You recognize this guy, right? Photographed here by David Paul Ohmer on Flickr, this is the charging bull sculpture located a couple blocks from the New York stock exchange and meant to symbolize the strength and power of the American people. The media often still uses it today to reflect optimism in the stock market.

With that in mind, you probably haven’t seen a lot of it lately. That is, unless you got a glimpse of it the day people were praying to it for a positive change in the economy. And whether you’ve ever seen it in the media or not, this New York City icon is definitely a must for New York student travel.

To get the most from your view of the beast, it might help to know a little more about it. The famous bull was the sole idea of its sculptor and was originally placed on Wall Street without anyone’s permission. It was sculpted and placed there after the stock market crash of 1987. Apparently the police impounded it, but the people cried out for its return. I think it’s a fascinating story. I appreciate so much when artists find a way to raise our awareness as well as our hopes.

A lot of educational tours to New York City include a visit to the famous bull of the financial district. It is one of the most photographed attractions in the city. It certainly seems to capture the American spirit in many ways as well as the spirit of the powerful daily energy on Wall Street. As in the game of Pitt, which mimics the stock exchange, the bull counts for you if you win – but way, way against you if you lose.

I think it’s a bit much to pray to the guy. But I definitely like the idea of a little tangible inspiration to keep us believing in our ability to get through any difficulty and come out as American, and as full of possibility, as ever. It’s a bit of hope we keep coming back to over and over, something we all need reminded of even today.

Well, it’s settled. I have to go back to New York City as soon as possible. I visited in the spring, for the first time, and immediately made every intention to go again as often as possible in my lifetime. But I’m discovered a dilemma today that won’t be solved until I’m there again.

New York City is, of course, one of the top five US destinations for student travel. We love it for all kinds of tours, group travel, museum tours, even for themed travel since it offers so many attractions for any interest, including art, architecture, theater, film, and any number of historical themes. When we went in the spring, we determined to see for ourselves many of the attractions often included in itineraries for students. Of course, a couple observation decks made the list.

Before I went, I understood there to be some debate about which observation deck was the best – the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock. I knew the ESB probably held the most sentimental draw but had heard that Top of the Rock actually offered the better user experience. I couldn’t wait to decide for sure.

Since returning, I’ve given my opinion several times that the above is basically true. I had a wonderful and personal experience at the ESB. We were given the VIP tour. We were able to avoid the lines and see things most groups won’t. But here’s the sadness: I only took three pictures. THREE. (You can see one of them above). And I’ve learned that when you are taking in so many new and unfamiliar attractions at once, your only chance at remembering them in detail and truly reliving the experience is if you write down every moment and/or take a ton of pictures. Therefore, the truth is, my ESB experience has almost left me.

At Top of the Rock, I took pictures of every possible view, including – and this is the important part – the observation deck itself. Now I can relive not just what the city looks like from Top of the Rock but I can relive Top of the Rock itself – the wide and spacious deck with its clear safety glass for protection and the slots between them perfect for sticking a camera lens through to take unobstructed pictures.

These are the details I cannot remember from the Empire State Building. I’ve been describing the photo above as the observation deck there, because I’d forgotten one very important detail. This is a photograph of the observation deck on the 102nd floor. It’s completely enclosed with the metal you see in the photo and it requires an upgraded ticket for admission. The more common 86th floor observatory is more open, and I wish I’d taken a picture of it – of people standing on it, leaning over to view Manhattan from its height.

I have to confess that even with my foggy memory, I do remember the ESB observation deck to be quite a bit more crowded and more narrow than the one at Top of the Rock. It was difficult at the Empire State Building to find space at the ledge for an unobstructed view. But I’ve definitely done it an injustice to remember it only as the one in the picture. And I’ve been told since that it’s open late and that the view is absolutely incomparable at night.

