Having only a limited number of days in New York to check items off our bucket list, we needed an…read moreexcellent guide with a plethora of knowledge and enough spare energy to keep us going. I fortunately found New York Historical Tours under the ownership and direction of Kevin Draper, CEO (Chief Experience Officer). My wife and I had used a private tour guide while in Scotland, and had a wonderful one on one experience ~ away from groups and tailored to fit our style of tourism. Kevin was incredibly knowledgable, affable, professional and customized our bucket list to 1) see the Statue of Liberty with pedestal access and the new museum, 2) get a brief but comprehensive history of Ellis Island without disembarking, 3) work our way to Katz's Delicatessen (we are big "When Harry Met Sally" fans) all the while getting a feel and history of the local neighborhoods, as well as learning how to use the Metro system to develop a nice level of familiarity and comfort in the East Side of Manhattan where we were staying. A standout feature on a tour with Kevin is his attention to detail in planning our time together. I call him the Master of Timing and Positioning. For example he suggested catching the first ferry to the Statue of LIberty. When we met him, he had already purchased our tickets. While on the ferry, he kept us comfortably shaded, then took us to key positions to get the best views of Lady Liberty while giving us an incredibly interesting history of the Statue. By the time we left the island, it was getting swamped with tourists and school groups. Superb timing indeed. On the way to the Metro, he pointed out the very interesting history of Battery Park and surrounding buildings and branch of the Smithsonian museum. We wound our way through Little Italy, Chinatown, Nolita and Jewish neighborhoods on the way to Katz's. Amazingly the line was short, but a madhouse inside. Kevin knew how to maneuver to the right cutter, get a table and we had a delicious lunch. As we left, the line had grown to over a block long with over an hour wait. Again the Master's timing was impeccable. He gave us more fascinating history of different areas as we headed back to the Metropolitan Museum where we ended our incredible tour. Our 6 hour private tour went by so quickly, and we were comfortably exhausted. As a historian, Kevin is a walking talking wealth of knowledge about New York, and has tremendous pride in this amazing city. We can enthusiastically recommend him for those seeking the best in personal tours of the Big Apple. In fact, we look forward to using his services on a return trip to New York which can't come soon enough.

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.

This review is way overdue since I have gone on quite a few day trips with Hines by now but better…read morelate than never! I've used a couple of different tour companies in the past but what set Hines apart from them is that the guides are very knowledgable and professional (not some kids out of high school) and they truly seem to love what they do. Also, food and snacks are included in the price which wasn't the case with the other companies. So far I've been to numerous gorgeous waterfalls, gone hiking in the mountains, went to visit caves, been on a dolphin watch trip, and I have visited Amish country (and rode in a buggy - so much fun!). Since I can't always go on a long vacation during the summer and fall, I feel like I can still get some mini-vacation-time in with these day trips. These guys are truly the best, five stars all the way!

nature in all its sweet splendor. Truly a wonderful experience as always. I may not be the best at…read morehiking (especially on an incline!) but I am quite sure that my asthma appreciates the fresh air nonetheless! Great for those who are low activity but want to be more active. Just be sure to read the level of activeness you'll be doing during your trip as Nik does have a scale. If you are new to it-- I recommend a level 1 or 2 to start you off.

Bill was our guide for our first visit to NYC. He could not have been more knowledgeable &…read moreprofessional. Our time was well spent with Bill. He knows the city & its history & its back stories ... Bill showed us the city in ways we would never have been able to manage on our own. Six stars if possible....... Highly Recommend!!

Bill, "The Street Teacher", couldn't have been more knowledgeable or more enthusiastic. I recommend…read morehim as a tour guide without reservation. He was generous with his time and made our tour a very personable experience. Check out his website!

I really enjoyed the tour thank you so much ! I did the 5 hours walking tour of NYC…read moreIt was my first day in New York and that was the best way to explore it the city for a first time ! My tour guide was super nice and did the tour even if I was the only one on this day ! It was really easy to get in touch with him before the tour . The meeting point was easy to find the walking tour was really interesting and the guide was really welcoming funny and super nice ! I would strongly recommend it to everybody !!

Great tour of Chinatown and Little Italy. Ryen is super nice, and the food was fabulous too! I…read moreenjoyed exploring these two vibrant neighborhoods with a local and would definitely recommend NYC Tours to anyone trying to narrow down which food tour is right for them.

Great value! Tour and food are excellent! Matt Wade has a lot of passion for food and history and…read morecombines them both in an exciting and adventurous tour.

