Best of USA - East Coast
From a megacity to a gator-filled swamp in the space of a plane ride – the East rolls out adventure from the Atlantic to the mighty Mississippi River.
Mighty Metropolises
Brimming with 8.6 million people, the megalopolis of New York is the cultural capital of the Eastern USA, offering a mind-blowing array of cuisine and entertainment. Cloud-poking Chicago, power-brokering Washington, DC, history-steeped Philadelphia and Latin-infused Miami are close on its heels. Look deeper to find the captivating European-style charms of New Orleans, and rebounding Rust Belt cities such as Detroit, Buffalo and Cincinnati, where scrappy entrepreneurs and young DIY devotees are branching out and transforming the built environments.
Backroads Wonders
The East Coast offers plenty of chances to get your beach on, from the whale-rich waters of Cape Cod to the taffy-shop-lined boardwalks of Ocean City, the towering golden sand dunes on Lake Michigan or the coral reefs of the Florida Keys. Inland, nature puts on a show in the swampy Florida Everglades, wolf-haunted Boundary Waters, mist-tipped Appalachian Mountains and New England’s forests, which blaze red, orange and yellow each autumn. Slowpoke byways unfurl throughout so you can soak up the landscapes.
Chowhounds’ Smorgasbord
Good eatin’ reaches epic proportions here: hulking steamed lobsters with melted butter in Maine’s seafood shacks, bagels and lox in Manhattan’s delis, saucy barbecue ribs in Memphis’ roadhouses, butter-smothered biscuits in North Carolina’s diners, hot-spiced gumbo in New Orleans’ cafes…and for dessert, thick slices of berry pie. Wineries can be found from northern Michigan to North Georgia, and the craft brewery scene is even more prolific. And don't forget: Atlanta gave the world Coca-Cola.
Cultural Cradle
The museums in the Eastern USA are the nation’s greatest hits – the Smithsonian, housing everything but the kitchen sink; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a city-state of treasures; and the Art Institute of Chicago, hanging impressionist artworks by the roomful. Explore the roots of blues, jazz, and rock and roll at Memphis' Sun Studio, where Elvis got his groove on; Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, for artifacts like Jimi Hendrix’ Stratocaster; and the juke joints of Clarksdale, where blues slide guitar first pierced the air. For sky-high designs, Chicago and New York City are drawing boards for the modern era’s great architects.
Photos
Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival New York
Upon arrival at New York airport, you will be met by our representative & transferred to hotel for check in
Welcome to New York City
Epicenter of the arts. Architectural darling. Dining and shopping capital. Trendsetter. New York City wears many crowns, and spreads an irresistible feast for all.
Nexus of the Arts
The Met, MoMA and the Guggenheim are just the beginning of a dizzying list of art-world icons. You’ll find museums devoted to everything from fin de siècle Vienna to medieval European treasures, and sprawling galleries filled with Japanese sculpture, postmodern American painting, Himalayan textiles and New York City lore. For a glimpse of current and future greats, delve into the cutting-edge galleries of Chelsea and the Lower East Side, with their festive opening-night parties (usually Thursday night if you want to join in), or head to new frontiers in Brooklyn and Queens.
Urban Wanderers
With its compact size and streets packed with eye candy of all sorts – architectural glories, Old World cafes, atmospheric booksellers – NYC is a wanderer’s delight. Crossing continents is as easy as walking a few avenues in this jumbled city of 200-plus nationalities. You can lose yourself in the crowds of Chinatown amid bright Buddhist temples and steaming noodle shops, then stroll up to Nolita for enticing boutiques and coffee tasting. Every neighborhood offers a dramatically different version of the city, from the 100-year-old Jewish delis of the Upper West Side to the meandering cobblestone lanes of Greenwich Village. And the best way to experience it is to walk its streets.
The Night Is Young
When the sun sinks slowly beyond the Hudson and luminous skyscrapers light up the night, New York transforms into one grand stage. Well-known actors take to the legendary theaters of Broadway and world-class soloists, dancers and musicians perform at venues large and small across town. Whether high culture or low, New York embraces it all: in-your-face rock shows at Williamsburg dives, lavish opera productions at the Lincoln Center, and everything in between. This is a city of experimental theater, improv comedy, indie cinema, ballet, poetry, burlesque, jazz and so much more. If you can dream it up, it’s probably happening.