This is why I absolutely have to go back. I can’t truly write about New York City group travel without another glimpse, without better photographic evidence of the experience on the 86th floor observation deck at the Empire State Building. And at night. It’s an absolute must.

I haven’t yet written much about our trip to New York City in June. It was such an exciting trip, stuffed full with the attractions we often include in New York City educational travel. And somehow I’ve wanted to draw out the thrill of sharing it on the blog. Whenever I write about New York City now, I can do it from experience, and that’s such a wonderful feeling.

Before I went, I had to learn as much as I could from other people’s experiences or from locals willing to share their tips online. This led me to some great advice on how to approach a first-time trip there. We had an expert guide for most of our tour, so I wasn’t too concerned about navigating the metro or knowing the names of the attractions I passed and how to get to the next one. And frankly, some of the tips I was a bit powerless to implement since they involved not looking like a tourist. We traveled, after all, with the specific purpose of researching the many NYC attractions use for group travel and we did it in a group with a guide-slash-narrator. Sticking out was an inevitable part of our experience.

Still, they were some great tips, and I thought I’d reproduce them for you here based on my experience with whether or not they held true. These tips could get you through your own first New York City tour without annoying even one authentic New Yorker!

1. Don’t Be Obvious – If you want to annoy a New Yorker, be as obvious as a tourist as you possibly can. Wear a tropical shirt, sling a camera around your neck, gaze and point, look up a lot and drop your jaw…you get the idea. I have to admit, though, I stood in front of a web cam on Times Square and waved to my family, and I swear no one even noticed. It was easier than I thought in New York City, to blend. And all this leads me to the next point.

Don’t Get in the Way. I knew this in theory before, and now I know it for sure. In New York City, people are constantly on the move, and they’re on the move in a crowd. If you stand still in the midst of them, they get annoyed. Even if you don’t mind standing out as a tourist, try not to stand out as inconsiderate. When you see a photo op you just have to grab, step outside the moving stream of people rushing to or from their deadlines and appointments. Remember, though you are on vacation, these people are busy living their everyday.

Do Consider Attractions Off-the-Beaten-Path. This might be a hard one if it’s your first trip and you think it might be your last. In that case, you’re going to want to hit the biggies – Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and the Met (for starters). These were certainly the attractions that made our itinerary. But if you can, consider some quiet corners of Central Park, the High Line Park (made on an abandoned, elevated railway), the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or other out-of-the-way spots where you can truly experience the City and what makes it great.

I accomplished this on my last morning with a stroll to Riverside Park and the location for a favorite (and the final) scene from You’ve Got Mail. It was one of my favorite New York City experiences.

Wear Comfortable Shoes – If you’re like me, you hesitate stepping foot on these streets at all for fear you’ll be immediately judged for your fashion sense or lack thereof. Instead of trying to imitate Carrie Bradshaw, think comfort. No one will notice if you wear jeans, a black or solid t-shirt and walking shoes. They will definitely notice if you’re hobbling around, blistered, in high heels from attraction to attraction. I compromised between heels and tennis shoes by purchasing some pretty and comfortable flats. It worked perfectly.

But Don’t Be Afraid to Rock the Heels for Evening – One night I carried heels in my bag and changed into them after supper and before the Broadway Show. IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM.

Over-the-Shoulder It. Similarly to the shoes thing, online tips strongly advice you don’t try to haul a giant bag around or anything that can’t be strapped around your neck and over your chest. And I tried to follow this advice. I really did try. I looked for a new bag, a lighter-weight one. In the end, though, I settled on my own bag – the one I’d been carrying for a little over a year. And you know what? It’s giant and it couldn’t be strapped around my neck and over my chest. And I totally didn’t care. I think the spirit of this tip is: Take the bag you’re comfortable with.

