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Pre-Trip Wednesday, August 27th

Note: Below is a tentative list of activities.
The final schedule is subject to change, and activities may be added, removed, or adjusted as necessary.

Wednesday Morning

6:00 am – 9:00 am - Breakfast in the Breakfast Room adjacent to the hotel lobby (included for those staying in the hotel)

Click HERE for details about public transit between the hotel and NYC

Daytime Activity Options

We1 Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on Statue Cruises from Liberty State Park, NJ. Your cruise ticket will include entry to the Pedestal and the Statue of Liberty Museum. Lunch is available at the Statue of Liberty Café or Ellis Island Café (pay as you go). Visitors can take ranger-led or self-guiding tours of Liberty Island. Audio tours that can be used on Liberty Island and Ellis Island are available as part of the ferry ticket.

During the afternoon, we will spend a few hours touring the Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island. Between 1892 and 1954, the island was the entry point for twelve million immigrants. The National Museum of Immigration has thirty galleries and exhibits that chronicle immigration history to the United States.

Highlights include the baggage, registry, and hearing rooms of the American Family Immigration Center, a computerized genealogy center.

Patience and understanding are expected. There could be extended waiting times to clear security checkpoints. After clearing security, expect to spend about five hours overall splitting the time between each island. You will need to choose your time wisely.

We will depart Ellis Island on the 4:25 pm ferry for Battery Park in time for our evening cruise.

  • Please bring adequate water, sunscreen, walking shoes, money for lunch, and plenty of patience!
  • Two security screenings. Thirty minutes before boarding the ferry and 30 to 90 minutes before entering Pedestal.
  • No large bags are permitted on the ferry. The pedestal does not allow backpacks, food and drink, laptops, long umbrellas, or tripods.
  • Locker facilities are available for rental at $2.00 (quarters only). Bring change! Locker size dimensions are 12” L x 12” W x 18” D. Lockers are located near the secondary screening building.
  • 8:00 am ~ 6:00 pm
  • Lunch is available at the Statue  of Liberty Crown Café or Ellis Island Café
  • Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour YouTube
  • Fees (one-way):
    • NJ Transit Rail $3.25 (Included in Pre-Trip base price)
    • PATH $3.00 (not included)
    • Hudson–Bergen Light Rail $2.55 (not included)
    • Statue Cruises, including access to both islands, $29 (included in activity fee)
    • MTA Subway. $2.70 (not included)
  • Click HERE for more details.

We2 Jewish Lower East Side Walking Tour

Eldridge Temple

The first stop this morning will be to the National September 11 Memorial, a place of profound significance dedicated to honoring those who were killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The names of those who died are engraved on two bronze panels flanking the Memorial pools. The pools, each an acre in size, mark the footprints of the Twin Towers that once stood on that site. 

Our next stop is the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a treasure trove of modern Jewish history, life, and culture. Here, you can delve into the complexities of Jewish life in the 20th and 21st centuries before, during, and after the Holocaust. Check out exhibits like The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do, which provide an overview of the Holocaust through artifacts and personal stories. Tour Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark, which discusses the rescue of Danish Jews through ordinary actions in an accessible, interactive format. Another exhibit just released, Survivor Stories, will be on view, as will an interactive dialogue with Holocaust survivors.

On our way to lunch, we’ll walk through the financial district, stopping for photo ops at “The Charging Bull,” Trinity Church (where Alexander Hamilton and a few other famous figures are buried), the New York Stock Exchange, and Federal Hall, where George Washington gave his first Presidential inaugural address in 1789. The walk to lunch continues past City Hall, the Brooklyn Bridge, Foley Square, and the infamous Five Points.

Lunch is at  Buddha Bodai, a kosher vegetarian restaurant in Chinatown. Here, you can savor New York City's cultural diversity with various dishes, including dim sum, spring rolls, and tasty noodle dishes.

Following lunch, we visit the restored historic Eldridge Street Synagogue. A 19th-century landmark with stunning architecture that initially opened its doors to a wave of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, it recently reopened as a vibrant arts and education center for all ages and backgrounds, with exhibitions and tours of the restored synagogue.

Take a guided tour of the historic synagogue and a guided walking tour of the Lower East Side. The Lower East Side was once home to the largest Jewish population in the world as Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe streamed in to settle in the crowded tenements that lined the street. Your knowledgeable guide will stroll the neighborhood streets, visiting old synagogues, Yiddish newspaper buildings, socialist hot spots, and the best pickle shop in New York.

