Manhattan Match: New York City and the US Open

Welcome to New York! Once you touchdown, hail a taxi or call an Uber and head to our beautiful home for the next week: The Ludlow. Located in the heart of the Lower East Side, this chic retreat is the perfect base for us to explore the Big Apple. 

We'll meet for welcome drinks in our hotel's cozy bar and lounge later this evening. It's the perfect way to get to know the group before we head out to dinner. Tonight, we're dining at Taverna di Bacco, a brick-walled wine bar and bistro serving up delicious Italian fare. 

Instead of a hotel breakfast buffet, we'll be giving everyone a balance to spend for breakfast anywhere they want each day. What a fantastic way to start every morning, trying new neighborhood cafes and coffee shops, this area is chock full of them!

We'll make our way over to The Whitney for a private tour of their world-class collection of modern American art. A curator will walk us through the most notable works out of the museum's impressive 26,000-piece collection. The building and its architecture are as impressive as the artwork! 

Lunch is at the rooftop bar of Restoration Hardware complete with views. They do food just as well as they do furniture! We'll have our choice of a wonderfully prepared menu of sandwiches, salads, and mains.

After we indulge, we'll set off for a walk on the High Line, a 1.5-mile greenway created on an old, elevated rail line that once connected the west side of Manhattan to the larger rail system. Eventually, we'll make it to the iconic Little Island, a new park which is an architectural installation of 132 "tulip" islands over the Hudson River. 

History comes alive during our afternoon Tenement Museum tour. Our guide will guide us through the 19th-century apartment of the Levine family as we learn about the challenges faced by NYC's immigrant women 150 years ago. 

The early evening is free for you to peruse through the stores of Nolita. Your trip leader, our founder Doni Belau will give everyone a list of her favorite spots to check out. 

Dinner will be at 8282 tonight, a fun, trendy spot to sample Korean fusion cuisine. 

After your choice of breakfast, we'll transfer to a private early access tour of the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial. An expert guide will lead us around the memorial and its museum, examining the impact and significance of that historic day.

We're in for a treat for lunch. After our tour, we'll Uber to Chinatown and meet our food guide for the afternoon. Over the next few hours, we'll explore neighborhood landmarks, indulge in local cuisine, and discover Chinatown’s vibrant history. We'll taste four local specialty dishes and round out the experience with dessert.

After we've eaten to our hearts' content, we'll make our way to the One World Observatory in the World Trade Center for sweeping panoramic views of the New York City skyline from over 100 stories in the sky!

The rest of the afternoon is yours. Explore the neighborhood with new friends, relax in the hotel, or shop 'til you drop at any of the chic boutiques in lower Manhattan. Dinner is on your own - for those who would like to join Doni at the iconic Katz's Deli, she'll arrange a time for everyone to meet up and walk over. This is the best pastrami sandwich in the world! 

Later, join us for an optional sunset visit to the Vessel at Hudson Yards, an ideal location to watch the sun dip below the river. The 150-foot-tall art installation functions as a jungle gym for adults, featuring 154 interconnected staircases and platforms for us to explore while we search for the perfect sunset viewing spot. 

If you still feel like the night is young, we'll make our way over to the Little Island for one of their summer series performances. What's better than enjoying live music in the city?

Enjoy breakfast in the neighborhood before gathering for our Gilded Age World of Edith Wharton tour with podcaster Carl Raymond the Gilded Gentleman. We'll start in the Flatiron District and make our way towards Washington Square Park, learning about the iconic writer and the opulent times she lived in.

After the tour ends, you have the next few hours to explore the area at your leisure. Or head uptown and find a cozy spot for lunch and browse the beautiful boutiques on Madison Avenue. You may also want to join us for an optional visit to the Neue Galerie, which houses an impressive collection of 20th-century German and Austrian art and design.

We'll reconvene around 3:30 at the Central Park conservatory garden. Together we'll explore each of the three distinctive gardens within the grounds, taking a moment to appreciate the spectacular seasonal floral displays. 

Tonight we're in for a soulful night, starting with a Harlem Gospel concert at Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Prepare to be moved by the powerful rhythms of gospel music by world-renowned congregational choirs.

The fun continues at Sylvia’s Restaurant, founded by Sylvia Woods in 1962. Established in the historic village of Harlem, Sylvia’s is a community favorite serving up authentic soul food. Don't forget the peach cobbler or banana pudding for dessert!

We'll have breakfast together this morning at Russ & Daughters, a New York City icon known for its smoked fish, caviar, baked goods, and specialty foods. 

