New York City, Niagara Falls & Washington DC (8000)

9 days from New York City to Washington DC

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Historic sites, thrilling cities, and awe-inspiring scenery…these are the perfect words to describe this East Coast tour. You’ll spend two nights each in New York City, Niagara Falls, and the Washington DC area, and an overnight in Corning and Philadelphia. Sightseeing with a Local Guide or an orientation tour is included in each city on this affordable vacation. In New York City, see major attractions, including Broadway, Times Square, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and more. Then travel into Canada to experience breathtaking Niagara Falls! Be sure to have your camera ready as you enjoy an exhilarating sightseeing cruise that gets you up close to the thundering falls. Have free time to visit the Botanical Gardens, ride the aerial cable car, or go on an unforgettable optional helicopter tour over the falls with a view like no other! Head to Corning and visit the world’s most comprehensive collection of glass at the Corning Museum of Glass. Continue on through the picturesque Poconos and beautiful Appalachian Mountains en route to Philadelphia, where you’ll see landmarks like the Liberty Bell at Independence National Historical Park. In Washington DC, visit the Lincoln Memorial, see the Washington Monument and Ford’s Theatre where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and enjoy photo stops at Capitol Hill and the White House. In your free time, choose to visit the museums of the Smithsonian, take a walk along the Mall, or see the Kennedy graves and Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. From bustling cities to beautiful scenery and historic landmarks to the amazing natural wonder that is Niagara Falls, this East Coast tour is a great vacation for savvy travelers. You’re sure to arrive home with plenty of stories and photos to share!

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Travel on our April 4 departure and be in Washington DC for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. (Mother Nature permitting).

Enjoy the beautiful fall colors on our special fall foliage departures from September 19 to October 10 (Mother Nature permitting).

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.646.5374

New York City, Niagara Falls & Washington DC map

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

5 breakfasts

Notes:

Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions (typically favorable May to October). Cruise sightseeing may be substituted by a Journey Behind the Falls excursion when necessary.

Travel on our April 4 departure and be in Washington DC for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. (Mother Nature permitting).

Enjoy spectacular fall colors on our Fall Foliage departures: September 19 through October 10 (Mother Nature permitting).

Itinerary

Day 1 NEW YORK CITY

Welcome to the “Big Apple!” Your Tour Director is on hand from 3pm-6pm to answer any questions.

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Day 2 NEW YORK CITY

New York City is one of the world’s most exciting cities, buzzing with atmosphere and packed with fascinating sights. On today’s guided sightseeing tour, see the major attractions—Broadway, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, and the 9/11 Memorial. This evening, choose from the city’s many fine restaurants or maybe take in a Broadway show.

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Breakfast

Day 3 NEW YORK CITY–NIAGARA FALLS

Depart Manhattan, heading across New Jersey through the Pocono Mountains and into upstate New York. Late this afternoon, cross the border to the Canadian side of the Niagara River in Ontario. Spend the next two nights in beautiful Niagara Falls.

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Breakfast

Day 4 NIAGARA FALLS

This morning, enjoy a sightseeing cruise where you’ll get up close views of the thundering world-famous Niagara Falls. Fall in love with the falls even more with an optional flightseeing excursion by helicopter or an optional lunch at the soaring Skylon Tower. Your afternoon is at leisure. Consider visiting the Butterfly Conservatory, Great Gorge Adventure, Niagara Parks’ Botanical Gardens, or maybe ride the aerial cable car.

NOTE:
Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions. Favorable conditions usually exist from May to October. When conditions are unfavorable, a visit to Journey Behind the Falls will be substituted.

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Day 5 NIAGARA FALLS–CORNING

Head southeast through the Appalachian Mountains to the town of Corning, NY, known as the “Crystal City.”
Visit the Corning Museum of Glass, the world’s most comprehensive collection of glass, with over 50,000 objects representing more than 3,500 years of history. This evening is free for you to enjoy this charming town. Perhaps take a stroll to Centerway Square which was once voted Best Public Square in the country.

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Day 6 CORNING-PHILADELPHIA

Travel south through the Pocono Mountains and into the Susquehanna River Valley, then on to Philadelphia, the birthplace of American independence. The “City of Brotherly Love” is steeped in history from Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed, to the Liberty Bell. Your orientation tour focuses on the historic landmarks as well as more current ones, like the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art made famous in the movie ‘Rocky.’ Stop at Reading Terminal Market, one of America’s largest and oldest public markets, for lunch where you can experience local favorites like Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches or traditional Pennsylvania Dutch food. This evening, join an optional excursion to dine aboard the Tall Ship Moshulu, and let your imagination sail on the world’s oldest and largest square-rigged sailing vessel still afloat.

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Day 7 PHILADELPHIA–WASHINGTON DC AREA

Travel to Washington, DC, the U.S. capital and seat of government, for a 2-night stay. Have the afternoon to enjoy the world-renowned, and free, Smithsonian museums or take a stroll around the National Mall. Later, an optional evening out features dinner and an illumination tour shining a light on the city’s most famous monuments and memorials.

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Breakfast

Day 8 WASHINGTON DC AREA

The nation’s capital is a sightseeing treasure trove, and your half-day tour with a Local Guide features the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Ford Theatre and photo stops at Capitol Hill and the White House. The afternoon is free for exploration. Perhaps visit the National Museum of American History to see Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz, the National Museum of Natural History to see dinosaur bones and the Hope Diamond, or the National Gallery of Art to see the only Da Vinci oil painting in the western hemisphere.

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Breakfast

Day 9 WASHINGTON DC AREA

Your vacation ends this morning. Consider extending your stay with extra nights to further explore Washington DC. For passengers who would like to return to New York City, the motorcoach will transfer you to our New York hotel, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Manhattan/Central Park, at no additional cost.

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Breakfast

Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

DARYL JENKINS

Escorting tours for more than 15 years

“After a trip to Moscow in 2006, I developed an insatiable desire for travel. I really enjoy working with people, so tour directing seemed like a natural fit. I believe travel is vital to becoming a more well-rounded person. Exposure to other people and cultures gives us a better understanding of just how much we all have in common. I enjoy being able to share places and experiences that I love with others-I look forward to seeing you on the road!”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).