We got a Groupon for this place, which makes the price a lot more reasonable. They don't open until…read more1 pm on the weekends, and on Saturdays they don't even give guided tours. Instead, they give an "augmented reality" audio tour which is kind of hit or miss. The house was preserved for the historical significance of the Townsend family, one of which was a spy for George Washington. I didn't feel there was a ton of information on the family though. Pointing their phone at the different objects in a room turned on audio about them, but only a couple of rooms in the actual house were interactive. The rest didn't have signs, and one loan employee was around to answer questions at the end. The exhibit in the visitor center was nice though. I just don't think the AR experience was really up to replacing a person, both in amount of information and the uncanny valley, unnerving portraits. There is street parking and a nearby lot that are free on weekends. The gift shop is minimal. It was an okay spot to visit, but I would recommend coming on Sunday or whenever they offer actual tours to get a more thorough understanding of the house and the history of the people who lived here.

We went here on a winter weekend, and were fortunate to have the builsings to ourselves. The…read morehelpful staff took out modest admission fee and explained that they don't do tours on Saturdays but they do have tour devices using augmented reality. That means that when you walk through the buildings, you scan the cell phone device on important paintings and artifacts and they talk to you with further information about who or what they are. The small building that contains the entrance is packed with paintings, dioramas, documents and artifacts. Next you walk to the main house, built in the 1730's, and housing the Townsend family. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Samuel had to make room for a British colonel. In spite of the fact that he sympathised with the patriots, he maintained good relations with his "Guest." At the time of the war, the house had eight rooms. One of his sons was one of the leaders of the Culpepper Spy Ring, Placing the home on the National Registry of Historic Places. Each room was elegantly decorated, with the exception of the space for the enslaved housekeeper. In spite of the fact that we didn't get a formal tour, the staff member tagged along with us and kept up a spirited conversation - even giving us a bonus look at the Victorian wing which doubled the size of the structure. The house is said to be haunted, of course. Very highly recommended. The full set of photos can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/terryballard/albums/72177720323110655

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! :)

Believe the reviews: the staff here are incredibly aggressive. There is a right way to talk to…read morepeople, and then there is a hostile, nasty way--which is the default style here. ​The rules make no sense, either. The signs say "shower before getting into the pool," yet I was yelled at to shower just for walking to a lounge chair with my towel. If you have to shower the moment you step onto the deck, change the signs to reflect that. ​Dealing with the public is hard, but the staff here are completely miserable and looking for a fight. Save yourself the headache and go elsewhere.

Beautiful surroundings. Historical locale. Wonderful pool. Stunning sunsets over the bridge.read more

Very interesting free museum at the Maritime college. They cover a vast majority of maritime ships…read moreand history. We were the only people there so we a private walkthrough.

This museum is located inside Fort Schuyler. Beautiful location inside the campus of SUNY maritime…read morecollege. The entrance a door (sign is faded metal) inside the Mary's Pentagon exactly across from the main entrance to the pentagon. The museum has lots of marine artifacts. It is free. Very few patrons. Kind of lonely - since you are mostly the only person there. Lovely views of the Throgs Neck bridge. Nice for short visit.

The librarians are extremely rude and noisy. They chat incessantly and are always irritated.read more

