We had a wonderful half day tour of the Catskills and Westside of the Hudson Valley with Seth in…read morehis fully restored vintage Land Rover, "Marianne". We drove the winding roads through the scenic mountain towns of Tannersville, Jewett and Windham. After a delicious lunch of authentic Polish food and a stroll in Catskill, Seth brought us to Left Bank Cider for a tasting flight. I don't know if we would have found half the places we visited if we had gone on our own! The Land Rover itself was great. The seats are set up like stadium seating, allowing for unimpaired sightseeing as we drove; our ride was safe, comfortable and smooth. We have never ridden in anything like it before. Heads turned whenever we drove by! What made the tour even better was Seth's knowledge of the area and his ability to tell a great story. Highly recommended.

From the owner: Hudson Valley Rover Tours is the newest and most innovative way to explore the Catskills and Hudson…read moreRiver Valley. From the unique comfort of our fully restored & modernized 1994 Land Rover Defender 110, we weave together the history, architecture, people, vistas, and craft foods & beverages of the region. All of our outings are private excursions. We offer customizable half and full-day tours. Our time is spent with Marianne, our 1994 Land Rover Defender 110. She is a unique combination of restored original with modern upgrades. The Rover is an original left-hand drive vehicle that is powered by a rebuilt 300Tdi engine. Upgraded with air conditioning/enhanced heating, USB ports, individual leather bucket seat and safari style seating, we are able to carry up to eight guests.

7/9/24 Visit: We were greeted at the dock by Joseph…read moreMassaro's daughter Donna. She transported us and four others by private boat to tour their private island home. Mr. Joseph Massaro had purchased Petra Island for $700,000 in 1996. Frank Lloyd Wright designed a house that Joseph Massaro built. There's a guest house (The Chahroudi Cottage) and the Main house (The Massaro House). The Massaro House is built around a 12-foot-high, 60-foot-long boulder that forms the exterior of the entry and an interior wall. A smaller rock is also used as a wall in the kitchen and bathroom. During our visit, we had the pleasure of meeting Barbara Massaro the wife of the owner. The Frank Lloyd Wright design (The Massaro House) is a special day outing. It's $150 pp. but definitely worth it. Hope you enjoy the photos from my visit. A restroom is available on the Island, after the boat tour. On the dock, there's a designated parking area for Petra Island Tours.

This was not an easy haul from the city by train, but it was quite the adventure!…read more It was such a trek I almost didn't go, but am so glad I did! I took the 80 minute train ride from Grand Central to Croton Falls, a tiny little hamlet that basically looks like a one horse town once you get off at the station (a deli, a cafe, a general store, a wine shoppe, a post office, and that's about it). Then I had to figure out how to get a Lyft to the dock, about five miles away in Mahopec (which was no easy feat, but not impossible). The dock is easy to find by the address they give. The owner is nice and makes a ton of "dad jokes" and the daughter, who is a local chef, helps out. She is also very kind and is the one who keeps things organized and keeps her dad in line ha! They furnish the relaxing, brief boat ride over and back. This house is definitely one of a kind. Situated on an 11 acre island, this is a Frank Lloyd Wright designed/inspired home (there is a story behind designed/inspired that you'll learn about on the tour). Honestly, this would be my dream home/getaway/zombie apocalypse home! Anyone who knows anything about Wright will see him everywhere in this structure. The architecture is absolutely breath-taking. I found myself fantasizing what it must be like to relax on any of the numerous terraces overlooking the water, or how it must feel to enjoy the breeze blowing through the many large pivoting doors. Anyone would be able to enjoy the beauty of this house, not just Wright fans (though they would be the most blown away). The story of the house is pretty interesting, though at times it gets a little heavy into the owner's work and finances. They make the argument that this home is more interesting and beautiful than falling waters, and given the stats (for example, 26--I think--skylights vs. zero) I am inclined to agree. The tour cost 150. For me, it was worth it. They are letting us into their personal residence. They furnish the boat ride. And I can't imagine the property taxes and maintenance. My friend who actually found this tour and suggested it tapped out after she found out the price. But to each their own--I felt it was totally worth it. Again, the owner/owning family is super nice and welcoming. The owner's daughter even offered me a ride back to the train station (I had already called a Lyft), which I felt was above and beyond. This is a small lake-side community with small shoppes and restaurants. Almost feels like Maine or Connecticut in New York, but I wouldn't want to insult the people of Mahopec if that's not an appropriate comparison! Again, the owner's daughter is a chef, and has a local breakfast and lunch spot. You could come out for the day, enjoy the scenery, local people, have some great food, and make a day of it (though this is probably best done by car rather than train!)