After our Lower East Side tour, there are two options for getting to the Circle Line Cruise Line by 6:00 p.m.

A.    Stopping at Yonah Schimmel’s for a knish, then use a combination of subway and bus to get to the Circle Cruise Line with minimal walking. 
B.    Take the NYC subway uptown and walk through Times Square to arrive on time at the Circle Cruise Line. The cruise offers non-kosher food. 

  • Tour Cost: $48 Adult / $35 Senior (+62) (Price includes admission to both museums, a tour of the Lower East Side, and the first leg on the NJ Transit Train to Newark. PATH and NYC Metro NOT included).
  • Tour Duration: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
  • Lunch at Buddha Bodai One (Pay as You Go)
  • Dinner option at Yonah Schimmel’s (Pay as You Go)
  • Round-trip transportation Cost: NJ Transit $14.75/ $8.85 Senior (+62) / MTA Single Ride MetroCard $3.25 (x2) + $1 fee for a metro card. $3.45 / $1.55 is included in the base price. 
  • Bring comfortable walking shoes and money for lunch.
  • Note that this tour involves a lot of walking, some along very crowded, narrow streets in possibly hot, humid conditions. If you do not like crowds, do not sign up for this tour.
  • The Museum of Jewish Heritage requires final counts and non-refundable payment by Monday, July 28th.  No refunds for this activity will be allowed after this date. 

Click HERE for more info.

 

We3 - Experience the sights of NYC, including a Guided Tour of the High Line, a visit to Trinity Church, a stroll through Times Square, and a taste of authentic Jewish Delicatessen.

HighlineJoin us for a tour of several areas in New York City.

Our first stop will be the 9/11 Memorial Pools, a solemn tribute to the 2,983 souls lost on that tragic day. The names of the departed are inscribed on the parapets of the two largest artificial waterfalls in America.

Afterward, we will walk to Trinity Church, a Neo-Gothic masterpiece and National Historic Landmark. Here, you can visit the final resting places of Alexander Hamilton and Angelica Schuyler Church. Alexander Hamilton played a pivotal role in defining the powers of the fledgling federal government; he was the founder of an early version of the Coast Guard, the first Secretary of the Treasury, the author of 51 of the Federalist Papers, a constitutional lawyer, and campaigned for the establishment of the U.S. Mint.

For brunch, we’ll head to Café 11, a delightful kosher eatery that offers a variety of cuisines. There's something to satisfy every palate, from traditional bagels and pastries to sushi, sandwiches, and salads—such as vegetable, tuna, lox, and egg salad.

Next, we will catch a bus uptown to tour the West Village, arriving at the foot of the High Line for a 90-minute guided tour of this unique elevated park, which stretches for 1 ½ miles. Following the tour, we will take a short break at Hudson Yards, home to over one hundred diverse shops, culinary experiences, offices for industry leaders, and significant public art. You'll find several interesting sculptures to see here. After our break, we will walk down 34th Street to view Macy’s at Herald Square, their flagship store, and they would like to show it off.

This will give us time to enjoy a meal at Mr. Broadway, an authentic NYC Jewish delicatessen that offers various kosher cuisines, including sushi and American and Chinese dishes.

Tour Times Square, where you can see the vibrant video screens and stores like Disney, M&M's, and Hershey's. You can also pick up some freshly made glazed doughnuts at Krispy Kreme. After a long day of walking, we will finish the tour at the Circle Line Cruise, where you can rest your tired feet and enjoy everyone's company.

  • The itinerary includes 5 – 6.8 miles of walking, broken up into several segments during the day (train rides, meal breaks, etc.).
  • Except for the initial train ride, all expenses are pay-as-you-go. There are no admission fees, making this activity the most cost-effective option.
  • Tour Cost: $4 Adult / $2 Senior 65+ (Price includes the first leg on the NJ Transit Train to Newark. PATH and NYC Metro NOT included).
  • Round trip transportation Cost: NJ Transit $14.75 / $9.75 Senior +62 / MTA Single Ride MetroCard $3.25 (x3) + $1 fee for a metro card. (The initial train ticket to Newark Penn Station will be pre-paid, and the rest will be paid as you go).
  • Tour Duration: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
  • Brunch at Café 11 (Pay as You Go)
  • Early Dinner at Broadway (Pay as You Go)
  • Bring comfortable walking shoes and money for lunch.
  • Note there will be much walking on this tour, some along very crowded, narrow streets in possibly hot, humid conditions. If you do not like crowds, do not sign up for this tour.
  • Circle Line Cruise is a separate activity listed below

Click HERE for more details

Wednesday Evening

WeEve4 Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise

Circle Line Cruise6:00 pm—6:15 pm All groups will meet in front of the Circle Line Cruise Ticket Office at Pier 83, 43rd Street and 12th Avenue, to regroup and begin boarding. Pier 83 is the dock for the Circle Line Harbor Cruise.

