This is an amazing place to have a time trip to history and to get to know about life at a farm…read morehouse. Lovely place to visit with family, friends or alone. The atmosphere is peaceful and you feel like stepping into a different world, forgetting all the daily hurdles and just enjoying the moment. The staff who works there is really talented on telling about the life at the farm couple of hundreds of years ago, and they tell you some insightful stories and examples of the past. You are also encouraged to ask many questions from the staff and it is great to hear about all the details of everything. There are several farm buildings to visit which you also get to tour, and many animals who you also might get to pet. The farm store is also amazing, selling many interesting items and some crafts from the local artists which are not over priced. Remember to reserve plenty of time (2-3 hrs) and take some picnic items with if needed (there's good spots for a picnic) and a curious mind for a great visit at the historic farm!

As a jaded New Yorker, who's become even more so during the pandemic, Quiet Valley, was just what…read morethe doctor ordered. This 250 year old farm, was last operational in the 1950s. It's now owned by a historical society and largely volunteer run. This is the kind of place that several generations of locals come to volunteer. If I lived nearby, I'd gladly volunteer and would love to lead a tour:-) The farm is quaint, cozy and affordable. It was $12 for adults for their 1.5 hour+ tour and Christmas presentation. $6 for children under 12. The crackling fire wood, the wet leaves crunching under your feet, and the friendly, welcome of the volunteers, who are excellent and clearly love this place, all made my experience five star. This historic farm is two hours from NYC, but worlds away, in a good way. I did a day trip but nearby affordable hotels abound. At the end of the tour, we were lead to their dining room, with a choice of hot cocoa or hot apple cider and two surprise (mine were snickerdoodle and molasses) cookies or a homemade Bavarian style pretzel. Free parking and I learned about the events they offer including farm to table in the summer and spooky nights during Halloween, to name a few. They cook with all the vegetables they grow and serve them at an outdoor meal. Check them out with your friends and family. You'll be glad you did.

Awesome wedding venue!!! So well run, quick bartenders and food service. We were greeted by alpacas…read moreand beautiful scenery, shaded, grassy areas perfect for socializing with the crew. The cocktail hour was held in a separate building from the rest of the ceremony. There were a ton of food options for the cocktail hour. Charcuterie, a pasta bar with a delicious mushroom bolognese, and lots of drink options. Everything was beautiful, lots of decks and corners to round, and places to gather. Never had to fight anybody for a place to sit or anything. The actual reception room was large, but felt very intimate. The chairs were comfortable. The acoustics were good enough I could hear everybody at my table while the band was still playing. There were plenty of bathrooms. After the sun went down, they started a bonfire outside. There were lots of mosquitos out, though. We only sat out there a couple minutes because we were getting eaten up. I wouldn't expect them to spray the whole property, but I imagine there might be some sort of bug control solution that could work for event nights. Tiki torches? Citronella something? We had so much fun, and Waterloo really was beautiful. I'm sure that most events here play Waterloo by ABBA. It was a crowd pleaser.

This is a "town" lost to time. It is a piece of history that is in desperate need of…read moreacknowledgment and repair. But it is one that should be seen regardless. I have done here for years and it has always been a peaceful walk. I just happened to go up on canal day when a lot of the buildings are open and people are allowed to look around inside them. It is a great doorway to our country's past. I would suggest anyone to go at least once.

Beautiful ground and mansion. We were here on a Saturday morning. We walked around the ground…read morebefore they were open. Paid for the self guided tour of the mansion. The staff here are all very friendly and knowledgeable. Beautiful decoration inside the mansion during Christmas time. Highly recommended!

Led by a very highly skilled federal staff and volunteers…read more Wonderfully kept and truly q great place to visit. A Pike County PA treasure.

