I visited this location when they were hosting a gems/minerals show…read more There was a ton of parking on the grass (no designated paved parking lot). The grounds are beautiful and set right in the woods. This was a great location for a gems and mineral show (or any type of show, really). They had the doors open for the train museum but we didn't go in in any of the buildings. From what we saw from outside, it was nicely decorated inside and clean.

What a great place to visit. A tremendous history lesson on machinery and mining in CT. Very…read moreinformal and informative. Completely dependent on volunteers and donations. Worth stopping by.

This is, hands down, the coolest little museum I've ever had the fortune to stumble upon! There's…read morean impressive collection of early American tools, and the curator knows a tremendous amount. There's also an art gallery and even Eric Sloane's old studio, which is super cool. Be sure to look out for a stone outside emblazoned with "god knows I tried." When I commented on it the docent laughed and said that he wrote his own epitaph, and yes, he's buried right there. Eric Sloane is a total legend and this museum is a delight. I'm looking forward to returning for one of their events.

Nice little museum of old tools. My husband particularly enjoyed the old axes. He was familiar with…read moreEric Sloanes books. Bonus that there is a separate engine museum Nearby!

I don't think I understand modern art, yet I spend hours here every visit…read more I usually prefer to wonder alone but sometimes tours are nice because then I can talk to others who also enjoy but don't understand the exhibits either.

Beacon, NY - virtually every person I've brought to DIA has had the exact same reaction of "WTF is…read morethis?" when they glance upon the pile of dirt, roomful of garbage, or giant monochromatic canvas, and throw up their hands in irritation and bewilderment. It's part of the fun (at least everything's a conversation piece, as you argue what is the point/meaning of this), but I appreciate the BS check called out by my philistine friends and husband who are unmoved by the academic hoo-ha that I, a pretentious art twat fed a steady diet of "theory & criticism" at university, so love to make a cerebral meal out of. Conceptual and contemporary art aren't everyone's cup of tea, but you don't have to understand or even appreciate art to bask in this massive gallery of space, light, airiness, minimalist beauty, and contemplation. To walk through these open spaces is meditation. And if you stay into the afternoon, the light is spectacular. Plus, like in any art museum, it's always fun to check out the hip international street fashion people are sporting. In addition to the changing exhibitions and installations showcasing both established voices and next-gen up-and-comers, DIA boasts works of magnificent scale by the likes of Richard Serra, Andy Warhol, Louise Bourgeois, Gerhardt Richter, etc. in its permanent or longterm collection that to me is worth the price of admission alone. The collection highlights works by many important artists of the 60s & 70s, the era in which DIA was founded to help artists achieve visionary projects that were ambitious in size or scope. The basement level always has cool special exhibits, so don't miss it! And if you think "jeez my kid can make this!", take them to the family friendly events and programs like Saturday Studio where your little Mondrian or Damien Hurst in the making can create projects that are surely refrigerator- if not gallery-worthy. Then save it for 40 years and auction off their "Untitled #1" or tape a piece of fruit to a wall for buckaroos when they become famous. If this experience really leaves you miserable, you can escape to the quaint towns of Beacon or nearby Cold Springs after, where there's lots to do, shop, eat & drink. This is a fantastic stretch of the Hudson Valley to explore! To conclude, I'd love to invite you to my next performance art happening, where I light a pile of debris on fire and title it "Hot Trash."

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.

We patiently waited for the government to open up so we could visit some of the historical homes…read moreand mansions of the Hyde Park area before winter kicked in. Here we are, five (5) weeks later, on Saturday, 15th November, 2025, we (and thousands more) were finally able to make the trip to beautiful Hyde Park. Apparently everyone had the same idea today, and 'tis a Saturday. Who knew?!! Tickets were sold out by noon. Thus, we were only allowed a mere walkabout of the spectacular grounds of the estate. Oh, well... No worries, we will return. Most likely during warmer temps next Spring. At least we had the pleasure to view the remaining autumn foliage of the vast estate gardens and the outdoor grandeur of the dear Vanderbilt mansion. Until next time... 4 stars - Thank you government.

