Big Apple Greeter pairs New Yorkers with visitors for a free, friendly introduction to the city. This non-profit organization suggests you contact their office well in advance of your visit to arrange a New York experience tailored to your interests. (212-669-2896) Double-decker bus tours are a popular way to get to know the layout of the city. Most allow you to leave the bus and board it again within a given time frame. Tickets are available directly from the companies; often you can purchase tickets through your hotel's concierge, as well. The major players: Gray Line New York (212-397-2620), New York Double Decker Tours (212-967-6008), and New York Apple Tours (800-876-9868). If you've got deep pockets and no fear of flying, hop aboard a helicopter for a birds-eye view of Manhattan. Island Helicopter (212-683-4575) leaves from the East Side; Liberty Helicopter Tours (212-465-8905) takes off from the West Side. Manhattan's an island, and you can cruise all the way around it on the Circle Line (212-563-3200). Circle Line's cruises depart from Pier 83 at the west end of 42nd Street several times a day from March to mid-December. Other cruise options include the Spirit of New York for lunch, dinner, or evening cocktails (212-742-7278); Seaport Liberty Cruises, which offer tours of New York Harbor as well as jazz and blues music cruises (March - December, 212-630-8888); and the cargo schooner Pioneer, which offers harbor tours with a historic twist daily from May to September. If money is tight, hop aboard the Staten Island Ferry for a ride from Battery Park at the tip of Manhattan to Staten Island and back. You can't beat the price: free. Bear in mind that this is primarily a commuter service, and sightseers should avoid it during morning and evening rush hours. A number of tour guides and non-profit organizations offer architectural tours of Manhattan. Some to try: the Municipal Art Society's weekday tours (212-935-3960), the Museum of the City of New York's Sunday walking tours (212-534-1672), New York City Cultural Walking Tours (212-979-2388), Walks of the Town (212-222-5343), and Urban Explorations (718-721-5254). Check out New York's ethnic and eclectic neighborhoods through a variety of tours, including Adventure on a Shoestring (212-265-2663), Big Onion Walking Tours (212-439-1090), Citywalks (212-989-2456), and Sidewalks of New York, which features themed tours covering everything from "Greenwich Village Ghosts" and "Famous Murder Sites" to "Ye Olde Tavern" (212-517-0201) There are also a host of tours dedicated to specific aspects of New York City life, including Art Tours of Manhattan (museums, galleries, and artists' studios, 609-921-2647), Harlem Spirituals (soul food, Jazz, and Gospel tours, 212-757-0425), Bite of the Apple Tours (bike tours through Central Park 212-541-8759 or 212-603-9750), Rock and Roll Tours of New York (rock stars' hangouts, former homes, death sites, etc. 212-941-9464), and Manhattan Tours (fashion industry behind-the-scenes tours 212-563-2570). This list just skims the surface of available tours of New York City. If you need to arrange a special tour, contact the Guides Association of New York City. This non-profit association represents over 200 licensed tour guides, and can steer you to a guide or tour that fits your needs (212-969-0666).
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