Absolute must- visit for anyone interested in design and even American history. Russell wright (no…read morerelation to Frank Lloyd) had a tremendous influence the lifestyle of Americans felt today, with affordable and beautiful kitchenware at the forefront, in ways we very much see today. Similar to a philosophy behind Frederick Church's building of the more famous Olana further up the Hudson, Wright created not just an amazing home but a living landscape. Our guide, Alan, was wonderful. There is some walking up steps and on stone involved, my 86 year old mom was terrified when she read the disclaimer, but we navigated the short incline and paths with much delight and without incident.

Many people are unaware of this fascinating place that was the home of one of this country's most…read moresignificant mid-century designers of objects for the home. Moreover, the setting is enchanting. It is only a bit more than hour from midtown Manhattan by car.

TEP deserves more than 5 stars for the amazing start to finish service we experienced on our 7 day…read moreadventure to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. From the time we signed up, to the time we boarded the plane to return home, TEP took care of every detail. We commented amongst ourselves that we felt like kids on vacation with our parents, as we didn't have to worry about any of the details - just show up and follow Neptali (our guide). From airport pickup in Cusco in luxury Mercedes vans where we were promptly served Coca tea to help with the altitude acclimation, to group dinners at amazing Peruvian restaurants, to historical tours and education on the history of the Inca - everything was covered and taken care of for us. And that was all before the amazing trek along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! Of course the trek itself was the highlight of the trip, and although it was extremely challenging for us, TEP's unbelievable attention to detail did not fail us on the trail. With nearly a 2:1 porter to trekker ration, our every need was met on the trail. We dined like kings every meal, and were consistently amazed with the quality (and nutritional appropriateness) of the food our chef and sous chef were able to put out with minimal kitchen conveniences. The thing I felt was most special about TEP's approach to this trip was the focus on gaining a cultural and historical appreciation for what we were experiencing. Every step along the way, we learned about the native people of Peru, the Inca civilization, the many ruins we came across, the vegetation we saw and how it was and is used, and the history of modern Peru. It was the trip of a lifetime, and have the help of The Explorer's Passage made it so much more enjoyable, and so much more memorable. The value of what they provide is amazing for the cost....rather, for the investment. I highly recommend them!

What a fabulous tour! I did the "Washington in NYC" tour in June 2017 and it was such a wonderful…read moreexperience! So much fascinating historical information that I can't wait to share with all my friends now; such a great group of fellow explorers; and all so perfectly run - well planned, perfectly on time, with a great variety of sights and insights for all types of travelers. I recommend this tour highly - and will be on the lookout for future adventures from The Explorer's Passage! :)

We went there on Maple Syrup Weekend and it was amazing. It was very interesting watching them make…read moretheir syrup. They had some for you to sample and we ended up purchasing some of their syrup.

An absolute must visit! So interesting and delicious. They are so friendly and hospitable. The…read moremaple syrup is unlike any! If I had more room on my suitcase I would have bought up the whole store. I will definitely call and ask for a shipment. This will be fantastic Christmas gifts.

This small cider/winery is an excellent stop on your tour through the Berkshires. They have some…read moreinventive ciders and wines that don't follow the "rules" of flavor profiles. Using grapes shipped from CA and mixing with apples crown on site, this small batch operation is a delightful stop. Specifically, I want to shout out our wine guide who took us through several of their wines. She made our experience there memorable with her amazing personality, charm, and humor. The space is small but offers a variety of options to hang out and enjoy their wines and ciders - inside by the fireplace, outside on the screen porch, or outdoors on the patio. We loved our time at Hilltop and hope to return.

Sara is the best! She is friendly and very knowledgeable about all of the wines. We loved the…read moreunique flavors and the story behind them all. Once we had tasted a bunch and decided on a glass she suggested that we take a walk through the Orchard up to the top of the hill, which was so peaceful and scenic. Of course we got a few bottles to go and the delicious donuts. We would love to come back.