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm The Circle Line Harbor Cruise. See the City the way it was meant to be seen from the water, admiring the stunning evening lights of New York's celebrated skyline and landmarks. Narrated by informative and entertaining guides, this tour aboard NYC's most iconic and state-of-the-art boat is an unforgettable experience.

Sail down the Hudson River, passing the colossal Hudson Yards, impressive Chelsea Piers, and the towering One World Trade Center, before rounding the spectacular tip of southern Manhattan and ultimately cruising only a few feet away from the magnificent Statue of Liberty.

Get your camera ready for some of the best selfie opportunities of your life. And you won't miss a thing as our award-winning tour guides narrate the story of New York City as you sit back and relax in the comfort of one of our state-of-the-art boats. 

Food will be available on board for purchase at the Circle Line Café. It will include sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, and chips. Beverages include soda, juice, bottled water, iced tea, lemonade, coffee, and hot chocolate. Wine and beer are also available for purchase.

  • Bring money to purchase dinner, a sweater, or a light jacket, as it could be cool or windy on the water.
  • Meet at Pier 83 @ W. 43rd Street Circle Line Ticket window @ 6:00 pm
  • Tour Cost $55 Advanced Registration Only (includes Harbor Lights Cruise and one soft drink ticket)
  • An add-on beverage package, including an open bar throughout the cruise and one food item per package, including a pizza, loaded nachos, a hotdog, a pretzel, or garden salad, is available. Click HERE for the beverage menu (tax/fees to be added, NOT included in base price).
  • Tour Duration: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
  • Circle Line Café – Pay as You Go. No outside food is permitted on the Circle Line
  • YouTube 1 | YouTube 2
  • TripAdvisor (4.5 stars, 865 Reviews)
  • Interactive map of the cruise
  • Click HERE for more info

WeEve5 Self-Guided Walking Tour of Times Square

Times Sqaure

We will take a self-guided walking tour of Times Square, the Crossroads of the World. Our tour will include the Theater District, the “Great White Way,” and Broadway.

Bright lights, award-winning Broadway shows, window shopping, diverse restaurants, and eclectic performers are among the top reasons to explore this famous spot. Add one-of-a-kind people-watching to the list, and you will find endless things to do there.

About a mile after the cruise, we turn right onto Broadway; we enter the heart of Times Square and its razzle, the dazzle of lights and billboards. Eat the best-glazed doughnuts from Krispy Kreme (best when they are still hot and freshly made). Check out some unique flavors in the three-story-tall store filled with candy in M&M's Store. See the largest chocolate bars around at Hershey's Chocolate World. Stop to watch an impromptu on-street performance. Pass the famous TCKTS booth in the “heart of Times Square,” where half-price tickets to Broadway Shows may be purchased. Pass iconic theaters where many Broadway stars performed, such as the J Barrymore Theater (Broadway & 47th Street), Lunt Fontaine Theater (Broadway 46th Street), and Paramount Theater at Broadway and 44th Street. Look up at the Times Square Building on Broadway at 43rd Street to see the Times Square Ball lit up by LED lights above and viewed by millions each year. We will end the tour by taking the subway downtown to Penn Station at 34 Street and then transferring to an NJ Train for the ride back to our hotel in Elizabeth.

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes. Dress appropriately for the weather.
  • 9:00 pm ~ 11:00 pm
  • Transportation: Walking to Times Square, then MTA and NJ Transit to return to the hotel.
  • Transportation (You can take public transit or walk to Penn Station) Pay as you go:
  • Click HERE for more details

9:00 pm—2:00 am Travel back to the hotel at your discretion. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is just south of Times Square, and Bus #112 is non-stop to the bus stop near the hotel. The last bus is at 11:35 pm, or go to Penn Station to catch the last train at 1:22 am. See below for details. 

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.

Bus

Train: 

Contact

Contact the Pre-Trip Co-Chairperson at Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org for questions. 






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