From the owner: NYC is more than meets the eye, and the best of this city is what exists in the not so obvious…read moreplaces. Immerse yourself in the culture of a neighborhood and learn what values those residents hold dear. What do they eat? Where did these neighborhoods come from? My team and I are going to help you find out. Your guide will offer access to a delicious variety of cuisine options as well as local knowledge and access that extends beyond what can be found in a Google search. And more than anything, this tour will be driven by our customary passion and enthusiasm.

This tour reignited my love for New York. Discover the real…read morebeginnings of this city, brought to life by the incredible storyteller, Krombie. So much of New York's history is literally and figuratively "buried," but hearing these stories while standing on streets and in buildings that have withstood centuries was truly captivating. In addition to the DEATH IN NEW YORK tour there are others, and I can't wait to join the next tour!

I went on the twilight death tour and had a good time. The tour guide was well-informed,…read morepersonable, and fun. She was always open to questions, asides, and a few good laughs. It was all-in-all very enjoyable. I would not describe the tour as particularly macabre or ghostly (in fact I don't remember ever touching on spooky or paranormal topics - which was fine by me), but more just factual information about the who, how, why, etc. of death in an historical/sociological/anthropological context.

What a great team building activity and experience! Secret City was very easy to book. Jared made…read morethe whole planning and booking process painless for me. And on short notice they were able to switch the hunt indoors due to the enduring heat wave in NYC. Abby led our hunt at Chelsea Market. My corporate team was about 20 people and everyone had a great time. The hunt was about 2 hours long, the clues were challenging and we learned a lot of great facts about Chelsea Market. I would highly recommend Secret City to anyone who wants to plan a fun group activity.

Thank you for an amazing experience. If you are a teacher and wish to do something fun with your…read morestudents, I would absolutely recommend booking a museum scavenger hunt at the Museum of Natural History with Secret City Scavenger Hunts. Our 10th graders had so much fun going through the museum on their adventure. Booking with Jared was seamless; his level of professionalism, attention to detail, and kindness made this process a joyful experience. Our guide, Laura K., is truly delightful. Laura is extremely knowledgable, great with communication, and has so much energy! Teachers, camp leaders, youth group leaders: this is the perfect way to book a tour of the museum so you do not have to worry about which exhibits might be closed or trying to figure out how to make the most of your museum time because Secret City guides are at the experts - easiest field trip ever! We cannot wait to book another scavenger hunt. Jared and Laura, you are the best!

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! :)

Six of us took this tour and it was one of the highlights of the trip for everyone. Our guide was…read morefunny, warm, and knew an enormous amount about the city. The mix of real history and his own stories kept all of us entertained the whole way through, and I say that as someone who has lived here a long time and has heard a lot of New York trivia. He was great with people. He asked us questions, remembered the answers, and made a point of talking with everyone as we moved between stops. The weather was a question mark that morning and he had already sorted out how to handle it, so it never became our problem. Everything leading up to the day was organized and clearly communicated too. Worth every penny. We'd do it again.

My wife and granddaughter recently visited New York and booked several sightseeing tours through…read moreReal New York Tours. We wanted a knowledgeable, top-notch guide to help us experience the city, and they exceeded our expectations. From the planning process to the tours themselves, everything was handled professionally and efficiently. Our guide was outstanding--knowledgeable, personable, and passionate about New York. They customized the experience, shared fascinating insights, and made every stop enjoyable. Our experience with Real New York Tours was exceptional. They delivered first-class service in every way, and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a memorable and well-organized New York City sightseeing experience.

A wise man once said those who delve into art....Let's begin this review!…read more The Noguchi Museum is a sculpture garden musuem dedicate to the works of Isamu Noguchi, artist and architect. He came to NYC as a teen in1922, you will see a handful of his sculptures in some of the buildings and airport. This museum has three floors and a basement, museum store and a garden. Today's admission is free due to 4th of July celebration. Museum's gallery section is unique and different from one another. Visitors are not allowed to take flash photography and touch the sculptures or art display. However, being me I put that to the test. Hehehe. Staff were obsequious and professional. Free wifi. Plenty street parking. Admission is affordable. Overall, I had a nice experience discovering Isamu's art.

Went there for free First Friday - free admission and scheduled activities. The museum has outdoors…read morespace for large sculptures, and a garden. There are 2 indoor floors. The pieces are in the open, not cordoned off so be careful not to touch them. Can refer to one of the laminated lists showing what's in a particular area. Some scheduled tours as well. Elevator, ramp for accessibility. Joined an art workshop in a room downstairs for first Fri - supplies and snacks/water provided, plus DJ music. Also chess boards were set-up in different areas of the museum. There is a gift shop, and restrooms. Close to Socrates Park so was a long walk from the Steinway St-M R station. I normally wouldn't mind if it wasn't a muggy afternoon. The Broadway N W station is a bit closer, also some bus lines.