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! :)

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...

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!

Lyndhurst is a beautiful castle overlooking the Hudson River. It's a three-floor museum that's very…read morewell maintained and preserved. I visited during the flower show, and it made the experience even more special. So many talented floral designers decorated every corner of the mansion, turning the castle into a truly stunning display.

Beautiful grounds! Wonderful tour, quite an interesting history! I also loved the craft fair which…read morewas on the grounds. Reasonably priced tickets.

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.

I highly recommend a visit to the John Jay Homestead. Many of the farm buildings are the original…read moreones built for Jay. In one of the barns you are educated on how much work it took to maintain the homestead. You are able to get a glimpse of what school would be like in the 19th century through the preserved one roomed school house located on top of the barn. The homestead is 62 acres with a pond, three gardens, and trails for walking around the perimeter. In the summer and fall they host a farmers market. In the winter they allow you to bring cross country skis and snow shoes to explore the property. All year round you may walk on one of the many trails on and around the property, or sit down for a picnic. They have many programs available at the homestead, including a Barn Dance in the fall, History Camps in the summer, as well as school programs. In front of each building there are plaques with historic pictures, quotes, and maps. I would recommend showing up early or buying your tickets for the tour in advance. The tours sell out quickly because the tour groups are small. There are many ways to explore the historic site due to the many activities the site has to offer. They also offer many activities for kids. Everyone in the family has something to do. Even if you are not a history person the homestead is a great place to go to enjoy the outdoors, the house, the gardens, and the scenery of the 62 acre property. I would recommend taking the time to visit. Review by: Jeremiah H.

Went with a group of friends to visit the former home of Bill and Lois Wilson…read more It was as authentic and charming as I had hoped... Staff was great, tour groups were full. I went with a group of friends who were reconnecting after two years of life and circumstances, pulling us apart... We wanted to catch up as much as we wanted to learn the history... The only disappointing aspect was the tour guides, while, really really nice people and kind, take their tours very very seriously... Just keep that in mind if you're looking to reconnect with friends... Maybe camaraderie is better suited to before and/or after. All in all great day.

A true National Treasure and not to be missed by anyone in the Mental Health field, recovery or…read moreinterested in Alcololics Anonymous history. The Foundation has done an excellent job maintaining the home and property of Bill and Lois Wilson in spite of local political pressure being as it is. Easy to find, just off the Saw Mill Parkway, tucked away in a residential area on 62 Oak Rd. Well worth the effort as the volunteers are friendly, helpful and informative. Katie, Jim and Lexi did not rush, answered everyone's questions and made the day very special. Call before coming out to me sure a house tour is available, they respond quickly and will confirm with email. Parking is a small lot and absolutely no on the street parking! Be a good visitor and respect the neighborhood (it is a quiet residential area). Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed the peace and serenity.

Through my local library, I was able to obtain a free General Admission pass for up to 2 adults and…read more4 children for the Vanderbilt Museum on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Both Planetarium show and Mansion tour are add-ons for an additional charge and subject to availability. Currently, the operating hours for Saturday and Sunday are 11:00 am to 5:00 pm with last admission at 4:30 pm. Summer hours begin Saturday, June 27: Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with last admission 4:30 pm. When I arrived on Sunday around 11:00 am, there were already a good amount of cars in the parking lot but there is still plenty of spots. We walked over to Planetarium/Admissions and showed our digital pass. The staff were very friendly and gave us a map to show us what we have access to with general admission yellow wristbands. General Admission includes access to the Vanderbilt Mansion (including the Habitat and Stoll Wing animal dioramas, and natural-history and cultural-artifact galleries in the Memorial Wing), The Hall of Fishes marine museum, Planetarium exhibits, and the grounds and gardens. It was really cool to walk around and check out the mansion. The main entrance is a cobble-stone driveway and a bell-tower looms above. This leads you to the central courtyard and I felt transported to a different country. With its ironwork, red tile roof and central courtyard, the mansion's Spanish architectural style stands out. Mr. William Vanderbilt spent over thirty years on scientific expeditions aboard his 250-foot yacht, the Alva, bringing back over 17,000 varieties of marine specimens. The marine and natural history museum is filled with the figurines of underwater creatures. We also met and spoke with the staff inside the mansion. They were very informative and friendly. The Vanderbilt Museum is definitely worth visiting.

And the Long Island stoners rejoice: yo man, let's smoke up and see a Van Halen laser show…read more. Vanderbilt Museum, when I moved to Long Island? It was like the Fresh Air fund for me! I thought everyone lived in these mansions with manicured gardens. Now add rock music and a laser show? Yes, sharks with freakin' laser beams shows! I remember coming here on a date with my girlfriend (now wife) in the 90s and seeing a Pink Floyd laser show. I was a little perturbed because they only played New Pink Floyd. Brah, I wanna rock out to MONEY! My wife, bless her heart, bought us two tickets to see the Van Halen laser show. All these years later, we're back. And trust me, I'm still impressed with the beauty of the property. We walk down the hill to the actual planetarium. There's a couple of stoners on line, if they keep quiet during the performance then no one is gonna have problems. The theater is shaped like a circle, there's no bad seats. The doors close and for an hour, I had Van Halen music crankin'! The actual show, the lasers seem a little dated. I went to The Sphere in Vegas a few months ago, this is old technology. But, it's on Long Island and people still enjoyed the shows. 3.5 Yelp stars

People do not go on a graveyard tour in Sleepy Hollow in October to be told the difference between…read moregranite & marble. I expected something at least a little spooky, but other than 5 minutes at a crypt that was in Dark Shadows (the tour guide gave false information; she obviously never saw an episode), and Washington Irving's grave, the entire tour was a tutorial on types of internments. Great tour for someone studying mortuary science, which I am not. At the end, the guide asked if anyone wanted to keep going or take the short cut back, everyone yelled "shortcut". Honestly, if it was a daytime tour, we would have just left the tour. We were at least expecting to be taken to the grave of the Hessian soldier. A scary story or two.

We just did the regular night time lantern tour and although our guide was well informed and…read moreanswered all questions the delivery was a little dry. I felt the group size was also too large. The guide would often be speaking as we walked and the people in the back of the line had a hard time hearing. Would definitely give one of the other tours like the murder and mayhem tour a shot but this one left me feeling just meh.