Set off in search of history

Set out on a journey through time by ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Start allows you to beat the crowds, and after a thorough visit that includes guided tours, you should expect to return six hours later. Back in Manhattan, stroll through the Wall Street neighbourhood, home to the colonial-era Fraunces Tavern and the mid-nineteenth-century Trinity Church. St. Paul's Chapel is Manhattan's oldest surviving church building and the site of 9/11 memorials. The neo-Gothic Woolworth Building (with its magnificent gilded lobby) and City Hall are north. The esplanade and Battery Park City, easily accessible via Chambers Street, are the ideal places to watch the sunset. Choose from one of TriBeCa's many restaurants for dinner.

Fine art and the finer things in life beckon

Starting with the magnificent Metropolitan Museum of Art, fine art and the finer things in life beckon. Easily spend an entire day, but you'd be exhausted by the end. Fortunately, Central Park is right behind the museum, where you can unwind on a bench, rowboat, or meadow while watching the world go by. Hitch a hansom cab at the park's southern end, across from the Plaza hotel and the F.A.O. Schwarz toy store, for a romantic carriage ride through the park. On 5th Avenue and 57th Street, you'll find world-class shopping.

Head west to the American Museum

Head west first thing this morning to the American Museum of Natural History. Take a look at the dinosaurs and visit John Lennon's last residence, the Dakota apartment building on Central Park West at 72nd Street. After strolling through lush, green Central Park to see the Shakespeare Garden, Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Fountain, and Wildlife Center (more commonly known as the Central Park Zoo), shop until you drop on 5th Avenue and 57th Street. Then go out to dinner before seeing a show at Carnegie Hall or the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

New Yorkers like to do on their days off

Do what many New Yorkers enjoy doing on their days off: go wandering. Make your way to Chinatown for a dim sum breakfast or a soft drink with tapioca. From here, head north to galleries, chic boutiques, and restaurants in SoHo and NoLita. The Lower East Side, further east, is a former immigrant enclave with the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and bargain shopping on Orchard Street. If you haven't eaten yet, head a few blocks north to the happening East Village, home to even more shops and vintage stores. Walk up Broadway from Union Square to the trendy Flatiron District, which features the iconic Flatiron Building. 

The Falls and Gorge

The majesty of Niagara Falls never gets old, no matter how many times you've seen it. Follow the water as it gently rolls away from you along the railing until the roar of the water becomes increasingly loud. The swift current soon splashes in fear, and it vanishes into a wall of white mist that erupts into the sky at the crest. Begin your first day in Niagara Falls by getting up close and personal with the action at, in my opinion, the best location—next to the Table Rock Welcome Centre. You're right next to where the water thunders downwards, but you can also see the entire Horseshoe Falls from here. Because of the intermittent waves of refreshing water, you can affectionately refer to this area as the "splash zone."

Ride and Splash

It's no secret that Niagara-on-the-Lake is best known for its abundance of vineyards and world-class wines, so you'd be remiss if you didn't include this in your 3-day Niagara Falls itinerary. A better way to visit a few wineries than renting a bicycle and taking in the lush scenery allows the grapes to grow so well? Pick up your bikes and set out on the road to your first stop, Peller Estates. Along the way, you'll see Queen's Parade and the Fort George National Historic Site. Peller Estates is one of Niagara-on-the-most Lake's prestigious winemakers, winning numerous awards. Peller Winery provides an excellent tasting and dining experience and frequently includes many top Niagara wine tours.

Last Day in Niagara

Say goodbye to Niagara. The driver will pick you up at the hotel based on your flight details and the direction from where you are staying and then drive you directly to the airport for departure. Please double-check your luggage and belongings before departing for the airport.