Chill. One thing I determined before I went and that was to take in every moment of the experience without stressing too much over what I did or didn’t see. I knew that was always the death of happiness in group travel tours. And I can honestly say, it happened. Don’t wear yourself completely out, or you won’t really enjoy being there. Take in what you can, and really take it in. Spend as long as you need to at each amazing attraction. Make sure you eat and stay hydrated. And be there. Sometimes I accomplished this best with a camera and sometimes just by breathing in.

And that’s some New York travel advice that should be a good start to a first time tour of your own.

This week I’m suffering from oh my gosh, I’ve been there. I just keep looking at the pictures from my spring-time trip to New York City and Washington DC. I’ve been reading my journal entries about it and just soaking it in.

Since our trip was jam-packed with attractions we typically include in Washington DC educational travel, NYC grad trips, and some of our themes like NYC fashion tours, I thought you might like a sneak peak at some of the obvious and not-so-obvious attractions we fit in. Maybe it will give you ideas for you trip to the big cities when it’s your turn.

Mount Vernon

With so many famous attractions on the National Mall in the heart of Washington D.C., you may not think just outside of it to beautiful Mount Vernon, President Washington’s beloved home and an amazing part of our history. I was amazed, though, at the many pieces preserved and showcased on this tour, from the kitchen and its history of hospitality to the slave quarters and the view from Mt. Vernon’s famous cupola. Mt. Vernon was frequented always by a large number of guests, and that spirit of giving, plus the inspiring resourcefulness of our first President, is still present throughout the estate.

Old Post Office Tower

This attraction was unfamiliar to me as well. I knew about the famous memorials, of course, Capitol Hill, and the White House. I also knew a long list of Smithsonian facilities and other popular museums. The Old Post Office holds a prominent place in the city as well though, capturing history, stunning architecture, a spirit of innovation, and even more, since it offers a food court as well. Most notable, though, is the clock tower from which you’ll see one of the best tall views in the city.

Illuminations Tour

I’ve written about this DC brilliance before, probably, but I can’t help including it today. Don’t make your days so full that you can’t take a little time to enjoy the beautiful Lincoln Memorial, and those around it, in their illuminated beauty after dark.

Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss

Next up, New York City where we took in all the classics like the Met, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center. But I was also surprised and delighted by these attractions which are often added to our New York City fashion tours. These themed tours take guests inside a fashion powerhouse to learn all about and experience the world of the fashion industry.

Blue Man Group

When I thought of New York City and entertainment, I leaned toward rock concert or Broadway. Blue Man Group I’d heard of and knew to be somewhere in between. But now I can say from experience: This show is a crazy, theatrical party that employs comedy, innovation, lights and color, music, and so much more to create an experience like no other.

Now, this was a first-time trip for some of us, so we didn’t exactly explore off the beaten path. After all, for first timers, the beaten path is pretty satisfactory. Here are some of the other biggies we put on our list and loved just as much as you’d expect from their fame and popularity.

In D.C.

Arlington National Cemetery – The changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the most moving part of the Arlington tour and a favorite for student groups.

Capitol Hill – We’re one company that will arrange a meeting with your member of congress for your tour of Capitol Hill, and having done it a less personal way – I absolutely recommend the more personal experience.

Smithsonian – So many museums, so little time. I’ve got some advice for you on choosing the Smithsonian museum for your taste. Maybe that will help.

In New York

Top of the Rock – Though the ESB may be more nostalgic, Top of the Rock is an amazing experience and was one of my favorites.

Broadway – You must, must, must see a Broadway play in New York. I won’t argue with you. It’s just the truth.

American Museum of Natural History – We spent hours too few in this amazing museum. The show in the Planetarium, however, was worth our entire trip. Amazing.

And that’s a roundup of just some of the highlights of our NYC/DC combination tour. Hope it gives you lots of ideas for yours!

I’ve written about Times Square quite a bit since working for a student travel company. New York City remains (and always will be, in my opinion) a favorite choice for students. And Times Square is a must for the New York City experience. Actually, that’s how I’ve always said it before, “a must,” as if whether you want to or not, whether you’ll like it or not, you just have to see crazy, brilliant, crowded, unique Times Square at least once.

