NYC Skyline Night Tour: Jersey Waterfront, Carlo’s Bakery & Sinatra

4.65

(211 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

First thing: I almost missed the pickup spot because I got distracted by some guy selling roasted nuts on Seventh Avenue. The smell was everywhere—sweet, burnt sugar in the air. Our guide (Miguel, born-and-bred New Yorker) just grinned and waved me over like this happens all the time. We piled into a van that was way more comfortable than I expected (I’d been bracing for subway chaos), and then we were off, headlights bouncing down Manhattan streets.

I didn’t know crossing into New Jersey would feel so different—like suddenly there’s space to breathe and you can see all of Manhattan lit up across the river. At Liberty State Park, Miguel pointed out where Ellis Island sits in the dark water; he told us about his grandfather arriving there, which made it hit harder standing at the Empty Sky 9/11 Memorial. The wind was cold enough to sting my cheeks but I barely noticed—I just kept staring at those twin walls lined up with where the towers used to be. It was quieter than I expected, except for someone’s kid giggling nearby.

Hoboken surprised me most. We stopped by Carlo’s Bakery (yes, that one from TV), and honestly? The cannoli was good but what stuck with me was how everyone behind the counter seemed to know each other—lots of Spanish and Italian flying around. Miguel tried to teach us how to say “sfogliatella” right; I failed miserably and got a laugh out of him anyway. We wandered past brownstones and Sinatra’s statue—he looks like he might wink if you catch him in the right light—and then up to Hamilton Park for one last look at the skyline. That view… it doesn’t really fit in a photo.