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.

*** 5,500th review ***…read more I don't know what took me so long to check out the Hudson River Museum. The views, alone, would be reason enough to visit. I was initially drawn to the impressive dollhouse, but there are also so many other cool paintings, sculptures, and photographs here. The museum building itself is very bright and welcoming. Check out the courtyard, too, where there were some lawn games over the summer. We also explored the education center, which seems to have an ongoing activities for kids. Next time I visit, I'll check out the planetarium!

Mark Twain called the late 19th century the "Gilded Age." It saw the creation of a modern…read moreindustrial economy, a national transportation and communication network. In the HBO drama "The Gilded Age," the characters are keenly aware that they live in interesting times, and this establishment was featured as Mrs. Astor's home. Built for millionaire banker John Bond Trevor and his family, Glenview Mansion has been painstakingly restored by the Hudson River Museum, which is a hidden gem located in Yonkers. Guided tours are offered to six fully restored rooms (Great Hall, Sitting Room, Parlor, Dining Room, Ebony Library, and Billiard Room), which my partner and I had the pleasure of today at $20 per adult and can be purchased on their website. Since his primary residence was in NYC, this 19th-century seasonal home was used from April to December each year and sits on a 23-acre estate. The owner commuted into his office on Wall Street in New York City, about 23 miles away. Upon entering the mansion, it showcases late Victorian with the colorful tiles on the floor, the high ceilings, and the furniture and fixtures such as the Tiffany and Co. grandfather clock, a Victorian recliner chair, or the storybook tiles over the fireplace in the Great Hallway. The original home featured a wraparound balcony that could be accessed through the Sitting Room, but it was later removed in order to lower maintenance costs. Besides the mansion, the museum is a complex of galleries that present changing art exhibitions, a permanent Hudson River School collection, a planetarium, an amphitheater, and educational spaces for all ages. The staff was friendly. The interior was very well kept and organized. With great views of the Hudson River, this is a relatively short day trip, which we can recommend.

Im not so much of a museum person but since I was in sleepy hallow I said why not. The only museums…read moreI've been to, have been donation based. So when they said it was $20 admission fee. I thought it was a bit pricey. I did a long trek to get to the museum so might as well check it out. It was a beautiful place. Very educational. There were three buildings with modern day people dressed in 1700/1800s clothing. They educated us on the lives of the enslaved people who resided on the property. Very interesting!

This was such a pretty experience. We didn't get to explore the manor as we came to sleepy hollow…read morewithout many ideas of what to find - but we did have a ticket for kykuit. It was interesting to learn so many details about their lives back then, and October's colors were amazing in the large gardens. I would definitely go back to have other tours, learn more about the manor for example. I wish I had booked tickets earlier.

This is my new favorite Hudson Valley historic site! The house was extremely beautiful. The history…read moreof the house and its restoration was fascinating! Forensic architecture, I never knew of that before! The guide was so knowledgeable, he was able to answer every question I posed, and I'm a curious person. Definitely would go back!

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...

We did quite a few old home tours while up in the area and this was easily one of my favorites…read more Guides in period garb explained various portions of the home and answered questions as well. The pace was never hurried or rushed and there was plenty of time for photo opportunities. Unfortunately our day was besieged by high winds, so we didn't explore the grounds much, but the buildings were really fascinating.

Tranquil house out in Sleepy Hallow of the man that made the town famous. Although I think it would…read morebe even more enjoyable near Halloween, this is still a great historical site to learn about Washington Irving as one of the great early American authors. There is a big parking lot then a short trek to the visitor center. The tour groups are small so it can be good to buy tickets online, but we bought them on site with no problem. The gift shop has a lot of great items to peruse while you're waiting. The tour guides dress in period costumes which is a fun touch. Our guide was newish so didn't have all the answers to questions, but she was still pretty knowledgeable. A lot of the items in the house are directly from Irving or his descendants, so it was very informative to learn about his life and his most well-known books. The house has a nice view of the river and makes for a nice walk around the property after when the weather is nice. It's a great site in the Hudson Valley and worth visiting.

I visited for a special exhibit. The parking was far away…read morefrom the event. The permanent collection is worth the trip. It is pretty good for a small scale college museum.

A small underrated museum in the middle of SUNY Purchase college. The place almost empty when we…read morewere there. They housed some contemporary art pieces from reknown artists like deKooning, Pollock, Robert Indiana, etc and also temporary exhibits. Free admission, free parking ( west 1 parking lot ), cold AC, first class art, quiet not crowded museum. What's not to love?

Such a fun and engaging tour with Jean! I learned so much--not just about the lighthouse itself,…read morebut also the rich history of the Tarrytown area. Highly recommend if you're looking for something both informative and enjoyable.

What a beautiful sight this newly refurbished light house is. I'm only sad that it's not yet open…read moreto the public. The sign on the gate says it'll be open by the end of 2024. The River walk behind it is nice but there's a TON of construction going on around it that maybe is timed for end of 2024 as well. One can hope!

This is a hidden gem. PepsiCo headquarters are surrounded by a beautiful sculpture garden that is…read moreopen to public on weekends and is free. This is a great way to spend 1-1.5 hrs walking around meticulously landscaped garden with some nice sculptures. About half the sculptures are modern art which i don't care about. But plenty are actually pleasant to look at. Totems were great looking. Some sculptures are funny like Personage ( aka ET with erection) Overall very enjoyable afternoon here

Such a gorgeous park! The sculptures are varied and fascinating, and the landscaping is beyond…read morebelief. You can keep finding new little delights, sometimes almost hidden! Lots of treats await you as you stroll through the park and discover almost unseen gateways into the woods, or the lily pond, or a piece of sculpture that awes you.