Overview
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 600,000 gallons of water that comes crashing down every second! Enjoy free time on your own 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, NY 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, known at the birthplace of American democracy. In Washington DC, take a tour with a Local Guide and 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. Have free time to visit the amazing museums of the Smithsonian, take a walk along the Mall, or see the Kennedy graves and Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery.
Then return to New York City for two more nights to continue exploring the many diverse and interesting things the city has to offer. From exciting cities to historic landmarks to the amazing natural wonder of Niagara Falls, this East Coast tour will have you returning home with stories to tell, photos to share, and memories to last a lifetime!
Itinerary
Welcome to the “Big Apple!” Your Tour Director is on hand from 3-6:00 p.m. this afternoon to answer any questions.
Once you get settled, perhaps head out and start exploring the ‘city that never sleeps' with its world-famous shopping and restaurants that represent nearly 100 different national cuisines.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. Enjoy the afternoon and evening to explore on your own. Perhaps visit a museum, shop, walk in Central Park, or take in a Broadway show. With so many options, it's hard to choose!
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.
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 on an optional flightseeing excursion by helicopter or on an optional excursion to the soaring Skylon Tower where you can dine while enjoying the magnificent view. Your afternoon is at leisure. Consider visiting the Butterfly Conservatory, Niagara Parks' Botanical Gardens, or maybe take a ride on the Whirlpool Aero Car over the Niagara Gorge.
Please 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.
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. Pay a visit to Centerway Square in downtown Corning, which was once voted Best Public Square in the country, then overnight in nearby Elmira.
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.
Travel to Washington, DC, the U.S. capital and seat of government, for a 2-night stay. Enjoy free time this 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. (B)
The nation's capital is a sightseeing treasure trove, and your half-day tour with a Local Guide features a visit to the Lincoln Memorial, seeing the Washington Monument and Ford Theatre where President Lincoln was assassinated, 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 original Da Vinci oil painting in the western hemisphere. (CB)
Say goodbye to your Tour Director today and continue by motorcoach to New York City and check into your hotel for the next two nights. Your Local Host will be available for any questions you may have and can offer suggestions for sightseeing, shopping, and dining. (CB)
The “Big Apple” beckons. Spend the day discovering all this amazing city has to offer from Broadway shows and museums, to world-class shopping and restaurants.
Your vacation ends this morning.
Trip Inclusions
- 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).
- Guided city sightseeing in New York City and Washington, DC
- Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise
- Admission to Corning Museum of Glass
- Orientation tour of Philadelphia
- 3 Breakfasts
- New York City: Cambria Hotel New York - Chelsea (Moderate First-Class)
- Niagara Falls: Best Western Plus Cairn Croft Hotel (First-Class)
- Corning: Clarion Inn Elmira Horseheads (Moderate First-Class)
- Philadelphia: Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia-Midtown (Superior Tourist-Class)
- Washington DC: Courtyard Alexandria Pentagon South (First-Class)
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
- 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.
- Enjoy the fall colors of New York and surrounding areas on our special fall foliage departures from the end of September to early-October (if Mother Nature permits).
Enjoy inside visits to North America's must-see sites with a great mix of included excursions, free time and affordable value. Read more
Cosmos build free time into every one of their vacations, so you can eat, shop, and explore the way you want. Read more
Cosmos' easy going, fun-filled and multilingual Tour Directors and Local Guides love exploring as much as you do. Read more
Trip Reviews (6) Most Recent 'New York City, Niagara Falls & Washington DC with Extended Stay in New York City' Reviews
In Philadelphia, we were all disappointed that tickets (free) needed to arrange a visit to Independence Hall were all allocated the day before. Most of us were keen to see this. We felt that Cosmos or Tour Director could have arranged tickets for us so that we didn't miss out. It was from this point on that many of the people we spoke to shared their disappointment with the tour. Some of the hotels, particularly Washington were quite a distance from food options. At times the Tour Director wasn't aware of where we could obtain food. Most of the hotels had no restaraunts attached. Overall I would not recommend this tour. I have also expressed my opinion directly with Cosmos.
The group all got along very well and we had a wonderful time together. We covered a lot in the short time we had, although another day in both Philadelphia and Washington DC would have been great, as we could've spent much more time in the museums in Washington DC.
Altogether a wonderful tour and we would book with Cosmos again, although we would have like to have fridges in our hotel rooms as well as tea/coffee making facilities.
Our favourite place was Niagara Falls , which were totally amazing and right in town. We went out on the boat right up to them and had a lovely dinner at the top of the revolving restaurant, Skylon which had stunning views of the Falls (photo attached).
New York just like you expect from watching movies =, busy with a lot of traffic and people. The mass of buildings with beautiful architecture was really interesting to see on our morning tour which was really informative with a great local guide
Great tour around Washington seeing The White House , The John F Kennedy Centre , Capitol Hill , The beautiful Art Gallery and the Arlington National Cemetery where returned soldiers and John and Jackie Kennedy are buried.
We went in mid August and the weather was perfect ,warm with sunny skies every day. We took all the optional tours available which were great , the only disappointing one being the horse and carriage tour in Philadelphia which turned out to be a horse and cart for half of us as they didn't have enough carriages for a large group We felt they could have done 2 different times and wouldn't have gone if we had known we would end up in a cart. Apart from that it was an awesome tour and even though a large group we all got along fine.
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Cosmos Worldwide (2025-26)
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. For all itineraries that include a cruise, Cosmos may apply a surcharge depending on the cabin categories available on your selected departure. Your Travel Advisor will provide this information in your quote if applicable. Your Travel Advisor will also apply any appropriate discounts automatically and detail any currently applicable 'Exclusive Specials'.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Cosmos. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
