Whenever we travel near the Catskill Mountains in New York, we like to visit Pratt Rocks, a little-known collection of mountainside carvings just east of Prattsville. Mount Rushmore may be grander, but the Pratt Rocks relief carvings are older, some dating to the 1840s when local tannery owner and politician Zadock Pratt commissioned carvings to commemorate his numerous achievements.

Going away weekends for summer? TRY THE NEW pre-dinner, pre-theatre TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAYS for the summer.

Tours this summer include the Waterfalls, the 125th Birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge, and a series of tasting and tavern tours.

If you wish TO RESERVE FOR A PUBLIC TOUR OR ARRANGE A PRIVATE TOUR, PLEASE DO SO BY PHONE at 212-465-3331.

Please feel free to EMAIL this schedule to other interested FRIENDS!

PRIVATE TOURS: Private and group tours are available for private parties, birthday parties, corporate outings, school classes, fundraisers, alumni associations, or just about any occasion. We offer 75 tours, the largest tour selection in the city. For more info call 212-465-3331

NYC Discovery:
Five time recipient of the Daily News Critics Choice selection
Named best tour by Citysearch New York. SO COME JOIN US!!
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Friday, July 4, Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6

PRE-FIREWORKS PRESIDENTIAL GREENWICH VILLAGE AND GRAMERCY PARK

A historical walking tour of both neighborhoods, with special stops at places associated with some early presidents, including Lincoln, Roosevelt, FDR, Wilson and Washington. Stops include the Washington Square Arch and Theodore Roosevelt's birthplace. Friday's 5 PM tour ends at the FDR Drive at 23rd Street at 7:30 PM in time to secure a spot for fireworks viewing.

Friday, July 4 at 2:30 PM and 5 PM, Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6 at 2 PM
(Please note different times on different days.)
Cost: $15
Reservations and Meeting Place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

THE WATERFALLS AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE -- NEW TOUR !

A walking tour that covers two important waterfront marvels -- one, brand new but temporary, the other, a 125 year old classic mainstay. The tour will first cover the history of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as Olafur Eliasson's fascinating new work, The Waterfalls. The tour will cross the bridge to cover its creation and early history and then observe all four Waterfalls from the bridge and the Brooklyn riverside, with a discussion of the work, its formation, and its meaning to the waterfront.

Sat., July 5 ONLY at 5:15 PM
Cost: $16 per person
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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July 10 -- TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAY

THE SECRETS OF GRAND CENTRAL –Marking its 95th Year

A tour of the great landmark on its 95th year, including its architecture, lesser known lore and hidden history with stops at the whispering arch and the landmark's concealed apartment.

Thursday July 10 at 5:30 PM
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13.

CHINATOWN HISTORY AND TASTING TOUR

Explore the largest Chinatown in North America with stops at Confucius Plaza, the site of the notorious Five Points slum made famous in Gangs of New York, Mott Street, and the residence of Sun-Yat-sen. Along the way, sample some ethnic specialties, from dim sum, dumpling and green tea ice cream.

Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13 at 12 NOON
Cost: $21 per person (includes food)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

THE WATERFALLS AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE -- NEW TOUR !

A walking tour that covers two important waterfront marvels -- one, brand new but temporary, the other, a 125 year old classic mainstay. The tour will first cover the history of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as Olafur Eliasson's fascinating new work, The Waterfalls. The tour will cross the bridge to cover its creation and early history and then observe all four Waterfalls from the bridge and the Brooklyn riverside, with a discussion of the work, its formation, and its meaning to the waterfront.

Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13 at 2:30 PM
Cost: $16 per person
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

SEX AND THE CITY TAVERN TOUR -- NEW TOUR!

Liked the film and our first Sex and the City Tavern Tour? Missing Carrie and Co? Well, put on those Manolo Blahniks and come with a thirst for Cosmopolitans and nostalgia for the show. This time, we will stop at several of their frequented bars in the Village, and trace their footsteps along the way with a tour of sites associated with the program.