The truth is, though, you probably will. Times Square is not just an intersection to make a point to visit. It’s the convergence of so many streets and the location for so many favorite NYC attractions that you’ll almost definitely end up basking in its modern glory at some point in your visit.

One of the many ways I’ve written about Times Square is to list its stores and museums as well as its prominence in the theater district. We found ourselves in Times Square several times on our recent visit. We ate there, toured its museums, returned to it for the evening’s broadway show, and even waved to our families on Times Square web cams.

As promised, I was overwhelmed by the mass of billboards, colors, information, and sights towering over us in each direction. I was fascinated by how many people crowded the sidewalks at any given time of the day. And I was amazed by the variety of shopping, food, and entertainment just in this little corner of the world.

But my favorite part, by far, was something I hadn’t known about before. I felt vindicated for every time I complained to myself about trying to write about a place I’d never been. If I hadn’t been there myself, I don’t know when I would have realized the recent (as in, over the last year or so) change in this famous intersection.

Once as crowded with vehicles as with people, Times Square now has a section blocked off for its pedestrian plaza. I loved it. The plaza began on a trial basis. Nearby business owners weren’t sure how how the change would affect their restaurants and shops. The city wondered how it would affect the overall flow of traffic. Since the plaza is permanent now, I guess all concerned decided it was a good idea.

And I have to agree. What a perfect meeting place for groups! Students on New York City graduation trips can spread out to shop and enjoy the sights for a couple of hours and meet again at the metal chairs and tables or in front of the ticket center or by the bleachers. I could imagine grabbing coffee and a snack and just sitting in the plaza for the ultimate people-watching adventure. I like to gain perspective by the ocean or under sturdy trees, but in the midst of a world that’s busy and eclectic and one exciting sight after another can be a great place for perspective as well.

The Times Square plaza has made this iconic intersection even more amazing than before. It’s symbolic of several efforts by this amazing city to open its arms to visitors and provide a safe and friendly place for them to be.

Well, our team is back from the big cities, Washington D.C. and Manhattan. We have toured until our feet hurt, thrilled to the amazing sights and sounds, and cried at the inspiration surrounding historical sites, at the beauty of D.C., the dream come true of seeing New York City for ourselves, and the powerful tribute given by our guide at the World Trade Center construction site. We’re spent.

But we have a boatload of info and tips to help us serve our groups better. And I’m starting with this one: Public Transportation Rocks.

Often for student tours, it’s customary to rent a motorcoach to reach the destination. And we’d recommend hanging onto that convenience for Washington D.C., especially if you stay at a hotel a little outside the city. The attractions are sometimes a good distance from each other in this area, and it helps to have transportation between them that keeps the group together.

However, after about five minutes in New York City, as our bus sat trapped between double-parked vehicles on either side and a kind passerby attempted to wave us through one half-inch forward and one inch back at a time, we knew motorcoach simply isn’t the way to go in Manhattan. Shortly after checking into our hotel, we walked one block to a subway station, made it onto the train and to our destination with zero hassle and a grateful heart for the wonderful inventors of the metro.

Our expert guides agreed that Metro is the way to go for group travel tours. As the seven of us and our guide squished onto a crowded subway car one afternoon, I wasn’t so sure about the merit of the metro for very large groups. But our guide disagreed. It’s still the way to go. As long as you organize, have enough chaperones, and communicate clearly about the each stop, groups can navigate the subway system just as easily as an individual.

So that’s my first tip. Grab yourself an any-time metro pass, learn the trick of not pulling the wrong side of the entry gate, and take full advantage of this amazingly cost-effective and convenient mode of transportation in the amazing city of New York.

Have I mentioned I’m going to New York City for the first time in June? I’m looking forward to the movie tour in Central Park and to Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, the Met, and so much more. I’m also thrilled beyond measure that we’ll be seeing a performance every night that we are there. Which has led to a mad search online for the last several days and to the title of this post. WHAT should I wear?