My mother is a lover of all things old Hollywood, so when I learned of this museum online, I knew I…read morehad to take our family as a Christmas present. We weren't sure what to expect from our experience, but we spent about an hour here and thought it was really cool! The owner is so nice and really takes the time to go through each and every piece of his exhibit with you. Learning about the connections he had with the actors and how he obtained the different props was so interesting. If you're looking for something different to do, I recommend stopping by for a tour!

The Witch's Dungeon Classic Movie Museum is a classic movie monster museum that opened in Bristol,…read moreConnecticut in 1966. It was founded by local artist Cortlandt Hull. As a young boy, Hull was frequently ill and occupied much of his time by building Aurora monster plastic model kits. He soon became fascinated with movie makeup and how it could transform an actor into a fearsome creature. Hull was disappointed with the "Chamber of Horrors" at many wax museums, so he decided to open his own horror museum. He started building life-size monster figurines. The first one he built was "Zenobia, The Gypsy Witch". Hull's father Robert helped him build a Swiss chalet-style building to house the full-size monsters, and the museum officially opened in 1966 when Hull was just 13-years-old. As an adult, Hull worked in the film industry creating art prints as well as creating special effects make-ups. He made a lot of connections with various actors and make-up artists over the years. His museum continued to grow and the monster figures continued to improve. For several decades the small museum was located on Hull's home property and was only open during the Halloween season. In the 2010s, the museum relocated to the Bristol Historical Society. There was more room for the monster figures and Hull was also able to showcase many of the authentic movie props he had collected over the years. The museum moved to its current larger location in Plainville in time for Halloween 2020. It is now open year-round, not just for Halloween. I have visited the Witch's Dungeon several times over the years since I was just a young boy. I still remember that first visit very well because it made such an impression on me. I'm a huge fan of the classic movie monsters. I've enjoyed watching the museum grow and improve over the following decades. There's an impressive collection of various movie artifacts and props, but the real stars of the museum are the full size figures of classic monsters that appeared from the 1920s to the 1950s. Some of my favorites include the Frankenstein Monster, the Phantom of the Opera, Count Orlok, the Fly, and the Werewolf of London. The latter was portrayed by Hull's great uncle: the late actor Henry Hull. If you're a fan of horror films then you must visit the Witch's Dungeon Classic Movie Museum!

I went to the museum as part of their maple syrup day, where they had people explaining how trees…read moreare tapped and maple syrup is produced, as well as having a pancake breakfast with local syrup. The rest of the museum was available, and honestly, this is a good half day to see minimum (especially if it's part of a larger event). The museum is four rooms, and they're all packed with information. One has Amerindian crafts from all over the country, and another includes what an actual dwelling would look like with tools on the inside, and a beautiful mural on the opposite wall showing what a day would have looked like to local Amerindian people. It feels like each display has a comprehensive sign, and each sign is pretty interesting. There is also a great gift shop with everything from local souvenirs to beautiful jewelry, to books for children and adults.

How have lived in Connecticut over 25 years and not known of this incredible little museum?…read more Nestled deep in the woods with only minimal highway signage, this modern, circular museum highlights the centuries of history of North American woodland Indians in a well designed, artifact-rich collection. Wait for the docent-led tour. Ours was a young historian who really knew his stuff. And don't miss the historic recreations of wooden Indian homes just a few yards up the hill. Kids will really enjoy exploring the grounds.

"Nights in white satin Never reaching the end…read moreLetters I've written Never meaning to send" (Moody Blues) The White Memorial Conservation Center is truly an embarrassment of riches. Our visit started with a stop at their Nature Museum, which was spectacular. The building is jam-packed with exhibits of the area wildlife in the form of dozens of taxidermied animals. So expect to see things like bears, mountain lions, birds, foxes, fish, geese, deer, butterflies, snakes, etc. Children will be enthralled by them, if not a little scared by the snakes, and pointy toothed fishes. Much of the museum is dedicated to children, with their "Children's Corner" of a live beehive, a very cool digital microscope, a big display on "The Art of Taxidermy," and a fluorescent rock cave where black light turns some ordinary looking rocks into an acid trip-like experience. But the museum is just the tip of the iceberg because surrounding it is a massive system of 40 miles of trails that crisscross the property. We hiked on their most popular trail, known as the Little Pond or Boardwalk Trail. Yes, it's a real boardwalk that stretched well over a mile over the swampy wetlands in a loop around the pond. Fair warning- the boardwalk at times is pretty narrow and there are no guardrails at all. So as long as you watch your step you'll see and hear a lot - songbirds, bullfrogs, gorgeous water views, and a huge beaver dam are some of the highlights. The scenery is breathtaking. What a wonderful place to visit. We sure had an outstanding time here.

