1783 -Becomes part of the United States.
Approximately 8.58 million
Welcome to your unforgettable adventure with A-Z Travels, a leading student travel specialist & educational travel company. As your trusted educational travel agency, we’re here to make learning come alive.
Highlights and Inclusions:
Day 1: Arrival Day, Whitney Museum of American Art, High Line Park, Chelsea Gallery District, Welcome Dinner
Morning
Group travels to their destination: New York, New York. Meet your A-Z Travels Tour Guide at the hotel and take a moment to settle in. This will be your home base for the duration of your trip, so make sure everything is comfortable.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, we’ll begin our introduction to art in the city with the Whitney Museum of American Art, a space dedicated to 20th and 21st-century American art exclusively, providing an unparalleled view into the nation’s early modernists like Edward Hopper and Georgia O’Keeffe as well as pieces from current living artists. Then, we’ll get outside and explore the elevated High Line Park. Here we’ll observe public art commissions and the dramatic blending of nature and industry.
Evening
As the evening gets underway, we’ll head over to the Chelsea Gallery District, providing an opportunity for students to sample a few galleries and encourage discussions on curation. Then, get creative with a pick-your-own Welcome Dinner at a world-famous food hub for locals and visitors alike—Chelsea Market. This colorful and architecturally interesting space boasts diverse food options perfect for your group’s culinary introduction to the city. After exploring and filling up on your favorite dishes, head back to the hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Day 2: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), Central Park, Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Morning
We dedicate the morning to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), an architectural masterpiece itself. Our focus shifts from “modern” to “eternal.” We dive deep into the Egyptian Wing, studying how belief systems dictated the function and permanence of their art, from colossal sculptures to intricate jewelry. Next, it’s a pivot to the European Painting Galleries, where teens encounter Renaissance and Baroque masters. The educational goal is a “Technique Hunt”: identify the use of chiaroscuro (light and shadow) in a Rembrandt and the dynamic motion in a Rubens.
Afternoon
Refuel with a classic NYC lunch from a pizza joint, café, or food cart, before visiting the spacious and refreshing Central Park. Consider this time as being in a gigantic, open-air studio surrounded by grand architecture. Have students sharpen their skills in rendering light and atmosphere, as this is the perfect time to sketch from different points of perspective. Or, simply take this time to admire the sights and sounds of this encapsulated oasis. Then, head over to the world-famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Housing a collection of art pieces charged with innovation, students will experience the emotional chaos of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night and the intellectual structure of Picasso’s Cubism. Find pieces that strike a visceral feeling, then have your group note the artistic “rules” that were broken to create it. Reinforce that each viewing and moment of contemplation is an active dialogue with the modern masters.
Evening
For a change of pace and a memorable evening, dinner tonight will be a theatric experience you wouldn’t want to leave the city without—Ellen’s Stardust Diner near Times Square. Enjoy a delicious, extensive menu alongside truly iconic NYC performance art: aspiring Broadway stars serve dinner while singing show tunes! After an unforgettable and impressive evening, have your group make their way back to the hotel to unwind and rest up for another full day.
Day 3: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Frick Museum, Paint or Pottery Workshop, Farewell Dinner Cruise
Morning
After breakfast at the hotel, we start our morning with a visit to the Conservatory Garden, a delightfully designed half-dozen acres of landscaped foliage and flowers. Then we’ll continue our fine art immersion continues at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece. This unique space is part gallery, part large-scale, functional sculpture. It features a continuous ramp that’ll keep your group actively interacting with the art in layers. This approach is both striking and playful, and encourages discussions on the enduring relationship between architecture and fine art.
Afternoon
Enjoy another classic NY lunch from a choice deli or savor cuisine from virtually anywhere with international food shops around every corner. Once reenergized, the group will make its way over to the Frick Collection. Housed in a former Gilded Age mansion, it’s one of New York City’s most distinguished art museums, offering a unique and intimate experience with a permanent collection that spans the Renaissance to the late 19th century. Boasting European Old Master paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts, the collection is known for its exceptional quality and focus.
Evening
Before dinner, treat yourselves to some hands-on creative expression with a Paint Night or Ceramics Workshop! This will give students the opportunity to create their own art piece right here in NY—a truly unique souvenir to take home with them from their trip. To further celebrate our last night in the city, we will get to experience a truly memorable farewell dinner aboard a NYC harbor cruise. Get a cinematic view of the city that is entirely different from being on the streets. The perfect way to toast a successful trip, once docked, head back to the hotel for a full night’s rest before departure day.
Day 4: Departure Day, Self-Guided Street Art Tour, souvenir Shopping
Morning
Fill up on one final delicious breakfast at your hotel before checking out and storing your luggage. Time permitting, enjoy a self-guided Street Art Tour, where students will explore vibrant neighborhoods and discover the stories behind New York City’s dynamic murals, graffiti, and urban art culture.
Bid the city a fond farewell with one last chance to purchase souvenirs or take photos of your surroundings. Have your group gathers their belongings and begin your safe journey home.
Afternoon:
Return to the hotel to retrieve luggage and begin your safe journey home.
Thank you for considering A-Z Travels, your go-to educational travel company. We hope this experience will inspire lasting memories and learning.