Culinary Capital
There’s never been a better time to dine in New York. It's a hotbed of seasonal and locally sourced cuisine – with restaurants growing vegetables on roof gardens or upstate farms, sourcing meats and seafood from nearby sustainable outfits, and embracing artisanal everything, from coffee roasting and whiskey distilling to chocolate and cheese making. Bars have also taken creativity to new heights, with pre-Prohibition-era cocktails served alongside delectable small plates – indeed, gastropubs are some of the most creative places to eat these days. Of course, you can also hit a gourmet food truck or dine at one of the city's 75 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Day at leisure to explore Times Square
Love it or hate it, the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Ave (aka Times Square) pumps out the NYC of the global imagination – yellow cabs, golden arches, soaring skyscrapers and razzle-dazzle Broadway marquees. It's right here that Al Jolson 'made it' in the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, that photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt famously captured a lip-locked sailor and nurse on V-J Day in 1945, and that Alicia Keys and Jay-Z waxed lyrically about the concrete jungle.
For several decades, the dream here was a sordid, wet one. The economic crash of the early 1970s led to a mass exodus of corporations from Times Sq. Billboard niches went dark, stores shut and once-grand hotels were converted into SRO (single-room occupancy) dives, attracting the poor and the destitute. What was once an area bathed in light and showbiz glitz became a dirty den of drug dealers and crime.
That all changed with tough-talking mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who in the 1990s forced out the skin flicks, boosted police numbers and lured in a wave of 'respectable' retail chains, restaurants and attractions. By the new millennium, Times Square had gone from X-rated to G-rated, drawing around 50 million visitors annually. On any given night, with the square flooded with light from wall-to-wall LCD screens and the sidewalks packed with people, it can feel like all of them are there at once.
Overnight at New York - Day 2
New York / City Tour
Today embark on a City tour of New York visiting …
Make the most of your time in the city that never sleeps on a guided tour of NYC’s top attractions. Travel by both boat (seasonal) and bus as you swing by the 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, Rockefeller Center and more. Then hop aboard a luxury boat for a sightseeing cruise past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, complete with stunning views of the world-famous skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
Overnight at New York - Day 3
New York at leisure
Day free to explore New York on your own …
Visit Empire State Building, Central Park, Museum of Arts, A walk on the broad way, Flea Market, etc.
Empire State Building / Museum of Modern Arts / Central Park / A walking broad way tour / Brooklyn bridge / Flea market
Overnight at New York - Day 4
Flight from NYC to Buffalo / Transfer to Niagara Falls
Transfer to airport for flight to Buffalo / Transfer to Niagara Falls for check in at hotel
Day at leisure to explore the sights of Niagara Falls
It's a tale of two cities: Niagara Falls, New York (USA), and Niagara Falls, Ontario (Canada). Both overlook a natural wonder – 150,000 gallons of water per second, plunging more than 1000ft – and both provide a load of tourist kitsch around it.
The Canadian side offers somewhat better views and a much larger town.
However, the view from the New York side is still impressive and the falls surroundings are far more pleasant as they are preserved within a beautifully landscaped state park.
The town itself is also largely devoid of the commercial razzmatazz you'll find on the Canadian side; if that's what you want, it's easy to walk across the Rainbow Bridge between the two – just be sure to bring your passport.
Overnight at Niagara Falls - Day 5
Niagara Falls sightseeing
Today embark on a sightseeing tour of Niagara Falls
Get as close as possible to Niagara Falls on this escape to one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders. Feel the powerful rush of the falls from the Prospect Point Observation Tower, overlooking the American falls. Take a journey to the edge of the rushing water — by boat on the Maid of the Mist and by land on the Cave of the Winds walking adventure.
Overnight at Niagara Falls - Day 6
Flight from Niagara Falls to Washington
Transfer to Buffalo airport for flight to Washington / Upon arrival transfer to hotel for check in
The USA’s capital teems with iconic monuments, vast museums and the corridors of power where politicos roam.
