Let us take you on a walk through historic Greenwich Village, where Folk musicians, Beat poets, painters, creative people of all stripes, and social progressives have flocked for generations. See and learn about the Judson Memorial Church with its very active and progressive role in the artistic and social life of the city; the one-time homes of E. E. Cummings, Bob Dylan, Edward Hopper; sites associated with Margaret Sanger and Isadora Duncan; Washington Square ... You'll see the Village as it was, and as it is, a home for America's bold and creative thinkers.
Central Park: It's For the Birds!Central Park, that oasis of calm and green in the heart of the bustling island of Manhattan, is a haven not only for the people of the city, but for hundreds of species of birds. Songbirds, herons, geese, ducks, gulls, woodpeckers, hawks; year-round residents and transitory migrants can be found amid the greenery of Central Park. We will visit the home of Pale Male, the famous Red-Tailed Hawk, and explore some of the spots other birds frequent. And you will see and learn lots more about the park along the way. (Please note: birds are very independent-minded, and do not appear on cue! While we can be certain that we will see some birds, there are no guarantees that we will have sightings of any particular species.) Bring binoculars if you have them!
The High Line is a unique park: former elevated railway tracks repurposed to become a superb vantage point for viewing the city—and for people-watching. Spanning the neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District and Chelsea, surrounded by restaurants, galleries, boutiques, theaters, sparkling new spaces and a 19th-century seminary; the area's present mingles and rubs shoulders with its past. We will enjoy the high line park, and explore the history of the neighborhood along with all it has to offer today.
Other tours
Many other tours are available, including...
- Lower Manhattan: Its original inhabitants called it Manahatta; the Dutch settlers called it New Amsterdam; the British renamed it New York. We will explore highlights of the city's history at its southern end, from the Lenape Native American culture through the present day.
- The World Trade Center: Its construction, uses, the terrible day of its destruction, tributes to the rescue and recovery workers, the 9/11 Memorial, and building a new Center.
- Queer Village: a walking tour of gay history in Greenwich Village; people, places, and historic events, including the site of the pivotal Stonewall riots.
- The Gymnasium of the Mind: Chess in New York. Where to play; historic players and who plays now; artistic and political associations with the game and its players.
- Historic Jersey City: Just across the river from this wonderful town is another one, rich in culture and history. A tour on foot or by car explores a Revolutionary War era house where Lafayette and Washington met in 1779, a Roaring Twenties movie palace, a church founded by the Dutch Settlers in 1680, and much more.
- All the Village's a Stage: The history of theater in Greenwich Village. See the small theaters that have given rise to some of Broadway's big hits and are a vital part of the cultural life of New York City, and the homes and former homes of writers and stage and screen actors who have been a part of the theater there.
- Custom Tours: Call for a consultation to design a custom tour around your interests!
