A limited number of tickets will be available at the departure location on Saturday morning.

Kick off the holiday season with a visit to the Big Apple. This flexible trip provides you with the resources to explore Manhattan on your own while traveling with all the comforts—and support—of a Smithsonian Associates tour.

You will be given a map of Manhattan along with a list of sights, exhibits, restaurants, and shops so that you can plan out your day. Special exhibits that will be on view at that time include Monet’s Water Lilies at the Museum of Modern Art and Kandinsky and Expressionist Painting before World War I at the Guggenheim Museum. Or you can get into the holiday spirit by visiting the Annual Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An experienced Smithsonian representative accompanies the tour to make suggestions and handle the general logistics of the day.

Upon arrival in Manhattan around 12 noon, the bus will make a stop in Midtown for those who would like to window shop along 5th Avenue or see a show in the theater district. There is a second stop along Museum Mile for those wishing to visit a museum or stroll in Central Park. The approximate time spent visiting the city will be 6 hours.

7 a.m. to 11 p.m. by bus from 4th St. & Independence Ave., S.W., with a pickup stop at the I-495 Exit 27 carpool parking lot at about 7:25 a.m.

A box lunch is served en route.

Participants purchase their own dinner. Transportation or admission to specific sites and activities is not included. In an effort to maximize time in New York City, we have opted not to make any rest stops en route. There will be a restroom available on board the bus.