In one sense, it doesn’t matter what I should wear. Our days are going to be packed from morning to evening with as many exciting attractions as we can handle (and then some). We’ll probably be stumbling into each night’s show with an extremely worn version of whatever we put on in the morning which will inevitably have been chosen for its comfort factor.

Still, I’ve searched for the answer anyway, hoping I wouldn’t learn that you get turned away from the shows if you’re underdressed on the casual/dressy meter. The answer was completely satisfying, and I’ve come up with a few tips for making it possible.

The short version is: You Can Wear Whatever You Want. People at a Broadway performance are likely to be found in anything from jeans and a t-shirt to the rare but occasional tuxedo. The generally accepted dress code is somewhere in between. Sort of dress-casual with men in slacks and sport coats, women in a dressed up version of work suits or skirts, summer dresses, etc.

The travel company I write for designs a lot of New York City educational student tours, and though the itineraries usually include a show, rarely do they include a block of primping time pre-performance. If you’re headed to a show after the sightseeing, consider these tips.

1. Consider your evening plans when you dress. Lots of casual clothes will look fine in a Broadway theater while some won’t. For instance – yes to khaki capri pants and a twin set, maybe no to the sweat pants. Yes to dark, classy jeans. No to faded jeans shredded by holes. Flats are good, flip-flops not so much. And don’t choose anything that at the end of the day will look like it’s been crumpled in the bottom of a suitcase.

2. Carry a dressier pair of shoes and accessories in your bag while you walk. Instant day-to-evening wear.

3. Don’t forget blush and lip gloss to freshen up after dinner. Or if you’re not the lip gloss type (guys for instance?), a small packet of facial wipes could go a long away toward cleansing the touring grime away and will give you just the right pick-me-up for the evening.

4. My coworker has perhaps the best and most thorough solution. Pack a summer dress in your purse or bag, one with a nice wrinkle-free blend, that you can actually change into for the show. Or, a similar fabric in a light jacket could almost accomplish the same thing with less changing hassle.

Follow these tips if you can, but remember the short answer most of all. If you’re fully clothed, you’re perfectly fine. After all, it’s not about what you wear in the seats, the Broadway experience is on stage. And you’re sure to enjoy that no matter what you’re wearing.

Photo by Dom Dada on Flickr.

Can you tell where this picture was taken? Lounge chairs. Check. Sunbathing. Check. Skyscrapers all around. Eh?

This picture (by David Berkowitz on Flickr) is a brilliant example of innovation – the creative ability to make every space count – and I love it. The location is New York City. The mood is chill.

You’re looking at High Line Park, a walkway with seating and observation decks, made from an abandoned elevated railway in Manhattan. It’s a brilliant way to get a little above the city streets to a quieter, more relaxing level, without quite so many throngs of NYC tourists hitting the pavement for all the big attractions and taller, more famous, observation decks.

High Line’s artistic seating and cement walkways naturally complement the rambling foliage reminiscent of a wild meadow more than a tailored garden. As you can see, residents take full advantage of this charming park in the sky, and it’s the perfect addition to New York City group tours – something you can be proud to show off when everybody needs something just a bit removed from the beaten path.

High Line Park is located on Manhattan’s West Side between 10th and 11th and running from Gansevoort to 34th Streets. You’ll find access points every couple of blocks. All the points have stairs to the park above. Some have elevators. You can find out more about which access points have that feature, bike racks and more by visiting it’s website, The High Line (dot.org.). Hopefully you’ll take the chance to find this unique part of Manhattan the next time you’re exploring the amazing City for yourself.

