A Hudson Valley wine tour to celebrate a friend's landmark birthday was perfect! Hudson Valley…read moreBucket list did an outstanding job coordinating the day from transport and an itinerary of beautiful wineries to a magazine photo worthy picnic lunch orchestrated by an on-site host. Our group of 12 were treated like special guests everywhere we went and we were wowed by the friendly, welcoming reception at each stop and the delicious wines we were able to taste. HVBL made planning this event easy and the day memorable

We used Hudson Valley Bucket List for my bachelorette weekend and they were absolutely amazing…read more Caitlin was our guide for the day and she was incredible. We were taken to 3 different vineyards who all took great care of us. I've been on a ton of wine tours and this was by far the very best I've been on. The lunch was delicious and beautifully set up ahead of time before we got to the 2nd vineyard. It was a beautiful day. Thank you Hudson Valley Bucket List!

I decided to take a break and head to Atlantic City for a good 2 day rest. I've been getting all…read morethese discount and complimentary coupons at almost all the hotels there....Trump Plaza....Bally's....Harrahs...for months....only to be thrown away ...wasted. as....I can't seem to squeeze it in my busy schedule...too many priorities to take care of....and .Nashad is always tied up with his job......and I didn't have any plans for a trip until now.....felt like playing the casinos....and checking out all the restaurants inside and outside the casinos.... .... .. Stayed at the famous newly renovated Caesars .....Centurion Tower...44th Floor facing the ocean......what a view!!!! It's all I need...after unpacking....freshen up...went to the boardwalk and walked to Showboat..... to the Tropicana....that's a good long walk......stopping and taking a rest on the benches along the way. Stopped at the Bikini Bar along the ocean for a drink and continued my leisurely walk until i got tired ...went back to the hotel ....watch TV then tried my luck at the machines........... Woke up early at 6:00 ...freshen up and did my walk again...this time took another route to Borgata......that famous newest "kid" on the block.....a very imposing facade.......what a place it was.....Whew !!!!It's beautiful.....check out the casino lobby....very impressive....You'll also find 2 of the most famous chefs restaurant in house......Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay.....whipping out their culinary expertise in every recipe they create....then there is Isakaya...a modern Japanese pub that defies comparison...Extrordinary sushi, sake & robatayaki served in a sendual yet comtemporary atmosphere....there were alot of eateries and high end shops around....... After having dinner at a PHO Sydney...Vietnamese restaurant (review coming up) went to the casino floor at Caesars and tried my luck again on the slot machines.....My $20.00 became 40....then 60....then 80...$200.00....time to cash in......just got my money back and some from a day before.....walked around watched people lost money on the poker tables....boy...I tell you these people are gamblers....i was on the 25 cents machine....but most of the older ones are on the dollar machines....and $5.00 machines...I nearly fainted when I saw a $100.00 machine...Whoa!! am I seeing it correctly...Excuse me but is this a $100.00 machine? Yes Ma'am....unbelievable....These people are high rollers!!!!.Well....I work hard for my money and I am not about to throw it now that way.....I have no problem with spending it on good food....well........everybody is different... Went for dinner at the casinos famous buffet.....it was Bleh!!!!Big disappointment....Steak was as hard as my head....most of the food are either over cooked or bland....too much oil....just feasted on the shrimps...and mussels....at least their desserts was yummy..... The main entrance / hotel lobby of Caesar's is actually in the back facing Pacific Avenue..... although there are 2 entrances facing the boardwalk...it is actually the back of the casino........A block down from the main entrance are Designer Outlet stores.......so if you get lucky and win a lot of money....stop and shop before heading home.......it was an unwinding trip.......I am good as new....... .

We went on their China Town & Little Italy tour of down town Manhattan. Dan was just terrific!…read more His enthusiasm was contagious that made our Birthday celebration weekend. We now want to go on all the tours that they offer.

What a superb tour we had with Dan. He was incredibly knowledgable and kept us engaged with…read morefascinating details and fun facts. Highly recommend

Hired Karin to provide both a NYC tour and serve as a German translator when needed. Fortunately,…read morewe didn't need her to translate as much as we had anticipated, so the tour was mostly in English. We had Karin for about 5 hours and what a treat. Her knowledge of NYC history, current events, hidden gems and navigation allowed us to cover an extraordinary amount of ground in such a short time. I felt like I had spent 3 days touring by the time we were finished. We did a combination of driving and walking which was the best. I highly recommend Karin!