Wow. What a unique, random gem and historic property. What is Fonthill and why is there a castle in…read moreDoylestown, Pennsylvania? Fonthill Castle was the home of archeologist and tile maker Henry Chapman Mercer. (Also in Doylestown are two more Mercer buildings you can tour - the Mercer Museum and the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works building, the business Mercer ran and where most of the tiles in the castle were produced.) Henry Mercer seems like he was an interesting guy, and you can see that in his home - 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, 200 windows, who knows how many staircases...! And designed and decorated in a way I've never seen anywhere else. The castle is an early example of poured-in-place concrete building and is a mix of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine architectural styles. And there are, of course, Moravia tiles (and some historic and international tiles that he collected during his life) throughout the house - almost more than you could imagine. We visited last Saturday to experience their "Fonthill Castle Holiday Lights Meander Experience," which allows you to visit the castle through a self-guided experience (there were staff in various rooms who were happy to answer questions) and enjoy a series of Christmas trees on display throughout the home. I definitely enjoyed the experience but am definitely planning a return visit to see the castle in better light (not at night in the dark - which was perfect for the Christmas tree experience) - they offer 60-minute guided tours though the house for most of the year! The castle is pretty wild, and I look forward to visiting it again and experiencing it in a new way. If you are interested in architecture, art, crafts, the Arts and Crafts design movement, or just quirky, unusual places, definitely add Fonthill to your list and check it out!

Amazing property, it is a hidden gem. Went with my family for the tour and everyone enjoyed it!read more

On our random visit, entrances to the Lambert Castle and Tower were closed, but the road was open…read more We were able to admire this lovely structure from outside. Our intention anyway was to go hiking. That was accomplished. From the area of the tower, which sits higher than the castle, some panoramic views can be seen ofthe surrounding cityscape. You can also find other hiking trails that lead you further along the hilltop. A perfectly beautiful day also makes this spot... - lovely for a picnic - picturesque for a photoshoot - ideal for a background in your vlog - an escape from the noise of a busy week - nice for a nap or daydream - sweet for something romantic - zen for meditation

I took a tour of Lambert Castle a couple days prior and felt the need to explore the tower up the…read morehill. It was beautiful! Elegant stone work. A trellis covered in vines. Views of nature all the way to NYC that would've been glorious many decades ago. The valley is a bit over developed now, but still impressive. This tower would've been an extension of the extravagant home below. Just walking around it gives you a sense of power and incorporation into nature on this unique mountain in the middle of a densely populated city. Garret mountain, holds this gem, and many others. Well worth a visit!

This place is awesome we enjoyed it so much! Random stop on our way home from Philadelphia. This…read moreplace was really neat the cavern was awesome with great formations and lots to see. Our tour guide and staff were great too and were friendly. Price was great and loads of parking available. They also have a nature trail as well on the property.

Shorter guided cavern tour, which was original the Heller town Cave and then became Lost River…read moreCaverns. Our tour guide had informed our group, that the Lost River origin is still yet to be determined.History dates back to quarry workers 1883, public tours since 1930. My favorite parts of the tour were the 300 year old stallagitite, and the water throughout the cave; containing dulehemitite limestone, which contains magnesium, and if one drank the water , the bathroom would be their friend, lol. Overall, fun way to beat the heat and learn something new .

Makes for a nice road trip from the city. Breathtaking views from the carved out areas where you…read morecould pull off with your car. I went on a fall weekday and it was definitely difficult to find a spot to pull over as there were plenty of people doing the same thing and taking photos however it was definitely worth the drive. Take a trip!

Breathtaking Views Use The Several Scenic Overlook Areas To Stop And Take It All In…read more "Hawk's Nest is a scenic location outside Port Jervis, New York. Its name is derived from the birds of prey that nest in the area. The location is also known for its winding roads and scenic overlooks in the Delaware River Valley." "New York State Route 97, which traverses the site, was originally a one lane dirt road beginning in 1859. It was paved between 1931-1933 and subsequently dedicated in 1939, and rededicated on September 21, 2002, as part of the "Upper Delaware Scenic Byway", according to a historical marker placed by the Town of Deerpark, where Hawk's Nest is located. The cautionary speed limit on the Hawk's Nest portion of Route 97 is 25 miles per hour (40 km/h); however, the actual speed limit is 55 mph." Truly Amazing