Around 11 am, we'll have a private van drive us over to Brooklyn for the afternoon to explore and shop. Our first stop is Atlantic Avenue, a beautiful stretch of blocks with every type of shop you can imagine. You're free to browse for an hour or two, and don't forget to stop at one of the cozy cafes for a coffee along the way. 

We'll meet back at the van for a short drive over to Fort Greene, a vibrant neighborhood known for its historic brownstones and rich history. After spending about an hour walking through the neighborhood, we'll wrap up with a stop at the Farmacy, a modern take on a soda fountain and apothecary. You won't find a better spot to enjoy a soda float or specialty sundae.  

This afternoon, we'll visit the Noguchi Museum, home to about 250 works by the critically acclaimed sculptor, Isamu Noguchi. This beautiful museum offers a great space for quiet reflection and admiration. 

Dinner tonight is at Rolo's, an easy-going, Michelin-recommended restaurant with a menu full of smoky, fire-grilled, Spanish-inspired dishes. We're in luck tonight- the head chef has invited us to the kitchen for a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Rolo's so special. 

Today's the day we've been waiting for! After breakfast, we'll make our way to Flushing Meadows in Queens, home to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. 

We'll spend the afternoon enjoying a bevy Second Round matches at the US Open from VIP seats watching some of the world’s top players compete on tennis’s biggest stage. We’ll arrive in the late morning to take advantage of our exclusive VIP hospitality services, designed to make your experience comfortable and memorable.

Following that it's tennis time! We'll settle into our seats for an afternoon of thrilling action across Arthur Ashe Stadium and the other stadiums and courts. You'll surely see some of the best players on earth. 

After an exciting day at the courts, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at Rubirosa, a friendly local pizzeria with the best thin-crust pies in town. We'll toast to a week well spent with new friends and memories to last a lifetime. 

All good things must come to an end. Revisit your favorite breakfast spot one last time before catching a taxi to the airport for your flight home. Make sure to exchange pictures and phone numbers with the group before everyone parts ways, so we can always keep in touch. 

If you're not quite ready to go home just yet, consider joining our 3-day extension to Hudson, NY. We'll head away from the big city to explore a quaint, historic town in the Hudson Valley with a very happening vibe (details coming soon). 

After bidding farewell to those not joining us on the extension, we’ll catch the 11:20 am train to Hudson, arriving just after 1 pm. After dropping off our bags at the hotel, we’ll walk to a late lunch at Le Perche, known for its delectable pastries, quiches, croque madames, and other French delights.

Next, we’ll take a peruse around town. Doni, the Girls’ Guide founder, will show you some of her favorite haunts for antiques and vintage, plus bookstores, home goods stores, and boutique clothing stores. If you appreciate good taste, you’ll be in heaven.

We’ll check into our hotel, The Hudson Whaler, and get settled in. Later, we’ll head out for dinner at Feast & Floret, which specializes in fresh farmstand vegetables, locally sourced protein, and handmade pasta.

After breakfasting at our hotel, we’ll venture out for a walking tour of a nearby Sculpture Park, which is about 20 minutes outside of Hudson. After exploring the art installations, we’ll enjoy a picnic in the early fall weather. 

To top off our lovely morning, we’ll head back into the town proper for an afternoon floral class, learning how to create beautiful arrangements with locally grown flowers.

Then we’ll have some free time to wander Hudson or stop into the Spotty Dog Books & Ale for a look around and a pint.

Tonight, it's Swoon for dinner to sample more Hudson Valley products, including locally made cheese and produce now at their peak in harvest season.

If something is playing tonight at the historic Hudson Hall, you'll have the option to join us for a show! 

It's Sunday... of course, we have to start the day at Café Mutton, Hudson’s favorite breakfast & brunch spot.

Next, we’ll head 10 minutes south to Olana, a historic property in the Hudson Valley once owned by artist Frederic Church. This 250-acre estate, overlooking the Hudson River, was developed in the second half of the 19th century by Church and his wife as a residence and artist retreat. During our visit, we’ll join a guided tour to explore its rich history in detail.

After getting our history fix for the day, we’ll cruise over to the sustainable Whitecliff Winery for a tour and tasting. You'll love the artisanal wines that this family-run winery has produced for over 40 years. 

Next, we’ll head back to Hudson for some time on your own to rest or wander. This is the perfect opportunity for some last-minute souvenir shopping or to try one of the cute cafes in town for a mindful pause.

Tonight, for a change of pace, we’ll share our final dinner as a group, enjoying some family-style Thai food.

After one last breakfast, we’ll hop on the 10:28 am train out of Hudson, arriving at Penn Station at 12:45 pm. 

From here, you can easily catch a train or a taxi to La Guardia. If it suits better to depart from Newark or JFK, those are workable as well. 

Until we meet again!