Museums & Monuments
There’s nothing quite like the Smithsonian Institution, a collection of 19 behemoth, artifact-stuffed museums, many lined up in a row along the Mall. The National Air & Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of African American History & Culture, Reynolds Center for American Art & Portraiture – all here, all free, always.
Alongside the museums, Washington’s monuments bear tribute to both the beauty and the horror of years past. They’re potent symbols of the American narrative, from the awe-inspiring Lincoln Memorial to the powerful Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the stirring Martin Luther King Jr Memorial.
Arts & Culture
Washington is the showcase of American arts, home to such prestigious venues as the National Theatre, the Kennedy Center and the Folger Theatre. Jazz music has a storied history here. In the early 20th century, locals such as Duke Ellington climbed on stages along U St NW, where atmospheric clubs still operate. Go-go (an infectiously rhythmic dance music) and punk also have deep roots in DC.
The city hosts several adventurous small theaters, like Arena Stage and Studio Theatre, that put on works by nontraditional writers. Busboys & Poets' open-mike nights provide another outlet for progressive new voices.
Political Life
The president, Congress and the Supreme Court are here, the three pillars of US government. In their orbit float the Pentagon, the State Department, the World Bank and embassies from most corners of the globe. If you hadn’t got the idea, power is why Washington emits such a palpable buzz.
As a visitor, there’s a thrill in seeing the action up close – to walk inside the White House, to sit in the Capitol chamber while senators argue about climate change, and to drink in a bar alongside congresspeople likely determining your newest tax hike over their single malt scotch.
History
A lot of history is concentrated within DC’s relatively small confines. In a single day, you could gawk at the Declaration of Independence, the real, live parchment with John Hancock’s signature scrawled across it at the National Archives; stand where Martin Luther King Jr gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on the Lincoln Memorial’s steps; prowl around the Watergate building that got Nixon into trouble; see the flag that inspired the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ at the National Museum of American History; and be an arm’s length from where Lincoln was assassinated in Ford’s Theatre.
Day at leisure to explore this historical city on your own
Overnight at Washingtom - Day 7
Washington / City tour
Today embark on a City tour of Washington
Beat the long entrance lines and experience some of the most popular attractions in Washington, DC like an insider on this full-day sightseeing tour.
Enjoy priority entry into the United States Capitol, the home of Congress. Then visit the National Archives Building, where the original Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution are on display.
In between, see the city’s most famous landmarks and monuments, like the White House, the Lincoln Memorial and more.
Overnight at Washingtom - Day 8
Flight from Washington to Orlando
Transfer to airport for Flight to Orlando / Transfer to hotel for check in
It's so easy to get caught up in Greater Orlando – in the isolated, fabricated worlds of Disney or Universal Orlando (for which, let's face it, you're probably here) – that you forget all about the downtown city of Orlando itself.
It has a lot to offer: lovely tree-lined neighborhoods; a rich performing arts and museum scene; several fantastic gardens and nature preserves; fabulous cuisine; great craft cocktails; and a delightfully slower pace devoid of manic crowds.
So, sure, enjoy the theme parks and the sparkles, nostalgia and adrenaline-pumped fantasy there, but also take time to 'Find Orlando.' Come down off the coasters for one day to explore the quieter, gentler side of the city.
You may be surprised to find that you enjoy the theme parks all that much more as a result.
Day at leisure
Overnight at Orlando - Day 9
Orlando / Visit Disneyland
Today visit the mighty Orlando Disneyland
Cinderella's Castle of Magic Kingdom. Space Ship Earth of Epcot. The Tree of Life of Animal Kingdom. The Chinese Theatre of Hollywood Studios. These are the symbols of magical lands that together make up Walt Disney World®, the world designed by Walt Disney, and opened in 1971, to be the 'Happiest Place on Earth.'
