Real Mom Review: Nowaday NYC Vintage Car Tour

By Diana Franzese, CertifiKID NYC Family Fun Ambassador
Posted Mar 03, 2020 Real Mom Reviews Family Travel Things to Do

Called "the coolest way to see NYC" by Travel & Leisure magazine, Nowaday is the only 1920s era car tour in New York City, complete with props and memorabilia! Nowaday's tour guides narrate your journey with engaging stories as you drive through Midtown's most engaging sites in a head-turning vintage car.

We sent our CertifiKID NYC Family Fun Ambassador, Diana Franzese, and her son on a Nowaday tour. They received a free tour in exchange for providing an honest review of their experience. 

Save 20% off a one-hour Nowaday Midtown NYC Vintage Car Tour with this CertifiKID Deal - valid through May 10, 2020.

We were picked up in front of Central Park and rode in a Powder Blue Ford Model A. There are also other colors to choose from.

As we left the Central Park area, we drove around Columbus Circle, where my son and I learned that one of the statues in the circle was of Christopher Columbus. Ryan, our driver, gave us a bit of history about where the statue hailed from.

We passed Carnegie Hall and learned about Andrew Carnegie and how Carnegie Hall is a NYC landmark.

We toured Times Square and found out how it originally was moved from one area of Manhattan, to an area a bit farther uptown and renamed Times Square. We’d love to tell you when the first ball dropped, but you will have to go on the tour to find that out.

We drove by the ever-so-famous Bryant Park and found out it is a privately owned park and owned by a particular bank. Anyone take a guess?

We rolled around to the NY Public Library and found out some interesting facts about this library. When the library opened, it held the first printed book. We’ll let you take the tour to find out what that book is that we’re talking about.

Of course, we rode by the world’s tallest building when it was completed in 1931, The Empire State Building, and found out why it wasn’t so popular when first built and what movie made it gain momentum. It also beat out another NYC building for being the world’s tallest building at the time it was built.

The Flatiron Building was our next stop. It actually had a very funny nickname when it was first built. My boy and I, were surprised to find out that one of his favorite superhero’s worked inside that building, in the movies surrounding that superhero.

We learned about Madison Square Park and who it was named after and that before it was this beautiful park, it was actually something else. We then went to the east side and rode along Park Avenue and were told why it is called “Park” Avenue. What do you know about the steam engine trains that used to run and how the Brooklyn Dodgers got their name? You’ll learn all these fun and funny facts along the way.

I’m sure many of you know about the High Line and what it was before a lovely park stretching from the Meatpacking to the Hudson Yards. You’ll find out a bit more information on the High Line as well.

We both loved discovering all about Grand Central Station; how people make their way to the top to turn the clock hands in order to turn them and driving around Grand Central through the tunnel.

The Diamond District was a favorite of ours along the route. I always thought it was a larger area than what it encompasses. We passed Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the designer stores on 5th Avenue.

A couple of my favorite pieces of information was being told that one of my favorite 80’s pop star icons was a coat check girl at The Russian Tea Room and that one of the Kings of the world would only stay at the Warwick hotel when visiting NYC. A popular band we all know of used to stay there often when visiting the U.S., as well.

We’ve heard the Downtown Tour passes through Wall Street, Trinity Church, St. John’s, the charging bull, and Brooklyn Bridge. 

This is such a fabulous experience to take for any reason: family coming in from out of town, an anniversary, birthday, holidays, date night, bonding with the little ones, just to do something fun and different like we’re always doing and enjoying ourselves, celebration (promotion, new home, moving, having a baby, engagement).

I didn’t want the tour to end. I wanted our trip back in time to last all day.

Getting There

The location was easy to find. I was sent an email with the address of where the car would be parked and my chariot awaited me. Take the train, bus, cab, horse and buggy, pedicab or any other means of transportation necessary to get to the meetup location, aside from driving your car, as parking is hard in Midtown.

The A, B, C, D and 1 trains stop one block away from your pickup area at the 59th Street train station. The N, R and W trains stop about two blocks away at 5th Avenue/59th Street station. Our driver opened the door for us like a gentleman and we stepped right in the 1920’s vintage car.

What Did You Enjoy Most?

My son and I enjoyed this experience to the fullest. We dressed up like it was the 1920’s and really felt like it was that era with our driver/tour guide, who was also dressed to the nines in his 1920’s gear and who was speaking like we currently were living in that time. We immersed ourselves in this interactive experience and couldn’t have asked for a better time.

Is There Anything That Could be Improved?

I loved every aspect of Nowaday! It is such a different experience than anything else you will find out there in NYC, or probably any other city for that matter.

Recommended Age Range

My son is 9 and he enjoyed himself thoroughly. He was soaking up all the history and knowledge that our driver bestowed on us. Our driver would ask my son questions and have him answer and we were able to ask him questions as well. As far as what age this is good for, I’d say if you think your child will not get bored on a 60-minute ride, go for it. This is a great adult outing as well.

Time Recommended to Enjoy Activity

The Nowaday vintage car ride is a 60-minute tour.

Tips for Families

Do NOT bring your stroller. There is no where for it to fit.

Nearby Attractions

After your tour, you can take a skate around the rink in Central Park, Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center, go to a Broadway show, walk around Times Square, take the kids to the Central Park Zoo, go to the Shoppes at Columbus Circle or get a bite to eat.

Would Your Family Visit Again?

We were told that there is also a Downtown tour. I would definitely love to go on that tour. It’s a whole different experience.  

Do you want the chance to provide your real parent review of one of our deals? Join our MOM Squad Facebook Group (you must be a CertifiKID member to be approved for membership. Not a member? Sign up HERE.).

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