First Impression - WOW, this is a library? It looked like it could be a museum or arts/culture…read morecenter from the parking lot (yes, a real parking lot)! And between the artsy appearance and sculpture like garden grounds, it may as well be a local park. It is huge and has multi-levels. Fancy inside and out. Very clean and well managed. This is not your typical library - at least not based on the NYC/Queens branches. What a difference when you cross that county line. I ventured here at the suggestion of a friend who told me about the reading time for the younger set and for the kids' community room. So this review is based solely on the Children's area and section (lower level). Just walking in, huge space, brightly lit, welcoming, customer service desk right there. Media room on the right. (You can ask for tickets to local community parks and museums, events and the like - see postings on the bulletin wall). Upon descending to the lower level, there are some nice mixed use rooms, mini classrooms and lab room settings, art installations on the walls (see pics), and even a snack/vending machine area. No library I have been to ever allowed food, let alone offering an area to purchase and enjoy it! The children's library has spacious seating areas and there's an exit to the garden grounds from there. There's also an ipad station, limited to 20 mins. per user to keep it rotating and fair. It is a public space. And there's a community play room for the really young set (ages 6 and under). Soft play space and toys. Very cool. The shelves are stocked with books for pre-K to High School level reading. Art work from the local school is featured on top. Makes for a very nice visual. One side note: the library location I went to was called the Great Neck Main Branch. So in case, the address is 159 Bayview Avenue, NOT the one listed above in this Yelp listing...not sure why the address didn't come up but it is Great Neck Road...perhaps the GPS has modified? FYI. PLEASE note the address if you want to see the library I saw, in case I checked in at the wrong one. (Apologies in advance). Google maps shows 4 locations ... Bayview is one of them. I am discovering based on other Yelp reviews that we may not be talking about the same locale or it was likely renovated since (those posts were from 2015) and everything here looks BRAND NEW. I would totally come here again to explore more.

Great library. Will get you books from many other libraries. Failing; despite getting a giant…read morebequest for landscaping a decade ago, grounds have never been landscaped. Areas by parking lot and main entrance still look like a building site. Blame the management!

Newly renovated Great Neck Library at Bayview is very beautifully done. Many seats available for…read morereaders and good space between seats. Outdoor seating is insight, and is probably available when it gets warmer... Besides the regular library facilities and activities are classes, I must mention the bright and airy space, the high ceiling for the main floor, many computers on first and second floors, huge selection of dvds, and free WiFi are reasons of this one better than other Great Neck Libraries. If you don't find your book, you can look for it through the network and request it to be sent to this library. I find this library very pleasant and quiet. As the kids room and multiple purpose rooms are downstairs with doors near the restrooms, I don't hear much of kids playing sound when I am on the main floor. You can be pretty productive and get some mind intensive jobs done in here.

Joe made my trip! I had an excellent experience…read more My father was born and raised in the Bronx, but this is my first time in NYC. I am very interested in my father's upbringing, and wanted to see his neighborhood, as well as important personal landmarks. Several people- including other local tour guides, told me this neighborhood was too dangerous and I should do something else with my time. Joe met me at my hotel, and we took the subway together to the old neighborhood. Not only did Joe make me feel safe, he was friendly, knowledgeable, and prepared. He brought pictures of special landmarks, like my father's apartment building (which no longer exists) and my father's favorite candy shop, which has been a bodega for decades. He was also able to tell me a great deal about the history of the neighborhood. I strongly recommend Joe to anyone looking for a tour guide.

Joe is awesome! If you are thinking about a tour of Harlem or any tour that Joe offers, do it. We…read morebooked the Harlem tour at 10pm the night before. He met us at our hotel promptly the next afternoon, took us on the subway and chatted with us the whole time. Joe is very personable. We arrived in Harlem in 15 -20 mins later and began our tour the minute we exited the station. We were stopped a few times, because Joe is well-known in Harlem, being a native. Folks love him, and we understand why. He is a genuinely nice guy who loves his city and is proud of his and its culture. Joe's knowledge of the city and it's history made for an informative experience. If we had more time in NYC, we certainly would have booked him again for another tour in a different part of the city. Do yourself a favor and book a tour with Joe!

David was a joy to work with! I booked him for a virtual corporate event and the team loved him…read more His performance was engaging and fun and the team's whole energy and mood post event was wonderful. I really appreciate how prompt and thorough David's communication was from the moment I reached out. It's rare to get to work with someone who can put on a great show and also be so organized. Highly recommended!!

I had David do a virtual corporate happy hour for my team and it was such a hit!! I was surprised…read morehow fully interactive it was from start to finish which kept everyone on the edge of their seat and totally engaged. It was also a nice ice breaker for some new hires. I highly recommend this show! Thanks David!