Pre-Trip in New York City - The 'City that Never Sleeps'
Tuesday, August 26th - Thursday, August 28th, 2025
Note: Below is a tentative list of activities.
The final schedule is
subject to change, and activities may be added, removed, or adjusted as necessary.
What can we say about this place called Gotham? The City that Never Sleeps is the land of skyscrapers, the
world's economic engine. We are heading to the Big Apple!
For a select few, this year’s JOE Pre-Trip will visit NYC and nearby from Tuesday, Aug. 27 to Thursday, Aug. 29.
Led by natives who know the city as well as their grandmother’s matzah-ball soup, this trip will introduce both
newbies and seasoned visitors to some of the city’s most intriguing destinations.
You will get to choose one of the following day-trips:
After our individual choices, we’ll converge on a sunset cruise on the city’s famous Circle Line Tour Harbor Lights Cruise.
Then, hit the town to see the lights of Times Square and other parts of the city.
On Thursday morning, we will head to the 'Meadowlands,’ a beautiful natural area just over the Hudson River
in New Jersey. You can check out the Meadowlands via Kayaking or Guided Birding Walk.
We are basing this trip just over the Hudson River in New Jersey and near the Airport, where lodging is
affordable, parking is easy, and the city is only a short train ride away.
Schedule
Come Sunday or Monday and stay in the same hotel to explore “the City” at your own pace, taking time to see many
more sights. While no organized activities are planned until Tuesday evening, you can do many independently. Try
window shopping along Fifth Avenue or
visit world-class museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, or the American Museum of Natural History. Take in a Broadway Show, go to the top of the Empire State Building, explore the world-famous Bronx Zoo, or hop on the Cyclone at Coney Island. Contact the Pre-Trip
Co-Chairperson at
Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org if you need more ideas. Mosaic will advise on other early participants if you
desire to coordinate activities amongst yourselves.
-
- 3 pm – 6 pm Hotel Check-in.
- 6:00 pm: The Official start of the Pre-Trip. Your Pre-Trip Chairs and Pre-Trip
Hospitality Chair will greet you in the lobby. Everyone meets in the hotel lobby to walk to dinner. Anyone
running late should go directly to the restaurant.
- 6:15 pm—8:15 pm Note: Dinner is not included in the base price; pay as you go (Google Maps of hotels and restaurants).
- Non-Kosher Dinner Options:
- Glatt Kosher Options can be reached via a 22-minute Taxi or 40-minute NJ Transit Bus. Please let the Pre-Chair know your
intentions to possibly help with transport between the hotel and Glatt Kosher restaurants. Click HERE for
directions from the hotel. All restaurants below are located on the same block in downtown Elizabeth.
- 8:30 pm Meet You Leader Meeting at the hotel to discuss the
itinerary for the next two days. Attendance is mandatory. No show, no go! Welcome kits,
trip itineraries, NJ Transit train tickets, train schedules, subway maps, tour tickets, and Circle Line
Cruise tickets will be distributed at this meeting.
- 10:00 pm Anyone who wants to enjoy a late night a night club/sports bar next door called
The Lobby will
meet in the hotel lobby and walk over.
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
- 6:00 am – 9:00 am Breakfast in the Breakfast Room adjacent to the hotel lobby (included for
those staying in the hotel)
Then enjoy the following options:
Daytime Activities
Evening Activities
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
- 6:30 am – 9:00 am Breakfast
- 6:30 am–8:15 am Pack up and check out: Bring your luggage to the front desk for daily safekeeping. If you are
driving, put your luggage in the car. Everyone must be checked out of their rooms before heading out for the
day.
- 8:15 am Meet in the lobby.
- 8:30 am Drive to Thursday morning activities.
Then enjoy the following options:
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
BE BACK AT THE HOTEL BY 12:30 pm
- 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm - Lunch at a restaurant of your choice. The hotel has a restaurant and
several options nearby. See MAP for options
- 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Load the Mosaic Shuttle Bus
- 2:01 pm - Mosaic Shuttle departure from the Crown Plaza Hotel Newark
- 2:11 pm - Mosaic Shuttle arrives at Newark Airport Terminal A to pick up people flying that
day.
- 2:22 pm - Mosaic Shuttle departs from Newark Airport
- 4:00 pm - Arrive at Camp Nah-Jee-Wah,, Milford, PA
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
Transportation
Car
-
- The drive from Newark Liberty International Airport to Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel takes 10 to 30 minutes.
- If you arrive on prior to 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 26, you will be responsible for all transportation.
- The Check-in time for the day at the hotel is 3:00 pm.
- Tuesday arrivals are welcome to arrive at Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel, 901 Spring Street, Elizabeth, New Jersey 07201, any
time after 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 27th.
- Parking costs $10/day (reduced rate for our group).
Bus
Take BUS#62 to US1/9 North Ave Bus Stop # 33190. It will take 35 minutes to
get from Terminal A (Stop 33190);Terminal B (Stop 18788), 23 minutes; and 21 minutes to get from Terminal C (Stop 18789). The bus runs every 30 Minutes. The moment you see yourself
passing the Crown Plaza Hotel on the left side of the road, single the bus to get off at the next stop. Walk back
¼ mile to the hotel. The cost is $2.90, an exact change or payment via the NJ Transit Mobile App.
