Very cool, well restored, first home in the area owned by Thomas Bull who had the original patentread more

Went here as a kid on a school trip. Very interesting, even for a young child…read more Too, I lived only two miles down the road and knew many of the kids who lived in the house at the time, Lisa Brown, Tim Brown, et al. Nice family. WELL worth your time to go (if they still give tours).

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! :)

A Hudson Valley wine tour to celebrate a friend's landmark birthday was perfect! Hudson Valley…read moreBucket list did an outstanding job coordinating the day from transport and an itinerary of beautiful wineries to a magazine photo worthy picnic lunch orchestrated by an on-site host. Our group of 12 were treated like special guests everywhere we went and we were wowed by the friendly, welcoming reception at each stop and the delicious wines we were able to taste. HVBL made planning this event easy and the day memorable

Becky was the best and the day couldn't have been planned any better! Best time ever !read more

4/10/26 (Update) After many years, I was so excited to see…read morethe reopening of the refurbished Lambert Castle. You can purchase your tickets online or at the new visitors center. The admission tickets are $10. Zak was a wonderful tour guide. He gave us the history of the castle owners. In 1892, the castle was built by Catholina Lambert (the owner of the Paterson Silk Mills for his wife). Please see my original review for the history. We were informed "Not to photograph any of the interior in order to preserve the interior for future visitors". Upon entering the castle, you will be required to put booties on over your shoes. This is in order to preserve the floors. The castle does have 3 levels along with an elevator. In the foyer overhead, you'll see a magnificent colorful rectangle shaped Tiffany light fixture. It extends approximately 2' Wide and 6' in length. The furnishings were very elegant, yet very homey. All the rooms are filled with stunning sculptures and artwork. Some of items were on loan from different places. For example: The beautiful Grandfather clocks really caught my eye. They were on loan from the Ringwood Manor. (The Ringwood Manor is presently being refurbished and will be reopening soon). Hope everyone gets a chance to see this beautifully refurbished castle. Lambert Castle has two levels of parking.

I usually do not update my reviews but after hearing about the reopening of Lambert Castle in…read moreJanuary 2026 after a 5 year renovation project, I decided to visit and do an update review. Lambert Castle was built by Catholina Lambert in 1892 by an English immigrant who made his fortune in the silk industry in Paterson, New Jersey. The castle reflects the trappings of the Gilded Victorian Era. Lambert accrued a prominent American and European painting and sculpture collection which he showcased in a 100' x 35' art gallery. This luxurious residence was visited by notable rich and famous people of the day which included President William McKinley. Lambert Castle is listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historical Places in 1976. Admission is $10.

Hubby recently booked a Polar Express experience with Catskills Mountain Railroad for our family,…read moreand I have to say, I was beyond ecstatic! This was a first for all of us and it was especially meaningful for me. My husband has been helping me relive my childhood one memory at a time, so being able to experience this together as a family was truly special. I'd never seen or read The Polar Express in its entirety though I'd heard so many wonderful things about it, which made me even more excited for the train ride. From start to finish the experience was magical. The highlight for me was the hot chocolate. It was absolutely amazing! The cookies were nice too, though they were more on the okay side, but the fact that they came from a local bakery made it feel that much sweeter. The trip was full of joy and excitement. It was a beautiful way to create family memories and celebrate the holiday season. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to add a bit of magic to their Christmas traditions.

If you like looking at tree trunks, this is the ride for you! If you can't sit on boards for more…read morethan a few minutes, bring a pillow. Only one of the open air "carriages" has backs on the benches... the others are just... benches. There are two enclosed carriages but the windows don't open. We came through Kingston on a river cruise, and this was one of the excursions. I imagine the special rides are really good... Polar Express, maybe the Easter ride. Good for children, too, but for mature adults, I wish I'd caught an Uber to the Farmers Market instead.

Such a beautiful historic site. The Wrights were innovators who designed dishes, furniture,…read morehousewares. This house reflected their sense of minimalism and peace.

I was there a few months ago and had a wonderful time with a very enthusiastic and well informed…read moreguide named Maddie who took our group on a 90 minute tour of the house and grounds. It was a very interesting and fun tour. There are also 3 trails available that you can walk after the tour if you choose to do so ranging in difficulty. I deducted a star because this particular tour is not accessible for everyone especially the elderly or anyone who may have issues with their balance and/or mobility. I think they should reconsider because the terrain could be incredibly challenging. Even though it is briefly mentioned on their website I still believe this point should be more clearly emphasized or explained.

