Tour Description

MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE! You’ve watched it on TV for years, and now you are going to see it for yourself. You won’t believe how much bigger those balloons are when you are really seeing them up close. And to think! It is right in the middle of the most exciting city in New York. See all the things you have always heard of like the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, 9/11 Memorial, Statue of Liberty and so much more!

Day 1:

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This morning we board our luxury coach and depart for an amazing, fun-filled journey. Our destination for our first overnight will be in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Day 2:

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We will have another relaxing travel day that gets us even closer to our exciting destination. With breaks and lunch along the way, we should arrive in Mechanicsburg, PA for our nights lodging. (B)

Day 3:

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What a thrilling day we have planned for you! We should reach New York in time for you to have lunch in Times Square. It is the most bustling square of New York and is known for the many classic Broadway theatres, amazing cinemas and brilliant electronic billboards. It is one of those places that makes New York a city that never sleeps. The billboards have become such a tourist attraction for the area, that the zoning now requires the buildings to be covered with billboards. Oh yes! Let us not forget that it is also home to New York City’s largest celebration, the famous New Year’s Eve Ball Drop from the Times Square’s rooftop. After lunch, a Step-On-Guide will join us for a 4 hour city tour. We have included dinner at a local restaurant before going to watch the inflating of the balloons that will be in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. You will stand in awe as the giant balloons are inflated. Lodging for 4 nights will be in New York City.

Day 4:

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We have an early morning to ensure we get our spots to watch the parade. On TV they only show us what they can. Today, we will see it all! Beautiful floats, the best marching bands in the nation, and—of course—the balloons that you watched them inflate last night. After the parade, we will go to Rockefeller Center for free time and lunch on your own. Rockefeller Center, originally known as Radio City, is a complex of buildings with the 70-story RCA building being the tallest. Rockefeller Center is also home to the famous annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Next we arrive at the Empire State Building to experience the New York Skyride. Zoom through the city’s famous traffic even faster than New York’s most skillful cabbie. Soar a mile above the City That Never Sleeps. New York Skyride is an awesome aerial tour of New York City that sends you on a ride around, above and even below all the city has to offer. And you feel the sights from the comfort of a specially-equipped, motion-simulated big screen theater seat! After this stimulating ride, we will take the elevators to the 86th floor for a panoramic view of New York City. When we come down to earth, we will do a driving tour by The United Nations. Then we move on to Grand Central Station. We will also drive by Bryant Park, the New York Public Library, and Madison Square Gardens. Making Memories has included a Thanksgiving Feast for Dinner, and after you are stuffed, we will do a driving tour of the Holiday Lights and Decorations of New York City. We return to our hotel for the night. (B.D)

Day 5:

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This morning our guide will take us to Battery Park to catch a ferry to Ellis Island where so many people began their lives in the “land of opportunity.” We will also visit the Statue of Liberty, the first image of the United States many immigrants saw when they flocked to New York from Europe. The statue was a gift from the French government for the 100th anniversary of America’s independence. We return to Battery Park, and then we have included lunch where 9/11 First Responders ate. We depart lunch for a nostalgic Tour of the National September 11th Memorial Museum. “Never forget” was the heartfelt refrain after the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. The National September 11th Memorial Museum has opened to memorialize those who lost their lives and to ensure once again that the world will “never forget.” We will have photo stops at the St. Paul Trinity Church. Built in 1766, this is the oldest public building in continuous use on the island of Manhattan. It was George Washington’s church and contains his pew. Miraculously, all the other buildings around the church were destroyed. However, not one of the windows in St. Paul’s was broken. None of the fourteen original cut glass Waterford crystal chandeliers were damaged. We will also do photo stops at the Charging Bull in the Financial District along with Wall Street. Dinner will be on your own with free time in Chinatown and Little Italy. We will then return for a good night’s sleep. (B.L)

Day 6:

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I bet some of you have been saying “when will we have time to shop or check out this or that,” well this is your day. Sleep in if you wish, or hit the shops when they are open. Just enjoy your day. Be sure and be back to your hotel by 5:00 PM as Making Memories Tours will treat you to a Farewell Dinner as our way of saying Thank You for helping us make memories with you. Oh, My! What has been missing from our tour of New York City? I know! A Broadway Show! Tonight, we take care of that. Unfortunately at press time, we didn’t know what would be playing, but whatever it is, it should be wonderful. Then we will return to our hotel for our final night in New York City. (B.D)

Day 7:

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We simply must depart New York City this morning, but we feel that we have left no stone unturned. What a magnificent trip. We will stop at the Flight 93 National Memorial, located at the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 which was hijacked in the September 11th attacks. The memorial was made to honor the victims of Flight 93, who stopped the terrorists from reaching their target. We continue on to New Stanton, Pennsylvania for the night. (B)

Day 8:

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You have time to relax as another travel day as it takes us ever closer towards home. With breaks and lunch along the way, our destination will be Terre Haute, Indiana. (B)

Day 9:

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Home today! I know that you will be busy telling everyone “so long,” exchanging phone numbers and addresses and reminiscing over what you enjoyed most on this fabulous tour.

However, we need to interrupt for just a bit as we are including a Farewell Lunch for you today. After lunch, it is just a short distance on home. We hope that you have made lots of memories, and you will soon travel with us again! When you get home, you will scarcely be able to watch the news or even a movie without seeing something and saying, “Hey, I’ve been there!” (B)