From the owner: We are offering English and German language tours of New York City. Let me be your private guide…read moreand show you this city like only a true New Yorker can. Customized private walking tours as well as tours by bicycle and via private SUV are available and can be arranged to suit your plans. All tours are led by a native German speaker and licensed NYC tour guide who has lived in NY for over 30 years. Tours feature a mix of stops that highlight history, architecture, shopping, restaurants and insider information about life in the Big Apple. Tours can be tailored to YOUR specific interests. Chose from a wide range of customized New York City tours covering all boroughs: history, architecture, culture, museums, art galleries, people and places, restaurants and nightlife, shopping and so much more...find out for yourself why New York continues to be the most fascinating city in the world. Herzlich willkommen For more details check out our bilingual website www.karinbratone.com

TEP deserves more than 5 stars for the amazing start to finish service we experienced on our 7 day…read moreadventure to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. From the time we signed up, to the time we boarded the plane to return home, TEP took care of every detail. We commented amongst ourselves that we felt like kids on vacation with our parents, as we didn't have to worry about any of the details - just show up and follow Neptali (our guide). From airport pickup in Cusco in luxury Mercedes vans where we were promptly served Coca tea to help with the altitude acclimation, to group dinners at amazing Peruvian restaurants, to historical tours and education on the history of the Inca - everything was covered and taken care of for us. And that was all before the amazing trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Of course the trek itself was the highlight of the trip, and although it was extremely challenging for us, TEP's unbelievable attention to detail did not fail us on the trail. With nearly a 2:1 porter to trekker ration, our every need was met on the trail. We dined like kings every meal, and were consistently amazed with the quality (and nutritional appropriateness) of the food our chef and sous chef were able to put out with minimal kitchen conveniences. The thing I felt was most special about TEP's approach to this trip was the focus on gaining a cultural and historical appreciation for what we were experiencing. Every step along the way, we learned about the native people of Peru, the Inca civilization, the many ruins we came across, the vegetation we saw and how it was and is used, and the history of modern Peru. It was the trip of a lifetime, and have the help of The Explorer's Passage made it so much more enjoyable, and so much more memorable. The value of what they provide is amazing for the cost....rather, for the investment. I highly recommend them!

What a fabulous tour! I did the "Washington in NYC" tour in June 2017 and it was such a wonderful…read moreexperience! So much fascinating historical information that I can't wait to share with all my friends now; such a great group of fellow explorers; and all so perfectly run - well planned, perfectly on time, with a great variety of sights and insights for all types of travelers. I recommend this tour highly - and will be on the lookout for future adventures from The Explorer's Passage! :)

Absolutely happy! Everything was perfectly arranged. It was the most relaxing vacation I have ever…read morehad. To think how easy it was getting this amazing trip arranged at the last minute was amazing! Despina Makris was very knowledgeable. I told her what I was looking for. She was able to to that and then some. I cannot say enough about my trip. I know I will definitely be using her service again.

Despina is my GO TO for all things travel! Whether it is planning every detail of my honeymoon,…read moreplanning a local weekend bachelorette, helping me decide where to go or what to do when I get there, Despina is knowledgeable and thorough in her planning no matter the size of the trip! Despina herself is an avid traveler - locally, nationally and internationally. This quality is really shines through - she plans every trip as if it were her own! I couldn't recommend her more!

Honestly this is probably the best bang-for-your-buck tour you will find in NYC. It was really cool…read moregetting to visit legendary hip hop spots and interact with the people and culture that birthed this cultural movement. You can't get this experience anywhere else on the planet. I am not the "tour type" of person, but am so glad to have experienced this one. We covered a lot of ground and knowledge during the tour. You'll get tons of photo/selfie opportunities if that's your thing. I appreciate the hustle part of this tour - it's not super polished which was cool. The host was full of energy and humor, and the driver was on the grumpy side which made the dynamic even better - a little Eric B and Rakim type of thing... Anyway if you are on the fence about this do it now - we hesitated and were lucky to get the last two seats on the tour. They also sell merch so you can get a hat or t shirt for your friend that lagged it too long and didn't get on the tour. Plus, if you bring grandma they will teach her how to bust out in a b-boy stance.

