Educational Tours & Graduation Trips » Theme Tours » 2-Day New York Literary Trek

2-Day New York Literary Trek

Day 1 You’ll See: 

Day 2 You’ll See:

Explore the more literary side of the state of New York!

Day
1

New York Public Library -The New York Public Library is the second-largest library in the United States, the fourth largest in the world. This massive, in both size and reputation, the public library holds 53 million items, the entire system covering several different divisions and subjects. Explore such divisions as General Research, Rare Books, Arts Prints and Photos, Manuscripts and Archives, Jewish Studies, United States and Local History, Genealogy, Maps, and English and American Literature. There will be an undoubtedly overwhelming selection of materials to peruse during your visit, the vast expanse of knowledge and resources within guaranteeing that your group can customize your visit to whatever style you want: history, literature, culture, cinema, etc.

Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe - A well-known community do-gooder organization, Housing Works, has an excellent opportunity for your group at the Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe. An eatery within a volunteer bookstore, volunteer meaning the books and materials are all donated and the proceeds go to the community, this spot will allow you to delve deeper into the New York literary scene, fill your stomachs, and get insight into the local community culture. Shop the best books, browse the movie and music collection, and then head over to the onsite (actually dead center) eatery for some classic cafe eats, such as soups, salads, sandwiches, coffees, and bakery items. Try the Turkey and Cranberry sandwich or Italian Grinder and sit down with a book or two, you won’t be disappointed!

The Strand - Another iconic and not-to-miss local bookstore is The Strand, New York City’s landmark shop specializing in new, used, and rare books. From philosophy to finance and everything in between, this Broadway bookstore location allows guests the chance to browse one of the most diverse book selections in the city, the shop conveniently open from 9:30 am to 10:30 pm. This is considered to be the ‘legendary home’ of bookstores in general in New York, this spot holding over 2.5 million books since 1927. That’s right, this spot is running on ‘86 years and 18 miles of books’, a truly impressive feat for one bookstore! Find everything a book junkie could possibly want in here, from occult classics to YA literature, from vinyl albums to kitschy Shakespeare mugs.

The Library Hotel - (Check-in and Relax) - The Library Hotel is located just 2 blocks from Grand Central Station and 1 block from the New York Public Library. This ‘book-themed boutique hotel’ provides your group with one of the most absolutely unique hotel experiences in the entire city, 10 full floors of literary-themed bliss. The entire hotel is based on the Dewey Decimal System, meaning that each of the 10 floors is dedicated to a category of the system, the categories ranging from social sciences to literature and language. The 60 overall rooms each have a unique collection of books and art featuring a distinctive topic within each category, the entire establishment holding over 6,000 books to browse. So check-in, unpack, unwind, and grab a book!

Note, for literature themed tours hit the 8th floor for the night and explore Mystery, Fairy Tales, Dramatic Literature, Poetry, Classic Fiction, and Erotic Literature.

Day
2

Sightsee Rockefeller - Rockefeller Center was first envisioned by American business tycoon John D. Rockefeller over a hundred years ago as a “city within a city.” Today, Rockefeller Center is a beautiful building complex with art deco details, historical significance, and entertainment attractions. TV shows like Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock are filmed at 30 Rockefeller Plaza while the building complex has been featured in Sleepless in Seattle, Home Alone 2, and Elf. Visit during the spring and summer months to see the flowers in full bloom in the Channel Gardens and during the winter holidays for the special shows.

Travel to Sleepy Hollow - 1.5 hours
While in Sleepy Hollow you will quickly see the infamous Ichabod Crane sites, from the Old Dutch Church to Philipsburg Manor.

  • Headless Horseman Sculpture - South of the Old Dutch Church a ways you will find a distinct sculpture sitting on the grass between US HWY 9 and North Broadway, the Headless Horseman statue. This is just one of the tributes to the classic Washington Irving short story throughout the town, once called North Tarrytown (changed in 1996 to Sleepy Hollow).
  • Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground - A member of the National Register of Historic Places, this Dutch Reformed Church is a 17th century stone marvel, a 5-acre historic site located on Albany Post Road. Architect Frederick Philipse styled this as American Colonial and Dutch Colonial Revival, an impressive combination of design elements in its finished product. Self-explore the 2.5-acre burying ground, the home of the ‘purported haunt of the headless horseman’ and spot in which many locals that served as Irving’s character inspiration are buried.
  • Headless Horseman Monument - Another small but significant site to see along your way is the Headless Horseman Monument, a headstone-like addition to the Philipsburg Manor, placed here in 1974.
  • Philipsburg Manor - Last but certainly not least head to Philipsburg Manor, the colonial era farming, milling, and trading post from the past in which Frederick Philipse himself remained. This English Manor holds over 20 acres of sights to see, the initial startup date of this community set in 1653. Many scenes from the story were taken from this spot, so see if you can remember them all!