Came here at night. It was so beautiful and amazing. Truly breathtaking…read more I want to come back and see it during the day.

Growing up in Garfield, I never even knew that we had waterfalls b/c river road wasn't the nicest…read moreroad to drive down. Now, they really changed it. They paved the entire street, added a sidewalk, a playground, and a ramp down to the waterfall. It definitely adds beauty to our town. I now run down there and enjoy the sites. Now this isn't the Niagara Falls by any measure, but its a simple citys gem.. I think its great and i'll be running around here a lot more often... not to mention- they will be opening up a new wawa right around here very shortly!!

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!

Don't look for this work of art. It's not there. If you were lucky enough to see it, write a…read morereview. It's pretty cool if you stare and stare. Then all of a sudden you realize what you're looking at! My photos are from April 14, 2016. It was a beautiful Spring Day. I am enjoying reminiciing about today during the Arctic Blast!

"Van Gogh's Ear", a public art sculpture by Elmgreen & Dragset, is in place at 30 Rockefeller…read morePlaza, right across the street from the entrance to Sak's 5th Ave. The sculpture, by the same duo that brought us the Prada Marfa Store in the middle of the Texas desert, is a tribute to the ready-made style of Marcel Duchamp. The sculpture is a 30 foot tall swimming pool, taken out of its normal context and displayed in its side with a diving board built in at the top. One of my favorite elements are the working lights on the inside left and right of the pool sculpture. Being that it's out of context - a recreational object in the middle of a commercial center - it creates a sense of longing and desire for recreation over industry and gives you an off-kilter feeling (why am I going to work when I could be swimming!). Overall a great piece of colorful public art at placed I a great spot for the perfect season. The piece is on display from April 13th though June 3rd, 2016. Catch it while you can!

Joe made my trip! I had an excellent experience…read more My father was born and raised in the Bronx, but this is my first time in NYC. I am very interested in my father's upbringing, and wanted to see his neighborhood, as well as important personal landmarks. Several people- including other local tour guides, told me this neighborhood was too dangerous and I should do something else with my time. Joe met me at my hotel, and we took the subway together to the old neighborhood. Not only did Joe make me feel safe, he was friendly, knowledgeable, and prepared. He brought pictures of special landmarks, like my father's apartment building (which no longer exists) and my father's favorite candy shop, which has been a bodega for decades. He was also able to tell me a great deal about the history of the neighborhood. I strongly recommend Joe to anyone looking for a tour guide.

Joe is awesome! If you are thinking about a tour of Harlem or any tour that Joe offers, do it. We…read morebooked the Harlem tour at 10pm the night before. He met us at our hotel promptly the next afternoon, took us on the subway and chatted with us the whole time. Joe is very personable. We arrived in Harlem in 15 -20 mins later and began our tour the minute we exited the station. We were stopped a few times, because Joe is well-known in Harlem, being a native. Folks love him, and we understand why. He is a genuinely nice guy who loves his city and is proud of his and its culture. Joe's knowledge of the city and it's history made for an informative experience. If we had more time in NYC, we certainly would have booked him again for another tour in a different part of the city. Do yourself a favor and book a tour with Joe!

just outstanding! Nancy and Liz are wonderful. Liz's breakfast are amazing…read more They take personalized service to your every need and question. The castle is magnificent and the botanical gardens are intoxicating. you simply must go there and then experience it for yourself.

Absolutely beautiful venue, but there were several aspects that are lacking. I stayed here for two…read morenights as part of a bridal party. My friend got married here, and the wedding was gorgeous and memorable! I'll go into more detail on the feedback. Upon arrival, it's very confusing. It's hard to figure out where to park and where to check-in. There's no visible staff and doors were locked so I had to call multiple times to reach someone who could let us in. There's also a strict curfew so you need to get back BEFORE 10pm or else you can't get into the building. This happened to us when we got back at 10pm from dinner and were all locked out. We had to call and text for an hour before we were able to reach someone. The person let us in, but also told us not to text the number we texted (but it was also ironically the only way we actually reached someone...) Food is hit or miss. On the morning of the wedding, we were all shocked that they were serving the bridal party moldy strawberries. I wish I had taken a photo so I can share it here, but we were in such a hectic busy rush that morning, I didn't get the chance to. The strawberries were not slightly moldy. They were literally COVERED in mold. I don't know how this got past the kitchen. They were literally covered in white fuzzy mold. We obviously didn't eat these. During the cocktail hour, there was decent food. However, during the dinner, the steak was terrible. I couldn't even eat half of it. The steak was supposed to be medium rare but it was over well done and extremely chewy and rubbery. Breakfast was basic and some things were not good (stale pastries). My favorite food was probably the soup at dinner and the oysters during cocktail hour. The seafood tasted fresh! The room I stayed in was beautiful though and I loved it! The only complaint I have about the room is the shower. There was only cold water and it was so hard to take a shower... painfully cold.

If you want a thorough history of this cool spot, read the previous review. It's excellent and what…read moreinspired me to come visit. As someone who had a grandfather who survived WWII and a great uncle that did not, it was poignant to see such a nice depiction. I'd recommend it to anyone else who had relatives serve for the same reason.

