging is
affordable, parking is easy, and the city is only a short train ride away.
Schedule
Come Sunday or Monday and stay in the same hotel to explore “the City” at your own pace, taking time to see
many more sights. While no organized activities are planned until Tuesday evening, you can do many activities on
your own. Try window shopping along Fifth
Avenue or visit world-class museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, or the American Museum of Natural History. Take in
a Broadway Show, go to the top of the Empire State Building, explore the world-famous Bronx Zoo, or hop on the Cyclone at Coney Island. Contact the Pre-Trip
Co-Chairperson at
Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org if you need more ideas. Mosaic will advise on other early participants if you
desire to coordinate activities amongst yourselves.
- 3 pm – 6 pm Hotel Check-in.
- 6:00 pm: The Official start of the Pre-Trip. Your Pre-Trip Chairs and Pre-Trip
Hospitality Chair will greet you in the lobby. Everyone meets in the hotel lobby to walk to dinner. Anyone
running late should go directly to the restaurant.
- 6:15 pm—8:15 pm Note: Dinner is not included in the base price; pay as you go (Google Maps of hotels and restaurants).
- Non-Kosher Dinner Options:
- Glatt Kosher Options can be reached via a 22-minute Taxi or 40-minute NJ Transit Bus. Please let the Pre-Chair know your
intentions to possibly help with transport between the hotel and Glatt Kosher restaurants. Click HERE for directions
from the hotel. All restaurants below are located on the same block in downtown Elizabeth.
- 8:30 pm Meet You Leader Meeting at the hotel to discuss the
itinerary for the next two days. Attendance is mandatory. No show, no go! Welcome kits, NYCGO
Guides, trip itinerary, NJ Transit train tickets, train schedules, subway maps, NYC Bicycle maps, tour
tickets, and Circle Line Cruise tickets will be distributed at this meeting.
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
- 6:00 am – 8:30 am Breakfast in the Breakfast Room adjacent to the hotel lobby (included for
those staying in the hotel)
- 6:45 am - Tour option group WE1 meets in the lobby at 8:36 am to take the No. 112 bus to
the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
- 7:00 am -Tour option groups WE2 and WE3 meet in the lobby. They promptly depart the hotel
to walk to East Elizabeth NJ Transit Station to catch the 7:41 am train.
- 8:00 am - Tour option group We 5 meets in the lobby at 8:36 am to take the No. 112 bus to
the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
- 8:00 am - Tour option group We 4 meets in the lobby at 8:36 am to take the No. 112 bus to
the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
Then enjoy the following options:
Daytime Activities
Evening Activities
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- 6:30 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
- 6:30 am–8:45 am Pack up and check out: Bring your luggage to the front desk for safekeeping during the day.
If you're driving, put your luggage in the car. Everyone must be checked out of their rooms before
heading out for the day.
- 9 am Meet in the lobby.
- 9:15 am Drive to Thursday morning activities in Secaucus or Lyndhurst.
Then enjoy the following options:
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BE BACK AT THE HOTEL BY 1:30 pm
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Transportation
Car
-
- It takes approximately 10 to 30 minutes to drive from Newark Liberty International Airport to Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel.
- If you arrive on Sunday, August 25, or Monday, August 26, you will be responsible for all
transportation. Check-in time is 3:00 pm.
- Tuesday arrivals are welcome to arrive at Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel, 901 Spring Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201,
any time after 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 27th.
- Parking costs $10/day.
Bus
Take BUS#62 to US1/9 North Ave Bus Stop # 33190. It will take 35 minutes
to get from Terminal A (Stop 33190) and Terminal B (Stop 18788), 23 minutes, and 21 minutes to get from Terminal C (Stop 18789). The bus runs every 30 Minutes. The moment you see yourself
passing the Crown Plaza Hotel on the left side of the road, single the bus to get off at the next stop. Walk
back 1/4 mile to the hotel. The cost is $2.90, an exact change or payment via the NJ Transit
Mobile App.
Boarding locations:
-
-
- Terminal A - Location 117
- Terminal B - Lower Roadway Bus Lane - Locations 7 & 8
- Terminal C - Lower Roadway Bus Lane - Locations 4 & 5
Live Tracking of the bus via:
Click HERE to go to the top of the
page.
Hotel Shuttle
The hotel shuttle
leaves the hotel every 30 minutes during the hour (for example, 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:00 p.m.). You can
meet the shuttle at the AirTrain P-4 Station. It does NOT circle the Terminals. It takes about 15 Minutes to get to the Hotel from this location.
Note: From Terminal A, it might be quicker to use an NJTransit
Bus. This is due to the 15-minute walk to the AirTrain from the Terminal, the 15-minute ride on the
AirTrain, and another 15-minute van ride to the hotel. This is assuming the shuttle is waiting for you. See above.
Taxi
Public Transit
Click HERE for details on Public transit, either by bus or train.
Click HERE for a map of bus and train locations around the hotel.
Finally, and most importantly, please be on time for all events and stay together as a group. The
bus/train waits for no one. We will leave the hotel promptly at the scheduled time. If you miss the
train or get separated from the group, it will be your responsibility to find us or risk
missing some or all of the day’s scheduled activities. Again, we will not wait for no one!
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Mosaic Shuttle from Pre-Trip to Main Event
The Mosaic shuttle will leave promptly for camp on Thursday, August 29th, at 2:06 pm. Please meet outside the
lobby with your luggage by 1:45 pm. The shuttle WILL NOT WAIT FOR ANYONE not ready for pickup when it departs
from the hotel. Anyone left behind because they were not waiting for the Shuttle at the appointed time will need
to arrange their transportation at their own expense to camp and forfeit the cost of the Mosaic Shuttle.
Cost of Mosaic Shuttle: Round trip/$TBD One-Way $TBD. (Round trip will return you to the airport after the main
event.)
Hotel
Leisure Meets Luxury at
Newark Airport Hotel: Explore New Jersey from Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel. Minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport, our
free shuttle runs every 30 minutes for hassle-free travel. We are near Newark and Elizabeth and 45 minutes from
New York City, where you can find shops, restaurants, and iconic attractions.
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Costs
Base Price
$TBD per person - Double or Couples Occupancy
$TBD per person - Single Occupancy
- Includes:
- Hotel Room from Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 night to Thursday August, 28th, 2025
morning at Crowne Plaza Newark Airport
- NJ Transit tickets for Wednesday and Thursday Mornings
- Breakfast on Wednesday and Thursday mornings
- MOSAIC administration fees.
$TBD Extra per day for Single Occupancy on Sunday or Monday
- Must pay for Single Occupancy for the duration of the Pre-Trip
$TBD Extra per day Double Occupancy for Sunday or Monday
- Must pay for Double Occupancy for the duration of the Pre-Trip
**Note: We can only guarantee room rates until July 30th. Any rooms booked after that will be based
on the hotel's availability, and prices may increase.
No Hotel Option: $TBD
- Includes:
- NJ Transit tickets for Wednesday and Thursday Mornings
- MOSAIC administration fees.
- Does not include during the Pre-Trip (You must make your arrangements.)
- Hotel accommodations
- Breakfast.
- Transportation to/from your lodging of choice. You are responsible for meeting at La Quinta at the
designated times at your cost.
- An additional Mosaic administration surcharge of $50 on top of the No Hotel Option for anyone who books
their own room at the Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel and attends the Pre-Trip.
All prices are US dollars.
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Registration
Please register for the Pre-Trip on the registration page while registering for the Main Event. You must
participate in the Main Event to be able to attend the Pre-Trip.
Contact
Pre-Trip
Co-Chairperson at Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org
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