Museum always a has interesting things on exhibit. Exhibits change throughout the year so it's…read morealways nice to come back and see what's on exhibit. Right now it's Treasures of Middlesex County. Very interesting to see all the objects

After passing the Cornelius Lowe House virtually every day for the past 6 years, I finally made a…read moreconscious decision to try and visit. About 6 months later, based on my gf's suggestion we finally visited. I expected that this historical house would be full of historical furniture or reenactors or something old timey. However, this was not the case. The house actually serves as a small rotating museum exhibition space. During our visit, they had an exhibit on NJ Diners. There are only two floors of the house so it isn't a huge museum by any means. The exhibit took about an hour for me to read through everything and I though it was pretty interesting. I'm not sure how often they rotate the exhibits out but I'd certainly come back when they do. The house was unexpectedly air conditioned. The self guided tour was totally free. Also, the workers seemed really friendly. The only hitch is parking is confusing. The main driveway is a super narrow and scary road right off of River Road. Don't go in here. Parking is actually plentiful behind the house, which is in the lot of the visitor center on Rutgers Busch Campus. Some signs showing where to park would have been helpful.

I have been disgustingly obsessed with this place for a good 20 years. When I used to live in the…read morearea, I'd drive on lake road just to get a few glimpses - or sneak up on the Matheny side to get a good look. When I saw that Blairsden was being served as the Mansions In May this year, I nearly died. The finest example of Beaux Arts architecture in the US ( built by Carr'ere and Hastings - who also built the New York Public Library & the Frick) So when tickets went up for $50 a piece - I quickly snapped a few up and alerted my wonderful BF (who has no interest in this) of what we were to do on Mother's Day. Turnout was expected to be tremendous, so 25 shuttles were offered to and from the mansion from the Fowler rd parking area. We got there at 12:00 and waited just a few minutes to board. By the time our shuttle was full, there was a good 20 people waiting for the next bus. We entered from the main gates on peapack rd and zipped up to the top of the hill. There were about 100 people waiting to enter the home in front of us - well worth the wait. Each room has been redesigned by interior decorators from around the US. Most of the rooms had tidbits of history here and there. Original sinks, faucets, lighting, fire hose, elevator, etc etc as well as molding, fireplaces, windows, flooring. This house was a masterpiece! I only wish they had spent more on the grounds as you were unable to see the ravine built for the home. Again - this is just for the month of May and all the proceeds to toward a good cause (Morristown Medical Center) GO GO GO!!

Beautiful tour this morning of the historic Rutherfurd Hall. Easily accessible off Route 80 [exit…read more19) in Allamuchy, NJ. Well preserved and run by a friendly staff with Joan Salvas (local historian and a great tour guide). They are planning a series of jazz concerts thru the spring, which should be interesting. The venue is also open for private parties and as a wedding venue.

Rutherfurd Hall is an amazing cultural center with an amazing historical story…read more This tutor-style house was designed by Whitney Warren, who later won the bid to design Grand Central Terminal. The landscape of the grounds were also designed by the Olmsted Brothers who became famous for designing/landscaping many of today's national parks. The Rutherfurd family lived here as early as the mid-eighteenth century, and over their families time here hosted many famous titans of industry and even future American presidents. There's a really fun/interesting story about FDR and Alice Morton. Later, Rutherfurd Hall was donated to the church and used as a type of retirement home for the nuns. Rutherfurd Hall is now owned by the Allamuchy School District who does a great job utilizing it to maintain this beautiful structure. If you go on a Wednesday, you'll be able to receive a tour through the beautiful home. Their tour guides are absolutely fantastic and know so much of the history so thoroughly it is really impressive. Rutherfurd Hall does weddings on it's own, but a local venue David's Country Inn also holds wedding ceremonies on the grounds. I'll be having my ceremony at Rutherfurd Hall and could not be more excited!