This house is where the pre-treasonous Benedict Arnold recuperated after being wounded at the…read moreBattle of Bemis Heights. The house is an interesting landmark for what it represents historically. It is not open to the Public.

An interesting historical tidbit. This historic site includes Van Buren's "gentleman's farm" and…read moreestate called Lindenwald. He bought the estate later in his life in 1839. Washington Irving (the famous author) was a notable long-term guest at Lindenwald. Fee: Free Tip: if you want to tour the historic house, budget at least 2 hours because you might show up while a tour is in progress and need to wait for the next tour.

Martin Van Buren's residence, Lindenwald, is tucked away in the peaceful town of Kinderhook, New…read moreYork. It's a unique window into the life of America's 8th president. I had visited the site years ago when there was a larger visitor center and an introductory video that gave a broader overview of Van Buren's presidency and personal story. Today, the visitor's center has been scaled back to a trailer, and unfortunately, there's very little introductory context provided for those less familiar with Van Buren's role in American history. One of the main displays now focuses on the history of slavery in America. While this is an important topic, its placement here felt somewhat disconnected, as Van Buren neither owned enslaved people nor lived in a slaveholding state during his time at Lindenwald. Given the limited space available, I found myself wishing more of it had been used to explore Van Buren's own political career, personal life, and legacy. They only have a few tour times a day, and the guide cited budget cuts with a roll of her eyes. We waited around a bit for the next tour, but the audio tour around the property wasn't very informative. Once our group tour began, it opened in the empty basement, where much of the discussion centered on the broader legacy of slavery and Sojourner Truth. While those subjects are historically valuable, their connection to Lindenwald itself felt tenuous and overshadowed the site's direct link to Van Buren. It appeared the tour guide had a greater interest in that topic than on the actual topic. Upstairs, the rooms were far more engaging. The main hall was particularly impressive, featuring original design elements and beautiful wallpaper. The guide shared some insight into Van Buren's later life, though key biographical details--such as the early death of his wife--were only briefly mentioned at the end. The tour concluded at a small gift shop with a nice selection of books and keepsakes. Overall, having prior knowledge of Van Buren helped me piece things together, but for first-time visitors, the lack of focus on his presidential legacy may leave them wanting more. I couldn't help but think that some of the funding loss was due to the staff losing sight of the park's primary purpose. Lindenwald remains a special site with strong potential. I hope future interpretive efforts rebalance the content to better highlight Van Buren's contributions and the historical significance of the home itself.

This is a fun statue in the middle of Kinderhook that basically provides a photo opportunity. If…read moreyou're walking around town, take a moment, sit down beside Bronze Martin, and snap a shot. It will be a nice memory of your visit to the village.

He was the first US President to be born as an American citizen…read more He remains the only President not to have spoken English as a child.. He spoke Dutch! He was America's eighth president, and was born and raised in the tiny town of Kinderhook, some 25 miles south of Albany, NY His name was used in a very funny subplot on a Seinfeld episode. This excellent statue shows an older Van Buren sitting on a bench reading a newspaper. He holds a walking stick in his left hand and is groomed with one amazing pair of mutton chop sideburns. A plaque to the side of the bench reads: Martin Van Buren 1782 - 1862 Eighth President of the United States Born, Raised and Buried in the Village of Kinderhook Gift of: Friends of Lindenwald Sculptor: Edward Hlavka Dedicated July 14, 2007

Lovely spot to go for a walk around the grounds. Sadly, the gardens could use some weeding. The…read moremansion is also closed for renovation. I feel like the gardens were nicer in the 90s when Historic Hudson Valley owned the property. Nonetheless, I am sure Bard will do a great job of keeping up the house. They have some nice trails, which are also being maintained. I highly recommend a trip out there

This place is like an oasis of calm. The mansion is beautiful and it has an amazing history. The…read morearchitecture is a dream that I'm going to use when I build my house. It is the quietest site I ever visited. When you get there, after you park, there's no one anywhere to let you know where to go and what to do. We got there on a day where there were another 9 people roaming around and 3 of them took the mansion tour with us. An older couple was having a picnic, a young lady was walking around by herself and another couple was walking all over the place, creeping out in the mansions windows. The tour guide was well informed so he went on with the story of the place like he was teaching a history class. It was informative a thorough. To visit the inside of the house it will cost you $10 in cash, a person. We have a membership so we didn't have to pay. The tour takes about an hour and you will only tour the first floor. The basement, the second and the third floor are closed to the public. I do recommend you to visit this site if you want to know more of the history of the area.