Saturday, July 12 ONLY at 5:15 PM
Cost: $16 (drinks extra)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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July 17 -- TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAY

GOTHAM CITY GHOST TOUR AT TWILIGHT

A tour of the historic, infamous and macabre of New York history, with stops at Edgar Alan Poe's home, the hanging elm, and the cemetery at St. Mark's.

Thursday, July 17 at 5:30 PM
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
================================================================

Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20

LITTLE ITALY HISTORY AND TASTING TOUR

What better way to enjoy a neighborhood tour of Little Italy than to take bite out of it as well -- Viva Italia!!! We'll explore sites associated with the tribulations and triumphs of the Italian immigrant, and along the way, sample some of the community's ethnic specialties from pizza to cannolli. Stops include the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Banco Stabile, and Mulberry St

Sat., July 19 and Sun., July 20 at 12 NOON
Cost: $21 per person (includes food)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

THE WATERFALLS AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE -- NEW TOUR !

A walking tour that covers two important waterfront marvels -- one, brand new, the other, a 125 year old classic. The tour will first cover the history of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as Olafur Eliasson's fascinating new work, The Waterfalls. The tour will cross the bridge to cover its creation and early history and then observe all four Waterfalls from the bridge and the Brooklyn riverside, with a discussion of the work, its formation, and its meaning to the waterfront.

Sat., July 19 and Sun., July 20 at 2:30 PM
Cost:$16 per person
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

HISTORIC TAVERNS OF UNION SQUARE/GRAMERCY

What better way to enjoy an evening than to learn about the history of Gramercy and Union Square and its taverns, and then stop for some liquid refreshments along the way. On this tour you'll see some of the area's most classic pubs and speakeasies -- all with historic associations. Stops include the Old Town, a Tammany haunt once frequented by Al Smith.

Saturday, July 19 ONLY at 5:45 PM
Cost: $16 (drinks extra)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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July 24 -- TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAY

THE MEATPACKING DISTRICT AND CHELSEA AT TWILIGHT

Great tour to take in before dinner or drinks at the Meatpacking District. Stroll through Chelsea, once the estate of Clement Clarke Moore, author of Twas the Night Before Christmas. Then discover the Gansevoort Historic District, a.k.a. the Meatpacking District, now a hip and trendy evening destination. Stops include Chelsea Hotel, The Titanic Memorial Arch, the former Nabisco factory, and site of Alexander Hamilton's death.

Thursday, July 24 at 5:30 PM
Cost: $16 per person
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27

HOBOKEN HISTORY AND TASTING TOUR -- Marking St. Ann's Feast

St. Ann's Feast comes but once a year. Visit the feast and explore Hoboken -- the Square Mile City and "sixth borough" rich in history, with stops at the homes of Frank Sinatra, photographer artist Alfred Stieglitz, and composer Stephen Foster (Swanee River, Camptown Races) as well as locations associated with Edgar Allen Poe, Gen. William T. Sherman, Woodrow Wilson, and the film, On the Waterfront. Along the way, sample foods from the Italian district there and visit the Feast of St. Ann.

Saturday, July 26 ONLY at 1 PM
Cost: $21 per person (includes food)
Reservations and Meeting Place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

THE WATERFALLS AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE -- NEW TOUR !

A walking tour that covers two important waterfront marvels -- one, brand new, the other, a 125 year old classic. The tour will first cover the history of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as Olafur Eliasson's fascinating new work, The Waterfalls. The tour will cross the bridge to cover its creation and early history and then observe all four Waterfalls from the bridge and the Brooklyn riverside, with a discussion of the work, its formation, and its meaning to the waterfront.

Saturday, July 26 at 5:45 PM and Sunday, July 27 at 2 PM
(Please note different times on different days)
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
================================================================

July 31 – TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAY

THE WATERFALLS AND THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE -- NEW TOUR !

A walking tour that covers two important waterfront marvels -- one, brand new, the other, a 125 year old classic. The tour will first cover the history of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as Olafur Eliasson's fascinating new work, The Waterfalls. The tour will cross the bridge to cover its creation and early history and then observe all four Waterfalls from the bridge and the Brooklyn riverside, with a discussion of the work, its formation, and its meaning to the waterfront.