Boarding locations:
-
-
- Terminal A - Location 117
- Terminal B - Lower Roadway Bus Lane - Locations 7 & 8
- Terminal C - Lower Roadway Bus Lane - Locations 4 & 5
Live Tracking of the bus via:
Click HERE to go to the top of the
page.
Hotel Shuttle
The hotel shuttle leaves
the hotel every 30 minutes during the hour (for example, 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:00 p.m.). You can meet the
shuttle at the AirTrain P-4 Station. It does NOT circle the Terminals. It takes about 15 Minutes to get to the Hotel from this location.
Note: From Terminal A, it might be quicker to use an NJTransit
Bus. This is due to the 15-minute walk to the AirTrain from the Terminal, the 15-minute ride on the
AirTrain, and another 15-minute van ride to the hotel. This is assuming the shuttle is waiting for you. See above.
Taxi
Public Transit
Click HERE for details on Public transit, either by bus or train.
Click HERE for a map of bus and train locations around the hotel.
-
- 3/10 miles from hotel
- $8.05 or $3.65 Senior 62+ (not included in the base price) from NYC Port Authority
- The Bus is non-stop between the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the stop near the hotel.
- The Bus runs every 40-60 minutes (pending time of day)
- Starting at 8:48 pm, the bus operates every hour at 48 minutes past the hour until the last bus at 11:48
pm.
- Travel time between the hotel and NYC is 30-90 minutes
(depending on traffic)
- You will need to share the 52 bus seats with the public. There are no guarantees that seats will be
available for our group.
- Click HERE for details on public transit by bus.
-
- 7/10 miles from hotel
- Parking: $4.75 per day (not included in the base price)
- Train $8.30 regular or $3.70 Senior 62+ (one way to Newark included in the activity fees) between hotel and NYC
Penn Station
- There are four stops between North Elizabeth Train Station and Penn Station NYC
- Train every 20-60 minutes
- The last train back to the hotel leaves NYC at 1:22 am
- 35–50 minutes between
the hotel and NYC, depending on whether you walk or drive to the station
- You are likely to find a seat on the train regardless the size of the group
- Click HERE for details on public transit by train.
Finally, and most importantly, please be on time for all events and stay together as a group. The
bus/train waits for no one. We will leave the hotel promptly at the scheduled time. If you miss the
train or get separated from the group, it will be your responsibility to find us or risk missing
some of the day’s scheduled activities. Again, we will not wait for anyone!
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
Mosaic Shuttle from Pre-Trip to Main Event
The Mosaic shuttle will depart promptly from the hotel on Thursday, August 28th, at 2:01 pm. Please
meet outside the lobby with your luggage by 1:30 pm to ensure there is enough time to stow your bags underneath
and board the bus. The shuttle WILL NOT WAIT FOR ANYONE who is not on board when it leaves the hotel. Anyone left
behind who is not on the shuttle at the scheduled departure time will need to arrange their own transportation to
camp at their own expense and will forfeit the cost of the Mosaic shuttle.
Cost of Mosaic Shuttle: Round trip $60 / One-Way $40. (The round trip will return you to the airport after the
main event.)
Hotel
Leisure Meets Luxury at Newark Airport Hotel: Explore New Jersey from Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel. Minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport, the
hotel supplies complimentary shuttle runs every 30 minutes for hassle-free travel. We are near Newark and
Elizabeth and 45 minutes from New York City, where you can find shops, restaurants, and iconic attractions.
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
Costs
Base Rate
| Doubles |
Cost |
| Sunday to Thursday |
$TBD |
| Monday to Thursday |
$TBD |
| Tuesday to Thursday |
$TBD |
| |
|
| Singles |
Cost |
| Sunday to Thursday |
$TBD |
| Monday to Thursday |
$TBD |
| Tuesday to Thursday |
$TBD |
| |
|
- Base Price Includes:
- Hotel Room at Crowne Plaza Newark Airport
- Non-kosher breakfast in the mornings
- MOSAIC administration fees.
Note: Arrivals on Sunday or Monday Must pay for the duration of the Pre-Trip at the same rate (Singles
or Doubles).
**Note: We can only guarantee room rates until July 30th. Any rooms booked after that will be based on
the hotel's availability, and prices may increase.
No Hotel Option: $TBD Two days / $TBD One day
- Includes:
- MOSAIC administration fees.
- This is not included during the Pre-Trip (You must make arrangements).
- Hotel accommodations
- Breakfast.
- Transportation to/from your lodging of choice. You are responsible for meeting at Crown Plaza Hotel at the
designated times at your cost.
An additional Mosaic administration surcharge of $50 on top of the No Hotel Option for anyone who books
their own room at the Crowne Plaza Newark Airport Hotel and attends the Pre-Trip.
All prices are US dollars.
Click HERE to go to the top of the page.
Please register for the Pre-Trip on the registration page while registering for the Main Event. You must participate in the Main
Event to be able to attend the Pre-Trip.
Click here for Registration and Pricing
Contact
Pre-Trip
Co-Chairperson at Pre-Trip@MosaicOutdoor.org
Click HERE to go to the top of the page