MTA Long Island Rail Road has unveiled its 2012 package of New York City Getaways featuring two brand new Manhattan sightseeing attractions as well as many of your perennial favorites – all available at significant savings over the regular price of round-trip rail travel, museum admission and purchases.

The LIRR’s NYC Getaways are a savvy traveler’s economical way to see all that the great town has to offer, from the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building to the Madame Tussaud’s and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not museums.

This year’s line-up of 18 attractions, special events, tours and shopping include two great new discount packages:

Downtown Culture Pass – Eight downtown Manhattan museums have banded together to create the Downtown Culture Pass granting holders free admission and discounts in museum shops at Fraunces Tavern Museum, Museum of American Finance, Museum of Jewish Heritage, National Museum of the American Indian, New York City Police Museum, Skyscraper Museum and the Tribute WTC Visitor Center. The Downtown Culture Pass will also get you discounts at local restaurants and reduced ticket rates for the Wall Street Walks Walking Tours.

Statue of Liberty Express – See Lady Liberty in 60 minutes! Climb aboard the distinctive yellow ferry for a fast and fun ride to Liberty Island and a seaside view the Statue of Liberty from New York Harbor. Our top-rated guides ensure you have a great time and leave more informed about the City of New York than when you arrived (even if you’ve lived here your entire life). A cash bar is available on board to keep you refreshed along the way.

In addition, the LIRR continues to be the best way to enjoy these ever-popular New York City destinations:
Attractions

American Museum of Natural History’s Rose Center for Earth and Space: Travel from the outer reaches of the universe to the inner workings of the Earth, and on to an exploration of the range of life and cultures on our planet. Now featuring a new exhibition allowing you to explore Beyond Planet Earth.
CSI: The Experience at Discovery Time Square: The interactive exhibit that will put your investigative skills to the test. Guests will be immersed in the scientific world of forensic analysis and use the skills they learn along the way to try and solve a crime mystery. Through hands-on activities featuring real equipment and multimedia presentations, guests will use scientific inquiry, forensics, toxicology and more while learning how science helps crack crime.
Dead Sea Scrolls at Discovery Time Square: Take a fascinating archaeological journey through the Holy Land. This rare exhibit features the famed Dead Sea Scrolls a stone from the Western Wall from the Second Temple in Jerusalem and more than 500 never-before-seen artifacts from biblical times.
Empire Adventure at the Empire State Building: Visit the iconic 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building, but first, go on NY SKYRIDE, a thrilling Imax-style virtual air tour of the city.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: This former U.S. Navy warship, with 30 restored aircraft, the former USS Growler submarine and famed faster than sound Concorde, offers a snapshot of heroism and education and dynamic adventure for visitors of all ages.
Madame Tussauds New York: The world famous wax museum offers over 200 life-like celebrities from the worlds of film, TV, history, politics, music and sports, plus the Cinema 4D Theater where you will experience the 4th dimension of 3D with the latest in special effects.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square: Offers visitors the ultimate insight into the world of the odd and bizarre. Hundreds of weird and unusual artifacts are displayed in more than 20 themed galleries.
The Ride: The Ride is a new entertainment experience that turns the streets of New York into a stage. And you’ve got front row seats. Through advanced audio and video technology as well as amazing performances, The Ride will move you through the city, turning iconic NYC landmarks into backdrops as a live show plays out right in front of you.

Events:

2012 New York Times Travel Show – March 2-4 at the Javits Center. Take the train to Italy? It’s possible with this special package. With over 500 exhibitors from more than 150 countries, you have your choice of destinations to explore!
19th Original GLBT Expo – March 17-18 at the Javits Center: The 19th Original GLBT Expo is the world’s oldest and largest business/entertainment lifestyle event for the gay community.
2012 New York International Auto Show – April 6-15 at the Javits Center. Sneak peeks at some of the hottest cars and truck ever displayed under one roof.

Shopping/Fun

Macys VIP Shopping: The world’s largest department store, Macy’s at Herald Square, is a shopping empire with selling space spread over 10-1/2 floors occupying an entire city block. Your VIP shopping package will entitle you to a 10% discount off almost everything in this store!
Bike and Roll New Yor   k City: Take a ride with America’s premier bicycle rental and tour company! Explore the urban oasis of beautiful Central Park, ride over the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge, or cruise the car-free greenways of New York Harbor with the Statue of Liberty in the background. Bike and Roll NYC will allow you to experience the Big Apple in a way you will never forget.

Tours

Circle Line 2-Hour Semi-Circle Cruise: Experience the highlights of Midtown and the Lower Manhattan Financial District during this two hour narrated sail around Manhattan or watch as dusk brings on a city of glistening lights on the two-hour Harbor Lights Cruise.
Food on Foot Tours: Since New York is the melting pot of the world, its vast array of cuisines is its shared culture. See the neighborhoods where New Yorkers live and eat.

Gray Line Sightseeing: Explore various neighborhoods in Manhattan or Brooklyn on Gray Line’s hop-on, hop-off double-decker buses. Spend as much time as you like at one stop, re-board a bus and continue on to the next neighborhood.

Customers can learn more at the LIRR website www.mta.info/lirr and clicking on “Deals & Getaways” and then “New York City Getaways,” or they can pick up a 2012 Long Island Rail Road ‘New York City Getaways’ brochure at Penn Station and other LIRR stations.

New York Getaways can be purchased at the LIRR’s blue, green or gray ticket machines or LIRR ticket offices. All machines accept credit and debit cards; gray and green machines also accept cash. When purchasing at a ticket machine, follow these steps: select “Deals & Getaways,” then “NYC Getaways,” then the tour or package of your choice. Ticket offices accept cash, credit and debit cards or personal checks.