There are many ways to turn a leisure trip to the Big Apple into something that can officially be called New York City educational student tours. First of all, few cities come even close to offering the wealth of educational value you’ll find in New York City. Pick a theme – any theme – and Manhattan can accommodate. Take a tour of the Apollo, Harlem, and the Hip Hop Culture Center, for instance, for a fascinating black history experience put on by H3 Tours. If art is your group’s greatest interest, this City provides hours and hours of viewing and hands-on experiences in its many museums, only three of which include The Met, The Guggenheim, and the Museum of Modern Art.

Besides the the many attractions for looking back on history, art, and culture you’ve already studied – and there’s nothing like student travel to make those subjects come alive – New York is also a great choice for looking ahead. Consider this exciting destination when you want to take in a few college campuses as you’re planning for your future.

Have you heard of the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn? This college is committed to artists and creative professionals. Their intention? To take your creative energy and efforts and help you become community leaders with that innovation. A tour here could be especially inspiring for those who hope their creativity has a future.

Columbia College is just one small part of Columbia University. And situated in the heart of Manhattan, it’s a great choice for blending the thrill of a New York City visit with the real work of choosing higher education.

And NYU offers tours of its campus by NYU students who will help you identify not just the campus buildings around Washington Square Park but throughout Manhattan as well.

And between college tours, there are so many other amazing things to do. A Fifth Avenue Walking Tour is a must, and depending on the time of year – though all of the seasons have their charm – Central Park is always a favorite with its still, quiet spaces just yards from busy Manhattan streets. A Central Park Movie Walking Tour is a fun way to make new places feel familiar as you discover sites you’ve seen in hundreds of favorite films. The best student tours to NYC also include a visit to one of the morning shows for the chance to be on television (“Hi, Mom!”). Times Square is filled with popular attractions, besides basically being one in and of itself, and Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center is quickly becoming a favorite way to see the city from above.

You can do it all on New York City Campus tours, and whether you end up there for your college years are not, this tour will definitely stay with you for a lifetime.

Around the country, you can find tons of great attractions perfect for black history tours. If your group has an interest in this area, consider Atlanta, Washington, D.C., or Boston for a wealth of historic sites chronicling the role of African-Americans in our nation’s history.

Or, if you’re looking for a black history tour with a different kind of energy, a hip-hop tour in Harlem might be just the ticket. H3 Tours (that’s, Harlem Hip-Hop) offers tours and experiences all about hip-hop, Harlem history, and African-American culture that can be customized into amazing black history tours. Here are some of the attractions that can be customized into your tour.

The Apollo Theater – One of the most famous stages in America, the Apollo has launched the careers of Michael Jackson, Lauren Hill, Stevie wonder, and so many more. A tour here showcases the history of the theater and memorabilia from its legends. You may even get a chance to perform onstage.

DJ Scratch Lessons – Technically, it’s called turntablism. Did you know that? With this experience, you’ll learn that and so much more about this iconic sound in authentic hip-hop music.

Hip-Hop On / Hip-Hop Off tour – A live DJ and a rapping MC are your guides for this hip-hop filled, official H3 Tours bus as you discover all the Harlem sites intrinsic to the history of hip-hop.

Music Studio Tour – Visit recording studios that are prominent in the world of hip-hop. You can even rap or sing for a souvenir recording of your own!

HOT 97 Experience Tour  - It’s the hottest radio station for the hip-hop scene in New York City and famous around the nation, and this tour lets you get behind the scenes.

Graffiti Hall of Fame – A part of the hip-hop on and off tour, the Graffiti Hall of Fame will make any guest a fan – or at least, an admirer of the art.

This is just the beginning. H3 Tours also offers shopping on the famous 125th Street in Harlem, hip-hop dance lessons, a classic Soul Food Lunch, and inspiring workshops in entrepreneurship at both the Applebees franchise and with the H3 Tours founder and CEO herself, Adrienne Smith. Harlem Hip-Hop Tours is a great way to go for fun and exciting tours with a high-energy focus on black history.

Photo by JJ & Special K on Flickr.