Walt Disney World® itself is like a child. One minute, you think you can't take another looong line. Or cafeteria-style restaurant serving fried food. Or overstuffed shuttle bus. And the next, it does something right – maybe it's the fireworks, maybe it's a particular ride, maybe it's the corny joke of the guy who drives the horse-drawn carriage down Main Street. Or maybe it’s seeing the speck of glitter on your kiddies’ content faces as they finally fall asleep after a huge day.
All is forgiven. Disney works its magic.
Overnight at Orlando - Day 10
Orlando / Visit Sea World
Today visit the Sea World for a different experience
SeaWorld Orlando is a celebration of the ocean, with dueling opportunities to peer at life beneath the waves and to get whipped around like plankton in a tidal surge on critter-themed thrill rides. The 200-acre (81-hectare) park educates and entertains, while also serving as a rehabilitation center for sick and injured animals.
Once known as primarily an aquarium and zoological park, SeaWorld Orlando has established itself in recent years as one of the best theme parks for thrill-seekers in the area. Flamingo and pelican ponds, a lush tropical rain forest, a 17-acre (6.9-hectare) lagoon, and millions of gallons of saltwater tanks house killer whales, bottlenose dolphins, sharks, beluga whales, sea lions, turtles, birds, and aquatic reef life.Park goers can choose a basic admission ticket to SeaWorld or a two- or three-park ticket that also includes entrance to nearby sister parks Aquatica Orlando and/or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. While admission allows for access to rides and shows, some animal interactions come at an extra cost.
Overnight at Orlando - Day 11
Orlando / Visit Universal Studio
Today get a glimpse in the world of Hollywood Movies with visit to Universal Studio
Go behind the scenes, beyond the screen, and jump right into the action of your favorite movies at Universal Studios Florida™, the world's premier movie and TV-based theme park.
This Orlando favorite, part of Universal Orlando Resort™, offers rides, shows, movie sets, and attractions that bring to life blockbuster movies like Transformers, Despicable Me, and Harry Potter.The BasicsUniversal Studios Florida is home to top Universal attractions, including Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Minions on Despicable Me Minion Mayhem™and Fast & Furious-Supercharged™. It’s one of Orlando’s most popular parks, and guests have several options for visiting. Choose a single-park ticket or a park-to-park ticket that also includes admission to Universal’s Islands of Adventure™ and Universal’s Volcano Bay™.
Single- and multiple-day options are also available. Enhance your day at the park with upgrades like tickets to the Blue Man Group at CityWalk™, a Universal Express Pass for skip-the-line access to major rides, or a meet-and-greet breakfast with Universal’s most popular characters. If you’re pressed for time, opt for a private VIP experience with your own park guide help navigate to the best attractions. Buy your park tickets in advance to save time at the entrance gate.
Overnight at Orlando - Day 12
Orland / Nasa Centre
Today visit the Kennedy Space Centre
Explore the history and science of America's space program. See the actual space shuttle Atlantis in person. Explore the Saturn V Center with the rocket that took man to the moon on display. Tour the facility by bus and upgrade your ticket to Dine with an astronaut or enhance your bus tour.
Overnight at Orlando - Day 13
Departure from Orlando
Transfer to airport for departure flight from Orlando
Notes
Daily Depatrure ... Round the year Destination ... Extention available to West Coast of USA
Hotels
Tour Inclusions [Best of USA - East Coast]
Accommodation for 12 nights
Daily breakfast
All transfers, sightseeings and excursions throughout the program as per Itinerary
Local flights
Park tickets at Orlando
Notes on itinerary
All our itineraries are "Just for Ideas" ... We will get to know you and customise an itinerary just for you that matches your requirements ... dates of travel, category of hotels, preferred airline, flexibility in choosing sightseeing, mode of travel between cities, etc.
Many of our clients have us design more relaxing, slower paced holidays with more in-depth experiences whereas some simply want to visit various destinations and cover only the highlights.
Together, we will determine the ideal route, pace of travel, accommodations, levels of pampering, style of touring, sightseeing to be included, dining preferences, adventure levels, options to meet locals, dates of travel & much more ! and based on this arrive at a price.
Do feel free to get in touch with us by a quick call on +91 79 29602961 or a short mail on mail@destinations4india.com ... Looking forward
