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.

Can't recommend this place enough. Amazing air BNB/inn located in the Catskills on an old abandoned…read morezoo. As a guest you were able to explore the zoo day and night however, you need to stay out of the buildings. The in itself is gorgeous and the rooms are comfortable. There is a total of five guestrooms. There is even an option to rent out the whole inn. There is a large kitchen and living room for guest to use That is a shared space. You can bring your own food and cook there if you want. There is also a few tent sites. Dog friendly! Definitely a unique experience and close to other attractions in the area.

Wow. You are not likely to find a more fantastic and unique place to stay. This was part of a…read moresurprise birthday weekend for my wife and until we got to Game Farm Road, she had no idea where we were going. Everyone is shocked when I tell them that we stayed inside what was the giraffe house. The rooms are well-appointed, and the communal are spacious. There's a full kitchen for you to use, couches, tables, a coffee bar. But for the people who are here to explore the modern ruins, the real appeal is outside the inn. We probably spent 5 hours exploring all over the abandoned zoo, and I'm not sure we covered everything. Almost everything is open, so you can go into the buildings, inside the fences, even inside the cages. It's spooky, but so cool. And since the inn has only five rooms, we hardly saw anyone while we were out there, since you can only explore the property if you're staying there. It's only about 20 minutes to downtown Catskill, where we went to eat both nights, but while you're on the property, it's completely quiet, except for the creepily atmospheric sounds of the gun range down the road.

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.

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!

This cave is actually Fulmer mine area. Enjoy the hike up the mountain. Extremely hot, that day so…read morewe stood at the mouth of the cave to cool down! Area known for being a source of hematite. Will hike around the area again as there are several trails to hike. Delaware river is at the base and got a nice view of tubers enjoying the river along the way. We'll have to try that too sometime.

Great hike! I would recommend this hike to everyone. Very nice views. We did the whole loop and was…read moreworth it

What a peculiar place to put poor 'ole Rip, on an elbow turn with a swail and no burm to keep the…read moreauto from a tumblin' if it's iced. Rip Van Winkles Awakening is just darn adorable and kinda creepy at the same frame, no matter the angle and I absorbed every one. My Dutch bretherin hit the nips of wicked flaggon a bit too zestfully, as returning to dame Van Winkle mustn't be a desirable situation. And just then an old fellow with hip high galligasketts and a keg upon his shoulder began to call his name and poor 'ole hen pecked Rip compiled only to awaken two generations later. With Wolf, his domestic adherent and partner in lazy days in the wood not answering Rips call and his fowling piece rusted and a worm infested stock - the good natured Rip Van Winkle now remains, once again, still and permanent in time-- looking over the Hudson Valley in the Catskills, (a disjointed member of the nighty Adarondiacs) and here he shall remain.

just amazing the talent and vision of the artist is just to behold…read more just take a drive and enjoy this master piece

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.

The Skywalk delivers on sweeping views of the Hudson River, and this alone makes it worth a stop…read more The heart of the Skywalk is a pedestrian path along the south parapet of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. The concrete walkway features a number of small bump outs to take photos. Signs note that because the path is narrower than 6', masks are required. Bikes must be walked. There are concrete barriers separating pedestrians from the vehicle traffic, but the bridge is a busy thoroughfare with lots of truck traffic, so expect it to be quite noisy. To access the bridge path, there is free parking off the traffic circle at the eastern landing, and there is a small park near the toll booths on the western landing (there is also parking here accessible to eastbound traffic). Restrooms at the Bridge Authority facility on the western landing are closed during COVID (there are restrooms at the Cole site and Olana). The trail also connects the Thomas Cole National Historic Site near the western landing with the Olana State Historic Site on the eastern bank of the river. The trail thus links together the 19th century Hudson River School art movement, connecting teacher (Thomas Cole), student (Frederic Church, who built Olana), and subject (the Hudson). This is a really cool idea, and it's also quite a hike. We clocked the roundtrip from the parking lot on the eastern landing to the Cole site at just over 3 miles. The last leg up to Olana (which we hiked separately) also includes a monster hill. Budget your time and energy appropriately, and bring water and comfortable shoes. You can find more about all three sites here: https://www.hudsonriverskywalk.org/.

It's beautiful! The bridge is astounding and I love that you can walk the entire length. It's…read morepretty long! I walked 2/3 of it with my husband down and back and it was like 1/3 of a mile or something like that!

3/18/26: The Vanderbilt Mansion is a must see when visiting Hyde Park!…read more You first drive up a winding driveway, till you reach the visitor's center to purchase tickets. Should you have a National Service Park Pass, you'll be able to enter for free. It's best to call at 9 AM just to be sure there's availability. Inside the center, you'll find restrooms and a large display of the Vanderbilt family tree. Our docent Mike first started the tour at the visitor center. Mike was very knowledgeable and had wonderful wit. The visitor center used to be the guest house for Mrs. Vanderbilt's bachelor friends during their stay over. Mike walked us over to the main estate. The outside of the estate is stunning. We then entered the beautiful estate. All the furnishings are absolutely gorgeous. The last part of the tour is walking down the servants stairs. However, the best photo view is probably looking up from the bottom of the staircase. Hope you enjoy the photos. Photos are allowed, but without flash.

Nice grounds to walk around and picnic as well as gardens and a mansion from the gilded age…read more Arriving on a Saturday afternoon, parking was a a breeze and grounds were open. We just missed the 3 pm Mansion tour (free with national park pass) so waited an hour for the next one. We walked over to the garden area and saw some roses and other flowers, all 5,000 varieties planted by volunteers and staying true to the types back in time. Two friendly volunteers were stationed there, readEra, chat and provide information. The mansion tour was informative and interesting, largely due to the ranger tour guide. If you like history or that era, you'll likely enjoy the tidbits shared. There aren't many places to sit inside the house and even I had a hard time standing for so long after a long day. They did have elevator access for those who have trouble with mobility. The info center doesn't have a store anymore but has a few artifacts.

All time FAVORITES!!! For every occasion and mood!!! Like literally happy sad depressed and…read moreexcited!! Come here and relax it's so beautiful! They have safety rails now too lol

I came here on a fall afternoon as the sun was setting. It's a bit of a drive up to the castle from…read morethe entrance of the park but not too bad- about 10-15 minutes. I like that there are stairs inside the castle. What a beautiful view from the top! The foliage was a bit past peak but still gorgeous. It was windy and chilly but totally worth the views!