Thursday, July 31 at 5:30 PM
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
================================================================

Sunday, August 3

OLD AND NEW MONEY: FIFTH AVENUE AND CENTRAL PARK WEST

A tour of the two grand boulevards of wealth, Fifth Avenue and Central Park West, comparing and explaining the origins of each and how their different architecture reflects the social aspects of the Victorian communities that lived there. Stops include the Dakota, the Prasada, and the Henry Clay Frick and Harry Sinclair mansions.

Sunday, August 3 at 2 PM
Cost: $15 per person
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

THE WATERFALLS AND BROOKLYN BRIDGE AT TWILIGHT -- NEW TOUR !

A walking tour that covers two important waterfront marvels -- one, brand new, the other, a 125 year old classic. The tour will first cover the history of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as Olafur Eliasson's fascinating new work, The Waterfalls. The tour will cross the bridge to cover its creation and early history and then observe all four Waterfalls from the bridge and the Brooklyn riverside, with a discussion of the work, its formation, and its meaning to the waterfront.

Sunday, August 3 at 5:15 PM
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
================================================================

August 7 – TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAY

LITTLE ITALY HISTORY AND TASTING TOUR

What better way to enjoy a neighborhood tour of Little Italy than to take bite out of it as well -- Viva Italia!!! We'll explore sites associated with the tribulations and triumphs of the Italian immigrant, and along the way, sample some of the community's ethnic specialties from pizza to cannolli. Stops include the Church of the Most Precious Blood, Banco Stabile, and Mulberry St

Thursday, August 7 at 5:45 PM
Cost: $21 per person (includes food)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
================================================================

Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10

GREENWICH VILLAGE HISTORY AND DESSERT TOUR – Remembering Andy Warhol's 80th Birthday

A tour of sites associated with the history and personalities of the Village, including prominent writers and artists. To mark Andy Warhol's 80th birthday, a stop is made at The Factory, as well as Washington Square Park, where he met Basquiat, and the homes of Diane Arbus and Edward Hopper, who influenced him. Other stops include the homes of Mark Twain, Eleanor Roosevelt, poet Emma Lazarus, and Edith Wharton. Along the way, you'll be able to take in chocolate covered strawberries, candy, and saviodi cookies.

Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10 at 1:30 PM
Cost:$21 per person (includes sweets)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

GOTHAM CITY GHOST TOUR AT TWILIGHT

A tour of the historic, infamous and macabre of New York history, with stops at Edgar Alan Poe's home, the hanging elm, and the cemetery at St. Mark's.

Saturday, August 9 ONLY at 4:30 PM
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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August 14 – TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAY

HISTORIC GREENWICH VILLAGE PUBS AND TAVERNS

Walking tour of speakeasies, pubs and taverns -- all with historic associations. Stops include a former speakeasy built on the site of Thomas Paine's death; the tavern where Dylan Thomas drank his last; and the pub where RFK and Norman Mailer discussed their political fortunes.

Thursday, August 14 at 5:45 PM
Cost: $16 (drinks extra)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
================================================================

Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17

THE WATERFALLS AND BROOKLYN BRIDGE -- NEW TOUR !

A walking tour that covers two important waterfront marvels -- one, brand new, the other, a 125 year old classic. The tour will first cover the history of the Brooklyn Bridge as well as Olafur Eliasson's fascinating new work, The Waterfalls. The tour will cross the bridge to cover its creation and early history and then observe all four Waterfalls from the bridge and the Brooklyn riverside, with a discussion of the work, its formation, and its meaning to the waterfront.

Saturday, August 16 at 5: 30 PM and Sunday, August 17 at 2 PM
(Please note different times on different days.)
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS/COBBLE HILL HISTORY AND TASTING TOUR

Tour these Victorian neighborhoods, some of New York's earliest landmark districts. A home to wealthy 19th century merchants and later 20th century writers, neighborhood stops include Plymouth Church, where Lincoln and Walt Whitman worshipped, the Brooklyn Promenade and its magnificent view of the Manhattan skyline, and the homes of Jennie Jerome, Churchill's mother, and writer Thomas Wolfe. Along the way, taste the area's classic and contemporary foods, from egg creams to spinach pie.

