NYC → Palmyra → Buffalo → Niagara

December 27 – 30, 2025 • Christmas Edition 🎄

December 27 · NYC Kickoff • Big Bus • Sunset at SUMMIT

6:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Arrive at Newark (EWR) → Transfer to Manhattan → Breakfast near hotel.
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Activate Big Bus (Downtown Loop). 24-hour pass ~$60.
Big Bus NYC Big Bus passing by the Flatiron
Big Bus NYC — Downtown Loop
9:45 AM – 12:15 PM
🗽 Statue of Liberty (Ferry from Battery Park). Ticket ~$25–30. Allow 2–2.5 h incl. ferry and museum.
Statue of Liberty Ferry approaching Liberty Island Close-up of the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
12:25 PM – 12:45 PM
Wall Street Christmas Tree & Charging Bull (photo stop). Free.
Wall Street Christmas Tree Holiday decor on Wall Street
Wall Street Holiday Stop
12:50 PM – 1:20 PM
🌮 Los Tacos No. 1 (Oculus) — NYC-famous tacos (~$5 each). Quick, fresh & top-rated.
Los Tacos No. 1 Tacos close-up
Lunch — Los Tacos No. 1
1:30 PM – 1:50 PM
Brooklyn Bridge (entrance viewpoint — optional short walk partway). Free.
Brooklyn Bridge Walking on Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
📸 DUMBO (Brooklyn) — Iconic Washington Street view; explore Brooklyn Bridge Park.
DUMBO skyline Washington Street with Manhattan Bridge
DUMBO — Washington Street
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
🥟 Vanessa’s Dumpling House (Chinatown) — dumplings & sesame pancakes (~$5–8).
Vanessa's Dumpling House Famous dumplings
Snack — Vanessa’s Dumplings
4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
🌆 SUMMIT One Vanderbilt — day → sunset → night views. Ticket ~$44–55.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Reflections inside SUMMIT
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
🎄 Rockefeller Center Tree & Rink (view free; skating ~$30–45).
Rockefeller Center Tree Skating rink at Rockefeller
Rockefeller Center Tree
6:35 PM – 7:00 PM
Bryant Park Winter Village (free to enter; skate rental ~$18–25).
Bryant Park Winter Village Holiday shops in Bryant Park
Bryant Park Winter Village
7:15 PM – 9:00 PM
✨ Times Square (open 24/7). Night lights & photos before returning to hotel.
Times Square at night Times Square billboards
Times Square — Night

December 28 · NYC Highlights • Midtown • Temple Evening

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
🛍️ Macy’s Herald Square & Holiday Windows (free photo walk).
Macy's Herald Square Macy's holiday windows
Macy’s Holiday Windows
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
5th Avenue Holiday Window Walk — Saks, Cartier, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral (free).
5th Avenue Windows Saks light show
5th Ave Holiday Walk
10:25 AM – 10:50 AM
Lotte New York Palace — Christmas Tree courtyard (free photo spot).
Lotte New York Palace Tree Courtyard decorations
Lotte New York Palace
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
🚉 Grand Central Terminal — main concourse & ceiling photos (free). Coffee stop inside.
Grand Central Terminal Grand Central ceiling
Grand Central Terminal
11:45 AM – 12:10 PM
🌉 Manila Street (Chinatown) — Filipino bakeries & murals (free walk & photos).
Manila Street Chinatown Filipino bakery in Chinatown
Manila Street — Chinatown
12:20 PM – 12:50 PM
🍕 Joe’s Pizza — classic New York slice (~$5–7). A true NYC must-try lunch.
Joe's Pizza Slices ready
Lunch — Joe’s Pizza
1:15 PM – 1:40 PM
🍜 Xi’an Famous Foods — hand-pulled noodles / spicy cumin lamb (~$8–13).
Xi'an Famous Foods Biang biang noodles
Snack — Xi’an Famous Foods
1:50 PM – 2:20 PM
🏙️ The Vessel (Hudson Yards) — base area photos (free viewing platforms nearby).
The Vessel Vessel base
Hudson Yards — The Vessel
2:20 PM – 3:00 PM
🍽️ Market 57 (Pier 57 Food Hall) — waterfront food hall curated with small local vendors; great Hudson River views and quick bites. Little Island is a 5–7 min walk if you want a quick photo stop.
Market 57 at Pier 57 Food stalls inside Market 57
Market 57 — Pier 57 Food Hall
3:10 PM – 3:40 PM
🛒 Chelsea Market — browse local shops & artisanal goods (free entry).
Chelsea Market Market interior
Chelsea Market
6:00 PM – 6:40 PM
⛪ Manhattan New York Temple (LDS) — evening visit & photos.
Manhattan New York Temple Temple at dusk
Manhattan New York Temple

December 29 · Drive NYC → Palmyra → Buffalo Check‑in

6:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Drive NYC → Palmyra (~300 mi · 5.5–6 h). Breakfast on the road.
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Palmyra New York Temple (LDS). Free. Photos & quiet visit.
Palmyra New York Temple Temple grounds
Palmyra New York Temple
12:35 PM – 1:05 PM
Sacred Grove (Smith Family Farm). Free. Gentle walk.
Sacred Grove Wooded path in Sacred Grove
Sacred Grove
1:10 PM – 1:30 PM
Hill Cumorah (photo stop). Free.
Hill Cumorah Monument at Hill Cumorah
Hill Cumorah
1:35 PM – 2:05 PM
Book of Mormon Publication Site (Downtown Palmyra). Free.
Publication Site Inside the publication site
Publication Site
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Drive Palmyra → Buffalo (~95 mi · 1.5–2 h). Check‑in hotel.
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Dinner in Buffalo — try Anchor Bar (original Buffalo wings) or Chef’s Restaurant.
Anchor Bar wings Buffalo wings close-up
Dinner — Anchor Bar

December 30 · Niagara Falls U.S. Viewpoints • Lunch • Drive to Virginia

7:30 AM – 8:15 AM
Drive Buffalo → Niagara Falls State Park (~25–30 min). Park near Prospect/Visitor Center (~$10).
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Niagara Falls Observation Tower (Prospect Point). $1.25. Best single panorama (U.S. side).
Niagara Observation Tower Prospect Point view
Niagara — Observation Tower
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM
Maid of the Mist — boat ride (if operating). ~$28 adult. Seasonal; often closed in winter.
Maid of the Mist Boat near the falls
Maid of the Mist
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Cave of the Winds — elevator down to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. ~$19–21 adult.
Cave of the Winds Decks at Cave of the Winds
Cave of the Winds
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Lunch near the Falls — Red Coach Inn (year‑round). ~$20–35 pp.
Red Coach Inn Red Coach Inn dining
Lunch — Red Coach Inn
1:00 PM → late evening
Drive back to Virginia (~7–8 h · ~420 mi). Fuel+tolls ~$100–130.