2015-2016 Guide to NYC Bus, Boat, and Walking Tours

So you want to experience everything New York City has to offer (which is a lot)—but where to start? There are so many restaurants, historic landmarks, shops, and attractions to see that it can make even native New Yorkers’ heads spin! It might be best to leave the itinerary to the hands of tour guides and just enjoy the ride. Take a look at our list of popular walking, boat, and bus tours of the Big Apple.

Bateaux New York: Sightsee in style on the Bateaux New York’s Luxury Sightseeing Lunch Cruise. On the glass-enclosed, European-style ship, you’ll take in incredible views and learn about notable NYC sights like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and One World Trade Center while enjoying a three-course lunch and live music from an onboard pianist. bateauxnewyork.com

Circle Line Cruises: Operating out of Pier 83, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises offers five different boat tours around Manhattan and major New York attractions, ranging from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours long. You can join a group of 1-14 passengers, or more than 15 for a reduced price. They are also available for private charter. circleline42.com

Free Tours by Foot: This top-rated walking tour covers all of Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx for a whole day of city fun. What sets it apart from others is its name-your-own-price system, which lets you decide how much the tour is really worth afterwards. They also offer food, bike, bus, and ghost tours. freetoursbyfoot.com

New York Water Taxi: The New York Water Taxi tours the Statue of Liberty day and night, and caters to seasonal events like the Fourth of July fireworks. If that’s not enough, their All-Day Access Pass lets you hop on and hop off the boat at stops whenever you want throughout the day. VIP tours, custom groups, and private charters are available. nywatertaxi.com

OnBoard New York Tours: Don’t want to walk or get on the water? Board this hop-on-hop-off shuttle bus tour and see the city roadside! With limited group sizes on smaller shuttles, OnBoard’s four different tours offer interactive, detailed tours of New York’s sights. You can book private tours as well. onboardnewyorktours.com

Real New York Tours: While they do offer group walking tours, Real New York Tours’ private tours are what attract most visitors, as they allow greater personal attention and flexibility than with a bigger group. They offer six-, four- and two-hour tour options throughout different areas in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and provide you with a roster of tour guides so you can select the guide that best fits your personality and needs. realnewyorktours.com

The Ride: This 75-minute tour circles Midtown Manhattan in state-of-the-art buses with stadium-style seating, panoramic views, floor-to-ceiling windows, surround sound and 40 plasma TV screens. The 75-minute tour is not your typical sightseeing experience—it’s led by two professional comedic hosts, and features street performances, trivia, and karaoke. experiencetheride.com

To read our 2015 Attractions Guide, click here.

Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND® New York Resort

Monstrous Family fun returns with Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND&reg; New York Resort! &nbsp; The signature children&rsquo;s Halloween event kicks off October 3rd&nbsp;when the Park transforms into a bewitching party filled with candy, seasonal shows, and Halloween themed LEGO characters. The event runs on all operating dates in October, with all festivities included in general admission. Meet LEGO Monster characters like Spider Lady and Wacky Witch and make your way to the treat stations around the Park. Don&rsquo;t forget your costumes! &nbsp; New for 2024: Monster Party Nights at LEGOLAND New York Hotel! Book a Brick-or-Treat overnight package in October to enjoy extra sweet Halloween-themed fun after a day in the Park. Hotel guests will have the opportunity to eat breakfast with a Monster, participate in themed crafts and LEGO builds, rock out at the Monster Dance Party each night, and more! &nbsp; AWESOME AWAITS at LEGOLAND&reg; New York Resort, the ultimate LEGO&reg; theme park destination, for kids ages two through twelve and their families. Ride, climb, and build your way through seven LEGO themed lands. &nbsp;

The Wild Center

The Wild Center, nestled within the breathtaking landscape of New York's Adirondack Park, offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature. As visitors approach the Center, they are greeted by the Adirondack Mountains towering in the distance, setting the stage for an immersive adventure. Upon entering the 34,000-square-foot exhibit hall, guests are enveloped in a world of wonder and discovery. Interactive exhibits like Planet Adirondack and Climate Solutions invite exploration, allowing visitors to delve into the rich biodiversity of the Adirondack region. The indoor experience also includes an opportunity to soar on Birdly--a one-of-a-kind VR experience. Also, get up close with an animal ambassador during one of many live animal encounters throughout the day. In addition to its indoor exhibits and programs, the Wild Center also boasts 115-acres of extensive outdoor amenities. One of the highlights in the award-winning Wild Walk. Visitors walk up a trail of bridges to the treetops of the Adirondack forest, 40 feet off the ground. Along the way, interactive exhibits provide insights into the flora and fauna that call the Adirondacks home, from songbirds to black bears. The rest of the campus features more ways to explore. Check out Patrick Dougherty&rsquo;s Stickwork sculpture, an all natural installation of woven sticks that will spark your imagination and nostalgia. Immerse yourself in Forest Music, take a naturalist-lead canoe trip, or get your roll on with Raquette River Roll, a brand-new, oversized, all-natural ball run experience opening in June 2024.

Instituto Cervantes

Children and teenagers learn to understand and express themselves in Spanish, while improving their communication skills through a dynamic immersion program taught by NATIVE TEACHERS that combines CLASSES, ARTISTIC WORKSHOPS and FUN ACTIVITIES! All of our high-qualified teachers are native Spanish speakers who adapt the structure of the class to the needs and levels of each group while conducting the classes entirely in Spanish. We offer both Spanish Summer Camps and Regular Courses for children along the year to foster language learning and multicultural understanding.