Sex & The City Tour, New York

Your “Sex & the City” adventures in travel begin with your arrival in New York City. Take a taxi from the airport to your hotel and spend the afternoon exploring the city on your own before meeting your group at O’Nieals (the stand-in for the hip hotspot SCOUT on the show, owned by SATC characters Steve and Aidan) for dinner and cocktails – cosmos anyone? You’ll learn more about the exciting week ahead and the projects on which you’ll be working.

Season 2 of “Sex & the City” began with the girls taking the ferry to Staten Island for a night of fun, and you’ll recreate their trip today. Enjoy the round-trip ferry ride to Staten Island, taking in the views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan. After your sightseeing voyage, it’s time for Trapeze School. In one Season 6 episode, Carrie uncovers some lessons about herself while learning the art of trapeze at The Trapeze School of New York, and you will do the same, with a 2-hour lesson at the Pier 40 location. Finally, you’ll take a walk over one of New York’s most iconic landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge, where Miranda and Steve had an emotional conversation about their marriage in the “Sex & the City” movie.

Your third day in New York begins with a volunteer opportunity with a women’s organization in NYC. You will spend a few hours helping out as needed; some of the jobs might include sorting clothing donations, providing clerical assistance, or providing event support. 

 After your volunteer shift, you’ll head to Greenwich Village to visit some important show locations. You’ll see the apartment at 66 Perry Street, which served as the exterior of Carrie’s apartment, as well as visit the Louis K. Meisel Gallery (Charlotte York’s employer in the early seasons) and of course, stop at the Magnolia Bakery for a delicious cupcake. Finally, you’ll head to West Village for a visit to the Jefferson Market Garden, where Miranda and Steve held their simple wedding ceremony in Season 6.

Today’s activities center around many of the outdoor locations from the show. Your day begins in Central Park with a walk around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, where SATC’s Charlotte enjoyed jogging. From the reservoir, you’ll head to the Loeb Boathouse, site of a pivotal moment in Season 3 when Carrie refuses to kiss Mr. Big – and they both fall in the water. Stop for lunch here, and then visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 5th Avenue. Directly across the street from the Met is 1010 5th Avenue, the address of the penthouse Carrie and Big purchase in the SATC movie. After exploring the Met, take a taxi or walk through Central Park to Columbus Circle, to see the fountains where Carrie broke up with Aidan in Season 4.

No “Sex & the City” experience would be complete without shopping, and today’s agenda is all about retail therapy. The shopping tour includes stops at Patricia Field’s shop (Field was the costumer for SATC) and of course, Manolo Blahnik to try on some fabulous shoes. Other stops include department stores Barney’s New York, Bloomingdale’s, and Bergdorf Goodman. And if you aren’t exactly like Carrie and willing to keep all of your money in your closet, the itinerary also includes stops at some of NYC’s best secondhand and consignment shops, many of which support local women’s charities. 

Once you’ve found a fabulous outfit, you’ll spend the evening in the Meatpacking District, visiting some of the restaurants and clubs that the SATC girls frequented.

By the end of the “Sex & the City” series and films, the women had all found their happy endings. Today’s itinerary focuses on those happy endings, and the sites related to engagements and weddings. You’ll start at the New York Public Library’s main branch, the Stephen Schwartzman Building, on 5th Avenue, which was to be the site of Carrie and Big’s wedding in the SATC movie until Big left her at the altar. After a guided tour of the art and exhibits inside the building, head up 5th Avenue to Tiffany & Co, where Trey proposed to Charlotte. After lunch at the Plaza Hotel (site of several wedding-related scenes during the series), you’ll spend the afternoon working with a women’s organization to help sort clothing donations. Finally, enjoy dinner at Pete’s Tavern on 18th Street, where Miranda unexpectedly proposed to Steve. 

Give one last nod to “Sex & the City” by enjoying brunch with your group before heading back to the airport, with fond memories of your time spent in the Big Apple and a better understanding of some of the issues facing women in this incredible and vibrant city.