If you grew up tuning into WNEW-FM, flipping through vinyl at Korvette’s, or seeing shows at CBGB, the Bottom Line, or even the Garden, then you already know: New York City wasn’t just nearby—it was the center of everything.
And it still is, especially when it comes to music history.
Just across the river from Bergen County, Rock Junket’s walking tours take you into the heart of Manhattan’s most legendary music neighborhoods—East Village, Greenwich Village, and Union Square. These aren’t sightseeing loops or hop-on buses. They’re guided, street-level explorations of the places and stories behind the artists, clubs, albums, and movements that shaped generations.
It’s one of the most authentic, unexpected, and satisfying day trips you can take from North Jersey—especially for anyone who came of age in the late ’70s or early ’80s with a love of real rock and roll.
What Is Rock Junket?
Rock Junket was founded in 2001 by Bobby Pinn, a former rock radio personality, music exec, author, and longtime NYC resident who’s worked with artists like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, The Ramones, Hole, Rancid, and The Offspring. His tours are rooted in real stories and decades of experience, not internet trivia.
Over the years, Rock Junket tours have been featured by Rolling Stone, MTV, Billboard, VH1, Time Out New York, and The New York Times. The company’s local guides—also music industry veterans—offer the kind of perspective that gives each stop more meaning. This isn’t a scripted experience. It’s personal, layered, and often surprising.
A Wonderful Day Trip for Bergen County Rock Music Fans
This is the day trip for Bergen County music lovers who want more than just something to do. If you remember standing in line at Sam Goody to buy a new album or saw the Blondie, the Ramones, or Bruce live back in the day—this is your tour.
The city’s just close enough to be accessible, but these neighborhoods and venues still feel like a world apart. And because the tours are two hours long and start midday, there’s no need to rush. It’s the right kind of outing: a mix of walking, music history, old stories, and maybe even a new favorite bar or coffee shop you wouldn’t have found otherwise.
Choose Your Adventure: Three Core NYC Tours
East Village Rock n’ Punk Tour (Most Popular)
This tour digs into the streets that gave birth to punk—and did it with attitude. It’s also where New York’s rawest, weirdest, and most influential musical moments happened, often just blocks from one another.
What you’ll see:
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The original site of CBGB’s
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Fillmore East
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Ramones landmarks
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Blondie, Led Zeppelin & Clash references
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Album cover photo locations
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Rock-inspired street art
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Rock fashion shops still in operation today
The tour includes stories about where artists lived, recorded, and played—and how the neighborhood helped shape it all.
📍 Meeting Point: SW corner of East 9th Street and 3rd Avenue (outside Shake Shack)
📞 Guide Contact: 646-515-7874
💵 Price: $47
📅 Runs: Monday through Saturday
Greenwich Village Rock Music Tour
This one covers the softer—but no less influential—side of the spectrum. The Village has long been a creative stronghold, and this tour focuses on the artists who gave it its musical pulse in the 1960s and ’70s.
Tour stops include:
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Bob Dylan’s early apartments
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Electric Lady Studios (Jimi Hendrix’s studio)
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Cafe Wha?, Gaslight, Gerde’s Folk City
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Album cover shoot locations
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Homes of the Velvet Underground and Neil Young
From Dylan to Hendrix, this tour walks you through the folk-rock and counterculture wave that still echoes through the area’s streets.
📅 When: Sundays at 11:00 AM
💵 Price: $47 per person
Union Square Rock n’ Punk Tour
Looking for a glam-meets-grit experience? This tour dives into the glossier, artier side of NYC’s rock history. If you know the name Max’s Kansas City, this one’s for you.
What to expect:
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Warhol’s Factory spaces (2nd and 3rd locations)
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Max’s Kansas City
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Webster Hall and other performance venues
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A famous Clash album cover site
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Art-meets-music history around every corner
📅 When: Saturdays at 11:00 AM
💵 Price: $47 per person
Getting There from Bergen County
Whether you’re in Ridgewood, Fort Lee, Paramus, or Mahwah, it’s a fast and easy trip. NJ Transit into Penn Station or a short drive over the GW Bridge gets you into tour territory with time to spare. Each tour location is walkable from public transportation and surrounded by great spots to grab lunch or browse a record shop after.
You don’t need to make a weekend of it—unless you want to. For most Bergen County residents, this is a perfect six-hour round trip.
Private & Custom Group Tours
Rock Junket also offers private group tours for special occasions, including:
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Milestone birthdays
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Reunions or class gatherings
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Visiting family or friends
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Corporate team-building events
They’ve created custom itineraries for everyone from universities to magazine editors to the crew of the London production of Rock of Ages. If you want a tour focused on Dylan, Warhol, the Doors, or even just vintage album cover art—you can request it.
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 888-291-4341
🌐 Book online at: rockjunket.com
Another “Far Out” Option: Woodstock Rock n’ Roll Tour
While not in NYC proper, Rock Junket also runs weekend tours in the legendary town of Woodstock, NY. It’s a long drive and a quieter vibe but still packed with music history:
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Dylan’s Woodstock years
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Bearsville Theater
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The Band’s hangouts
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Sites tied to Janis Joplin, Todd Rundgren, and more
If you’re planning a weekend upstate, this is an easy add-on for music fans.
Why Do This?
You don’t have to be a lifelong music nerd to enjoy these tours. The neighborhoods are iconic, the stories are authentic, and the guides bring it all to life with just the right amount of detail. This isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about experiencing the city through the lens of music, and seeing how the soundtrack of your youth still lives in the places where it was born.
Tips for First-Timers
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Wear comfortable shoes—you’ll be walking a lot
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Bring water and dress for the weather
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Tours happen rain or shine
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Book ahead of time (they often sell out)
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Ask questions—your guide likely has a great answer
Final Chord: Walk the Music, Don’t Just Remember It
At The Next Chapter, we’re about staying curious, connected, and open to the experiences that still excite us. Rock Junket’s tours are very cool—they’re real explorations of a place and time that helped shape the music we love and the music of today.
Read About More Ideas and Options for Day Trips in the Bergen County Area!
The Next Chapter: Active & Engaged Over 60 in Bergen County
If you’re looking for news and information about senior living and active aging in Bergen County, The Next Chapter: Active & Engaged Over 60 in Bergen County can be a helpful resource for helpful and relevant local Bergen County news. Visit The Next Chapter pages of mybergen.com for more information.
Get Inspired in The Next Chapter: Bergen County’s Facebook Group for Active Seniors!
Whether you’re new to the area or a long-time resident, the mybergen.com Next Chapter Facebook community is the place for tips on fitness, activities, and making the most of every day for Bergen County’s 60+ community.
