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.

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.

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.

Beautiful Gothic Revival mansion, well worth the visit, have been several times. My only gripe…read moreconcerns the Paulding parlor. It was redecorated in the 19th century in the French style and boasted a huge marble sculpture of Cupid and Psyche. In the past few years this parlor was made to look as it did when it was originally furnished in the Gothic Revival style but the carpet and furnishings are reproductions. Beautiful, but a betrayal to the fact that Lyndhurst evolved organically, with different styles coming, going, or blending. The beautiful and huge sculpture of Cupid and Psyche - which once dominated the room and gave it so much character - has been banished to a "sculpture gallery". I attached a photo showing the parlor as it was but the sculpture of course got cut off. You barely see a wing of it on the right of the image.

If you want a thorough history of this cool spot, read the previous review. It's excellent and what…read moreinspired me to come visit. As someone who had a grandfather who survived WWII and a great uncle that did not, it was poignant to see such a nice depiction. I'd recommend it to anyone else who had relatives serve for the same reason.

For 1.3 million World War II American soldiers, Piermont, NY was their last stop in the country…read morebefore they sailed across the Atlantic to join the war in Europe. They were housed in nearby Camp Shanks, and on the day they left America to join the war, 40,000 men a month walked down the pier, and boarded either a ship to France or a ferry to New York on their way to England. For many, the walk down the Piermont pier was their final walk on American soil. This striking monument features a statue of a helmeted GI in full uniform. He has a hand grenade and a shovel on his belt, and a sash with many pockets for equipment storage. His right hand is raised in a sign of farewell. His left hand is resting on a stone whose plaque bears the following inscription: Last Stop U.S.A. During World War Two, 40,000 U.S. troops per month, including many Piermont residents, passed this spot enroute to the end of Piermont Pier, the largest port of embarkation on the East Coast, where ships were waiting to transport them to military duty in war-torn Europe. Many of these troops landed on the shores of France where the invasion began on June 6, 1944. Thus this area came to be known as "Last Stop U.S.A." After the war came to a victorious conclusion, some 533,869 men returned home to the U.S.A. first setting foot on their homeland at the end of that same Piermont Pier. "Lest We Forget," many of the men who embarked from Piermont never returned. This plaque is dedicated to the honor of those who served and the sacred memory of those who never returned. Dedicated 1994

Formerly known as the Tappan Zee Bridge crossing the Hudson River!…read more This bridge has a bus lane , emergency shoulder, as well as a shared lane for pedestrians and cyclists!! Bridge was built to provide a future commuter rail system!!

This will always be the Tappan Zee Bridge to me and many other New Yorkers. Not only have I driven…read moreacross it I've also run a half marathon up to it when up in Sleep Hallow/Tarrytown. The bridge was renovated and improved and has a terrific look to it, especially when lit up at night. The bridge has a pedestrian and bike path which makes it safe for runners and the views are great. I think it's about a 5K trek from one side to the other. Definitely a nice route to take on for a training session.

This was created in 2002 by Richard Masloski. It is a Bronze statue that captures the character…read morecreated by Washington Irving. "Rip Van Winkle depicts the literary character reclining. He has a large beard and crumpled hat and his eyes are half-open as if he has just woken up. His boots and hands blend in with the ground like he has become part of the ground. It is located on Irvington's Main Street under a beech tree between Town Hall and the Main Street School. It was unveiled in Irvington on September 21, 2002."

This is the entrance or welcome center for the Mario Cuomo bridge. There's public bathrooms and…read moreparking. You can see some art and rent electric bikes. It's very clean.

Great flights of spirits while you let the local felines . Enjoyed the taco truck outside. Great…read morespot for groups and families.

We had guest visiting and we always pass by this place so we thought, why not give it a shot!? It…read morewas a cold rainy day so we ran in not knowing what to expect. I think this is an awesome distillery and I can see it being even more fun in warmer weather! This place is know for whiskey and rye. It's cool because they do sampler in a little vile glass which I think is creative. Their cocktails were also super delicious! The service was great! It's seems that they definitely have regular customers that come in. It's not too big of a spot but there was a lot of seating both tables and around the bar.