For 1.3 million World War II American soldiers, Piermont, NY was their last stop in the country…read morebefore they sailed across the Atlantic to join the war in Europe. They were housed in nearby Camp Shanks, and on the day they left America to join the war, 40,000 men a month walked down the pier, and boarded either a ship to France or a ferry to New York on their way to England. For many, the walk down the Piermont pier was their final walk on American soil. This striking monument features a statue of a helmeted GI in full uniform. He has a hand grenade and a shovel on his belt, and a sash with many pockets for equipment storage. His right hand is raised in a sign of farewell. His left hand is resting on a stone whose plaque bears the following inscription: Last Stop U.S.A. During World War Two, 40,000 U.S. troops per month, including many Piermont residents, passed this spot enroute to the end of Piermont Pier, the largest port of embarkation on the East Coast, where ships were waiting to transport them to military duty in war-torn Europe. Many of these troops landed on the shores of France where the invasion began on June 6, 1944. Thus this area came to be known as "Last Stop U.S.A." After the war came to a victorious conclusion, some 533,869 men returned home to the U.S.A. first setting foot on their homeland at the end of that same Piermont Pier. "Lest We Forget," many of the men who embarked from Piermont never returned. This plaque is dedicated to the honor of those who served and the sacred memory of those who never returned. Dedicated 1994

While I love history and learning new things, I'll be honest and admit that I'm not generally a fan…read moreof touring historic homes, it just doesn't do much for me, but even with that said, of the 4 old estates I toured this weekend, Kykuit was the least noteworthy. Though the guide's knowledge was great, the house itself... Meh. Age and apathy seem to have settled the house down into a state not quite approaching disrepair but not far off either. What once may have been grandiose is now just old, jaded, faded, and big, but not fancy, while the conservation service running the show seems disinclined to keep up with the grounds on any level other than blowing leaves away from the walkways. Even the cars in the museum have half flat tires. Waste of time and money.

Great experience at the Kykuit Highlights Tour…read more This tour is about 1.5 hours and covers the first floor of the estate and outside. There are other (longer) tours that include more of the estate if you like. All tours leave from the Visitor's Center. There is a large parking lot there...but there is also some overflow parking around the corner ii needed. The overflow lot is a short walk to the Visitor's Center. The center has a large shop with lots of gifts and souvenirs. There are also some snacks and bakery-items (coffee, tea, pastries) available for purchase. There are bathrooms and the ticketing area. You check in at the ticketing area and are given a hand band. A bus (very nice and comfy) will take the tour guests from the visitor's center to the estate...the ride is about 10 minutes. The tour guide will also be on the bus offering some information throughout the ride, including information on the structures and facilities within the larger estate as you pass those by. The tour itself was great...but I can see some may want to visit the other floors of the estate, which is only included in the longer tours. Lots of information throughout the tour. They do keep the schedule pretty tight though as I noticed our tour guide checking the schedule regularly to determine how much time to spend at each room. I understand this is crucial in order to accommodate the various timed tours but it does leave little room for asking questions and some of it felt a little rushed. Photography is ONLY permitted outside of the estate. You cannot take photos inside the estate. You are taken back to the visitor's center when the tour it completed. Overall I had a great visit. I would love to return to view some of the other offerings...such as the Philipsburg Manor. All staff I encountered were friendly and helpful.

Verona/Montclair, NJ - this medieval castle-like mansion was the cozy home of industrialist…read moreFrederic Ellsworth Kip in the early 1900s, and, saved from the ignominious fate of being developed into a row of townhouses during the modern era, the estate is now part of the historic Essex County Park System and thankfully is being preserved as an eventual resource center for the arts & culture. Although the 11-acre grounds of Kip's Castle Park is open from dawn to dusk year-round, the house itself is normally closed to the public except for a brief few days around Christmas, when the home is decorated in vintage holiday splendor and the first floor is open to viewing. The home looks grand but is charmingly intimate inside. It doesn't take long to tour but makes for a lovely little visit if you happen to find yourself in the area over the holidays.

I absolutely love castles! First visit!…read more Kips Castle is a replica of a Medieval Castle! Located in Verona and Montclair New Jersey. The Castle was closed but you can explore the 11 acres of land on the ridge of First Mountain. You have beautiful views of the New York skyline. On our way out, saw the deers!!

Beautiful walkway area of Central Park ,lined by trees featuring statues of literary greats. This…read morepaved area features many statues, information plaques on many, vendors along the way, and benches to sit on during a nice day and watch the world go by. It leads to the Bethesda Fountain and Naumberg Bandshell area where NYRR centers its race central during its many events throughout the year.

The Mall and Literary Walk in Central Park is a beautiful, popular and educational environment. The…read moreMall is one of Central Park's most important landscapes and horticultural wonders. The Mall is a wide, straight path lined by rows of American elm trees. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux as a formal promenade and gathering space. Like many of my favorite areas in the Park, I enjoy strolling, sitting, people-watching, listening to music, contemplating monuments, and admiring trees. I was there recently and I can't wait for you to see my photos. It was a really enjoyable day in Central Park. When you visit the park be sure to set aside time for exploring the Mall and Literary Walk. Enjoy!

I counted only 95 steps. Still plenty of steps. The panoramic views are partly obstructed but…read moreyou'll see the tops of some well-known buildings.

Beautiful stairs. If you are around the area, it is a nice place to climb up these stairs & get…read moresome exercise and get amazing views of the area. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but will sure make a visit if I am nearby.