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

We used Hudson Valley Bucket List for my bachelorette weekend and they were absolutely amazing…read more Caitlin was our guide for the day and she was incredible. We were taken to 3 different vineyards who all took great care of us. I've been on a ton of wine tours and this was by far the very best I've been on. The lunch was delicious and beautifully set up ahead of time before we got to the 2nd vineyard. It was a beautiful day. Thank you Hudson Valley Bucket List!

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! :)

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...

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.

Wow! The Gilded is alive and well at Lyndhurst! Just WOW! The grounds and home are somply…read morestunning. I spent a few hours on the grounds and had a fantastic tour with Charlie. He was most knowledgable about the home having been a docent for 24years. The faux painting is exquisite and makes wood look like marble. The gallery was lovely and learning that the dining room is where they shot the Gilded Age. The grounds are stunningly kept and maintained.

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.

Alicia was an amazing host. It was truly magical a lovely peaceful place to remember the miracles…read moreof recovery.

I visited the mansion for the We May be Right band concert and enjoyed the experience. Whenever you…read morego for a concert, you also have the opportunity to visit the outdoor areas such as the fountain, gardens and take some nice photos. We brought a cooler with some snacks, drinks along with our beach chairs and it was a very pleasant afternoon. They also have a vending machine selling water and some other items should you need. Every single staff member I dealt with was super friendly and the place is beautiful. It's a good opportunity to take some nice photos. And the "We may be right" Billy Joel tribute band made our experience even more pleasant. I haven't visited the Planetarium or the inside part of the mansion so I can't comment on that.

7/31/26 I haven't been to a laser show since I was a…read moreteenager. Now I'm a senior citizen. I get free tickets through AARP for the first show of the month and this month is The Grateful Dead. As we were guests of the band often (our friend was Brent Midland's assistant) we saw many a concert. My husband was blah about going, but really happy after. It blew my mind - and I don't do drugs. The sound system was amazing. The lasers were surprisingly good, although quite antiquated. My favorites were when you felt you were enveloped in the lasers. I was lost for an hour, in a good way. Luckily, hubby has a handicapped placard and we were able to park steps from the front door. I would have liked to have parked in the regular parking lot and walk, but that's no longer in the cards for us. The grounds are beautiful for as much as we could see in the dark.We would have loved to see the meteor shower, but that was not in the cards either.The show was from 9:30pm to 10:30pm (way past my bedtime) and over an hour away which was a complete bummer. In any case, this was a wonderful event. Join AARP if you're over 50 as the benefits are great.

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.

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.