It was fall, we were headed up north for apple picking but it was raining, and my girl likes…read moretouring old homes. You do the math... As far as old home tours go, this one was pretty interesting, and our guide was a veritable font of knowledge! Not only about the home, but also the residents and the transitions from one to another, etc. A horror movie was filmed here so that's pretty cool. I watched it once we got home. Sadly, it was not good...

I visited the Armour-Stiner Octagon House, when I drove up to the area from the city last weekend,…read moreand it was a great tour. I had only visited one other octagon house before (Longwood in Natchez, Mississippi), and I'm still fascinated by this architectural trend (apparently octagon houses were big in the 1850s?!). The Armor-Stiner Octagon House is beautiful, and it has such an interesting history. First off, it's the only known fully domed octagonal house, which gives it a very different look from the others. It's also soooo Victorian - with gorgeous paint colors, gingerbread detailing, and veranda. The house was fascinating to tour for many reasons. One is that the house is privately owned. It's owned by the preservationist architect who painstakingly restored the house over several years, but it's open for tours. Another is just that it's an octagonal house - it's only the second I've seen in person. Another is that the house contains some pretty incredible rooms - the Egyptian Revival style music room took my breath away. The last and perhaps most important reason I loved the tour is the story about the Lombardi family and their work to restore the home. From how they found English wool carpets as close as possible to what would have been in the house when it was built to the story about an incredible bed and bedroom set, I was really inspired by how much they loved and honored this home. Our tour guide was lovely - informative, friendly. And the tour was really fascinating. This is definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! If you don't love octagonal houses yet - it might make you love them.

"Holy Horseshoe Batman!"…read more What an absolutely amazing little museum in the heart of Goshen! I've blown past this little gem countless times and finally made my visit. Admission is free because of the amazing generosity of major donors. The staff is super amazing and eager to help you explore the vast displays of historic artifacts about harness horse racing. They even have an active track in the back where they do active races where the general public can attend during June & July. You may see horses out there doing exercises with their handlers. There are two levels of historic displays. Almost everything can't really be touched but there is a harness and horse on the second floor where visitors can sit and take photos on. If you miss photo opportunity a cute motion detecting horse will alert you that it's ok to take photos on the horse harness setup. Truly amazing experience in a quaint museum in the beautiful village of Goshen!

A very interesting and educational museum. If you are into race horses, or just curious about how…read morethey got their start in the USA, this is the place to see. This is the oldest active harness racing track in the country. The people working there are friendly and helpful. You can even go into the paddock and see the horses up close. Admission is always free.

A great slice of Americana in upstate NY I stumbled upon this track and museum while visiting…read moreGoshen and found it to be a fun filled stop in my afternoon. While it's an active track z there was no activity the day of my visit. I was able to explore every bit of the facility and truly feel the history of the site of America's oldest horse track! Very well maintained facility with a museum on site. The track is much larger than I thought it would be. I look forward to a future visit where I'll be able to catch a day of racing.

Absolutely Awesome Experience!!!…read more Young or old this place is simply a fun experience to enjoy if you're in the immediate area. If you're a hardcore horse racing enthusiast then no travel distance will keep you from this track, however if you're the average (or below) race track goer and you live in the immediate area you just have to stop in and enjoy one of these race events. Even if this type of thing doesn't interest you, it's actually really fun to attend/watch. It was my first experience going to a race track, never really considered it my "cup of tea" and only visited because my young daughter absolutely loves horses; even taking horse riding lessons. We ventured off to one of these local races and we both loved it. My daughter naturally loved it because of her love for horses and I absolutely enjoyed it and have no real interest in horses or racing but it was SOOO much fun to watch. Crowds go crazy as the horses round the corner toward the finish line and you can't help but get fired up by the contagious crowd cheering! Epic feeling and rush as everyone cheers as horses cross finish line. For a small entrance fee you get to enjoy the races taking any seat you'd like and pretty much all the seats are great; no bad seats (i.e. nose bleeds). Local vendors were present as well for family fun entertainment. Various vendors setup to sell or donate items. This year the local ice cream vendor, Trail Side Treats, was in attendance donating FREE ice cream to attendees which was so awesome of that local vendor to do. Food, drinks and even beer are available for sale at the concession stands. Even if you don't care for this type of event or never even thought you'd be remotely interested, I DARE you to try it because it's really cool. For the cost of entrance skip your morning Starbucks and try this place out. Fun people won't regret trying it while those lame boring folks will simply dislike it just like everything else that keeps their lives boring. Haha! I double dog dare you to visit and try it!

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