I came here to visit family and was told this was a popular place to walk or explore. There was a…read morecenter building here but I didn't get a chance to go in so only experience the walking path they had. Overall, it was a very nice walk. I came on a day where the temperature was a bit chilled but the sun was out (thankfully no bugs bothered me and not hot at all). There was this little wooden path you walk on to avoid possible mud or uneven paths so was cool for me. There were very beautiful colors out for the season and the water looked cool (wouldn't swim in it though). Was able to see a few birds and even a snake too but no where near me thankfully. There were a few folks around but wasn't overcrowded at all. It was a fun place to explore and would come back for sure. Hopefully get a chance to check out the center as I'm sure has information about the area.

What a great little historic spot tucked along the Hudson River. We were trying to kill time before…read morean afternoon wedding and I came across this place while searching online. This historic site was home to pivotal decisions during the Revolutionary War, made by George Washington himself. The museum/buildings themselves have limited hours (which are listed on the parks website) but we were able to walk the grounds freely which was nice. There are gates/fencing surrounding the site, which were locked as we went around - but toward the opposite side of the site (where I believe their designated parking lot is? We weren't sure but it looked like their lot) there is an opening where you can walk a gravel path that will take you through the site. It was really cool being able to see the buildings here. Even though the park is nestled in a neighborhood/town, I felt pretty immersed in the history just walking along the paths. We got to see the buildings that George Washington was present in, plus the various monuments that were erected on site. The state parks put up informational signs around the area so we could easily read up on the history. It was a really nice way to get even just a taste of history while we were here, which was perfect for our constricted time frame. If I'm ever traveling this way again, I'd definitely try to make it for a tour of the interiors.

Very nice park to walk around. There are few historic monuments here. Great views. If you are…read morenearby, definitely worth visiting.

My wife and I went for the "Bats: Mystery of the Night" exhibit. The grounds were well kept. There…read morewas much to explore. The exhibit took place the ballroom which was like a learning center on the site. Kailey was our host, she was so personable and knowledgeable. Her personality and love for the subject made the presentation. It would have been better served to be timed more toward sundown as that's when bats could be seen, however there was the offer to stay after the program to wait and see if bats showed on the site. Overall, it was a nice program and experience. My only suggestion would have been to start on time as a few families rolled in 15-20 minutes after. It was on them to get there on time, but the hosts kindness allowed us to wait for them. It wasn't a huge interruption, so only worth mentioning.

Lots to see and touch. Animal show was great. Most…read moreappropriate for 2 to 8 year olds but my older ones had a good time as well.

Went on the weekend on a Saturday with my grandson and daughter. Don't let the size fool you it was…read morepacked with so many activities. We were there almost 4 hrs! I would come again. Only complaint is that I am in a wheelchair and the ramp going in was not cleared wide enough of the snow and the one part was ice.

What a wonderful children's museum! With many hands-on exhibits and a pretend-play town. Located on…read morethe Poughkeepsie waterfront, it was a great stop for us to cool down and for my kiddo to take a fun break after we did Walkway Over the Hudson. There are two levels: the first floor is geared more toward younger kids and has several play areas including a fire station/fire truck with dress-up costumes, play-pretend market and cafe, a maker studio, a play room with a train track, foam blocks and some structures, and a couple of other exhibits. The second floor is suitable for both younger and older kids and is STEM focused, with exhibits that demonstrate scientific principles in a fun and educational way. My toddler was so excited to explore everything and could have spent hours in here. I'd say it's best suited for kids under 10. The website says up to 12yo but honestly I think the tweens of today would be quickly bored. Admission is $13 whether for kids or adults (under 1 free). The museum wasn't very crowded, and has seating all around for parents to sit and watch while the children played.