AMAZING! I've been on tours in at least fifteen countries and the Hush Hip Hop Tour was in the top…read morethree! We were driven by owner John, and listened to the incredible RayZa as he shared his passion, love and voluminous historical info on all things Harlem, graffiti, hip hop, breaking, politics, music, DJing, MCing and inside scoop. At one stop we had a private breaking class with artist Eli on an iconic basketball court--crazy fun. We were scouting Hush for a future trip with a crew of high school students and they will lose their minds at the stories, videos and RayZa's live rap while on the bus transversing sites like the room where Hip Hop started, August 11, 1973, to the basketball court of the "shot heard round the world." Can't say enough about this epic tour, worth every penny.

My boyfriend and I went for a mini vacation in Norwalk, CT and I booked the Sunset Harbor…read moreLighthouse Tour which we went on this past Sunday evening from 6:30-8:30, on 8/10/25. This tour was definitely a highlight of our trip! Captain John and Charlie were great and all the passengers aboard had a great time! We passed three lighthouses-Peck Ledge LH, Sheffield Island LH and Green's Ledge LH. Charlie, co-captain of Captain John, had just toured the inside of Green's Ledge LH the day before which is listed on Airbnb for $6,000! He went around the ship showing everyone the floor plan. It especially exciting to be on the Long Island Sound and to see the red and white towers from Northport, since I live on Long Island!! We were able to see several different viewpoints of the sunset and osprey nests as well. Definitely recommend to residents of Norwalk AND tourists alike!

Like a lot of other dork type middle age dudes I'm a sucker for a good lighthouse. Actually I've…read morebeen to a few clinkers which says that I'm apparently I'm also a sucker for a bad lighthouse as well but there's no need to worry about that at Sheffield because it's all good here. So if you want to come you've got two legal options. 1. Show up via kayak (or I suppose boat then taking a short swim) during hours when they are running tours and you will be met on the shore by a volunteer who will ask you to pay a few dollars for the privilege of taking the lighthouse tour/hanging out on the island. 2. Or, you come via the regularly scheduled boat that runs from the dock on North Water Street in Norwalk from late May until the end of September. There are various public & private decks for parking all around the area so it shouldn't be too hard to find a close space. I don't remember what the price is for option #1 but for option #2 the below currently apply: Adults: $22.00 - Children 12 & Under: $12.00 Senior / NSA Member $20.00 Active Military with ID $10.00 Children 3 & Under: $5.00 Family 4 Pack (2 Adults, 2 Children) $55.00 A few random facts: Boats depart weekends only every year over Memorial Day weekend and eventually go daily from July until Labor Day and then back to weekends only until the end of September. Check seaport.org for the current schedule and for special events such as their clambakes. Once you get to the island you get to take a brief tour of the lighthouse which was built in 1868 (downstairs only for now as the upstairs tower portion is being worked on and hopefully tours will be allowed there in the not to distant future once they get the stairs in better shape along with figuring out a way to dissipate the heat which we were told was well over 100 degrees the day we were there in August) and you can also walk through the nature trail via the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge. If you are going to walk on the nature trail or along the beach that fronts Sheffield Island Harbor just know that things are "wild" and that you will get eaten alive by flies, mosquitoes and I wouldn't be shocked if the trees had lots of ticks. The lighthouse was relit in 2011 for the first time in 91 years. Why Sheffield Island? The island was named after Revolutionary War veteran Captain Robert Sheffield who bought the island in 1804. He married Temperance Doty, a Mayflower descendant and such started the current lineage of the island's name. The 47 acre island is private property that is primarily owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the Norwalk Seaport Association depending upon the website owning only three or four of those acres. You will be reminded a few times of where you can and cannot walk. Speaking of an area you can't walk by it would be the dilapidated house on the right near the dock. That house is still owned by the Stabell family who sold the island to the Norwalk Seaport Association in 1986 for 700K. I forget the exact story we were told but it's something along the lines of the "home" (more of a dilapidated shack) cannot be renovated because of Fish and Wildlife Service rules and if they raze the structure they lose the land so the shack stands as is. The island itself is around a mile and half from the dock in Norwalk and the boat is kept at a country club pace in both directions which equals about 40 minutes to make the trip in each direction. This is fine as one of the crew did a fairly good job or telling everyone about some of the various islands & lighthouses & birds in the area and about the local shellfish industry. Past that it's just sit back and relax on some of their picnic benches and have a picnic or don't do a damn thing except the enjoy the beautiful view. Either way it's awesome.