If you like art and architecture, you will likely enjoy visiting Opus 40. What is it? A large scale…read moreoutdoor, hand-crafted architectural work of art that took a man near 40 years to carve and construct. At first glance, it seems random. But walk slowly, observe how sight lines of the work draw you to the mountains in the distance and how shadows change the perspective. It's truly a masterpiece of outdoor art. Budget at least an hour to visit and wear comfortable shoes. Roads and parking: unpaved entrance and rather rough parking area. So drive your Range Rover and not your Ferrari to Opus 40 (although some of the country roads nearby provide incredible driving opportunities). Price: $12 on site for adults, $11 online with $1 service charge. Misc tips: (1) Buy tickets online. For two people or more, buying online saves at least a dollar and guarantees entrance on busy weekends. (2) Try to visit in mid-October as the leaves change.

Well worth visiting including the on-site museum. I would say think about the historical context as…read moreto when this was being built.

My boyfriend and I were in Kaaterskill Falls for our annual hike at the Rail Trail, when we…read morediscovered Saugerties Lighthouse. I don't even know how to be honest. But we like to drive around getting lost a lot, which is how we discover most places. The entrance is a little hidden, small parking lot. The trail is full of greenery. There is a mixture of bridges and dirt paths. Also we noticed little figurines hidden along the way. They are very cute! The views on the way to the lighthouse were as stunning as of the lighthouse alone. At some point you have to walk over the water - so it is wise to look at the tide schedule so you don't get wet or trapped. The lighthouse is dipped in history that you can read on their website (saugertieslighthouse.com). It is truly an incredible little place. I read there are tour and you can even stay there overnight! We definitely want to do either one or both in the near future. It was definitely an amazing find, which we will incorporate into our annual visits. Breathtaking location. The volunteers are doing a great job maintaining it. Definitely made for a memorable visit.

This place is really cool! There aren't any other lighthouses that I know of in the immediate area…read moreof the Hudson Valley that is accessible on foot (without a boat). During the week the lighthouse deck is open so you can walk to the back deck to enjoy this place up close but on the weekends the deck is closed to guests that might be staying the night. You can actually lodge at the lighthouse which is even cooler than just visiting the outside. The walk to the base of the lighthouse is an easy walk but don't arrive too late because the tide could be really high making the walk likely very muddy or very wet to pass. Parking area is super small so arrive early to ensure parking or you'll have to wait in your car for a spot to open up. I wouldn't advise parking on the grass of the adjacent coast guard property since there are signs that say come back if there is no parking likely implying "If you park here you will be towed" but signs don't explicitly say that so beware if you park outside lot.

Wow, what a huge historical museum and tribute to our nations history. Definitely stop and spend…read moretime in this town. The whole story of the troops holding off the British soldiers from that place is amazing. The cemetery is amazing too. You can almost feel the soldiers running up and down the stairs and outside. Loved the cannon balls and to see the hole is pretty neat. I loved the whole area and town has historical homes all along the roadside. Nice shops too!

The Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, NY is one of those places that quietly draws you in with how much…read morehistory it holds. At first glance, it looks like a simple old church, but once you step inside, you realize you're standing somewhere that has witnessed more than 200 years of stories. Built in the 1770s as a German Reformed Church, it was later fortified and turned into a defensive stronghold during the Revolutionary War. You can still spot a cannonball hole in the wall a little visual reminder of how real that history was. The museum complex is spread out beautifully, with several old buildings and scenic grounds that make it easy to wander around at your own pace. Each building feels like a glimpse into a different part of Schoharie's past from farming and school life to vintage machinery and military history. The volunteers here really add to the experience they're kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the history they're sharing. It's the kind of museum that doesn't feel overly polished, but that's exactly what makes it charming. You can sense the age of the wood floors and the craftsmanship in every display. It's quiet, peaceful, and even a little haunting in the best way, especially if you walk through the small cemetery nearby. If you enjoy exploring local history or hidden gems off the main tourist path, the Old Stone Fort is definitely worth a visit. It doesn't take long to go through, but you'll likely leave thinking about how much life and resilience are preserved in those old stone walls.

Here's a tiny spot in one of the rural corners of Connecticut, but a fun spot to poke around…read more Seeing the images of Beckley Furnace, then and now, are astoundingly different! It's a place you can get up close to the past, but also a peaceful spot to view the river and furnace locks, I especially recommend being here in autumn, watching sycamore leaves float down the river. Parking by the furnace isn't huge, but additional parking is just over the small bridge. There is plenty of interpretive signage to guide you, and ample picnic space to enjoy, but no facilities. We didn't even see a port-o-let. All the same, enjoy your drive and short hike!

I wouldn't exactly call this a destination sort of park, it's a landmark/monument with a little…read moreparkette along Lower Road in East Canaan. IIt's mainly of interest if you're interested in the history of the area, but something you could combine with visiting nearby Haystack Mountain Park. Still, it's well maintained and has a nice parking area, with a number of highly informative signs around the area, leading you on a short walk from the furnace over to the dam where the piping for the steam turbine is still somewhat in place. There's a few picnic tables as well, if you're in the mood for a picnic. Altogether a nice little pleasant stop on the road.