Saturday, August 16 at 2 PM
Cost: $21 per person (includes food)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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August 21 -- TWILIGHT TOUR THURSDAY

CHINATOWN HISTORY AND TASTING TOUR

Explore the largest Chinatown in North America with stops at Confucius Plaza, the site of the notorious Five Points slum made famous in Gangs of New York, Mott Street, and the residence of Sun-Yat-sen. Along the way, sample some ethnic specialties, from dim sum, dumpling and green tea ice cream.

Thursday August 21 at 5:45 PM
Cost: $21 per person (includes food)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE CIVIL WAR -- Marking the Anniversary of Battle of Brooklyn

To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, a walking tour revealing NY connections to both historic conflicts. Stops include Hamilton's grave at Trinnity Church, Federal Hall, locations associated with Walt Whitman and Abraham Lincoln, the site of the 1863 Draft Riots and a Confederate prison camp

Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 at 11:45 AM
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

HISTORIC TAVERNS OF WALL STREET

A walking tour of historic taverns in Lower Manhattan, all with historic associations, with stops at several for refreshment. Stops include Franuces Tavern, where Washington bid farewell to his officers; a downtown pub frequented by Mark Twain and Lincoln; and a watering hole on a site associated with the Cotton Exchange and Captain Kidd.

Saturday, August 23 ONLY at 5 PM
Cost: $16 (drinks extra)
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours
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Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 -- Labor Day Weekend

LABOR'S GREAT ACHIEVEMENT: GRAND CENTRAL -- Marking its 95th Year

A tour of the great landmark on its 95th year, including its architecture, lesser known lore and hidden history with stops at the whispering arch and the landmark's concealed apartment.

Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 at 12:30 PM and 2:15 PM
Cost: $16
Reservations and meeting place: 212-465-3331
Sponsored by NYC Discovery Walking Tours

Carve out time to enjoy an old-fashioned ice harvest in rural New York.

In Millers Mills, a farming hamlet in central New York, townsfolk honor a long-standing tradition every February--an Ice Harvest that looks like something out of a Currier and Ives print.

When I saw the 6-foot mask outside the Victorian mansion that houses the International Mask and Puppet Museum in Syracuse, New York, I couldn't help but grin.

Ever wonder what the colorful barnstorming days of early aviation were like? You can find out firsthand by taking a trip to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome near Rhinebeck, New York.

At the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, I got a fascinating look at the women's suffrage movement, which was born here in the mid-1800s.

Just 35 miles from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and nestled in the foothills of New York's Catskill Mountains, the Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith provides a fascinating glimpse of America's industrial past.

Historic Great Camp Sagamore, built in upstate New York's Adirondacks in the late 1800s for the well-to-do Alfred G. Vanderbilt family, redefined my notion of camping.

We recently enjoyed a visit to the Lucy-Desi Museum in Jamestown, New York--Lucille Ball's hometown.

If you're driving through beautiful central New York, Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome is definitely worth a stop.

This reconstructed Revolutionary War fort, originally built in 1758, depicts what life was like on the frontier in the mid-1700s. In 1778, troops here withstood a 21-day siege, stopping an invasion by British forces.

If you're driving through beautiful central New York, Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome is definitely worth a stop.

This reconstructed Revolutionary War fort, originally built in 1758, depicts what life was like on the frontier in the mid-1700s. In 1778, troops here withstood a 21-day siege, stopping an invasion by British forces.

I enjoy looking for unique restaurants while I travel. But my favorite eatery is here in my hometown of Oneonta, New York: Brooks' House of Bar-B-Que, a family business that began as a poultry farm.

It seems like just about anyone who's looked into a kaleidoscope wishes they could climb into the cardboard tube and live in that fascinating, brightly colored world. At Kaleidoworld in New York's scenic Catskill Mountains, I did just that.

Kaleidoworld is part of the entertaining in Mount Emporium at Emerson Place, and it's the home of the world's largest kaleidoscope. Listed in the Guinness Book of Records, the Kaatskill Kaleidoscope is housed inside a restored 150-year-old dairy barn silo and is 56 feet, 3 inches tall.