This house is where the pre-treasonous Benedict Arnold recuperated after being wounded at the…read moreBattle of Bemis Heights. The house is an interesting landmark for what it represents historically. It is not open to the Public.

Can't recommend this place enough. Amazing air BNB/inn located in the Catskills on an old abandoned…read morezoo. As a guest you were able to explore the zoo day and night however, you need to stay out of the buildings. The in itself is gorgeous and the rooms are comfortable. There is a total of five guestrooms. There is even an option to rent out the whole inn. There is a large kitchen and living room for guest to use That is a shared space. You can bring your own food and cook there if you want. There is also a few tent sites. Dog friendly! Definitely a unique experience and close to other attractions in the area.

Wow. You are not likely to find a more fantastic and unique place to stay. This was part of a…read moresurprise birthday weekend for my wife and until we got to Game Farm Road, she had no idea where we were going. Everyone is shocked when I tell them that we stayed inside what was the giraffe house. The rooms are well-appointed, and the communal are spacious. There's a full kitchen for you to use, couches, tables, a coffee bar. But for the people who are here to explore the modern ruins, the real appeal is outside the inn. We probably spent 5 hours exploring all over the abandoned zoo, and I'm not sure we covered everything. Almost everything is open, so you can go into the buildings, inside the fences, even inside the cages. It's spooky, but so cool. And since the inn has only five rooms, we hardly saw anyone while we were out there, since you can only explore the property if you're staying there. It's only about 20 minutes to downtown Catskill, where we went to eat both nights, but while you're on the property, it's completely quiet, except for the creepily atmospheric sounds of the gun range down the road.

The Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, NY is one of those places that quietly draws you in with how much…read morehistory it holds. At first glance, it looks like a simple old church, but once you step inside, you realize you're standing somewhere that has witnessed more than 200 years of stories. Built in the 1770s as a German Reformed Church, it was later fortified and turned into a defensive stronghold during the Revolutionary War. You can still spot a cannonball hole in the wall a little visual reminder of how real that history was. The museum complex is spread out beautifully, with several old buildings and scenic grounds that make it easy to wander around at your own pace. Each building feels like a glimpse into a different part of Schoharie's past from farming and school life to vintage machinery and military history. The volunteers here really add to the experience they're kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the history they're sharing. It's the kind of museum that doesn't feel overly polished, but that's exactly what makes it charming. You can sense the age of the wood floors and the craftsmanship in every display. It's quiet, peaceful, and even a little haunting in the best way, especially if you walk through the small cemetery nearby. If you enjoy exploring local history or hidden gems off the main tourist path, the Old Stone Fort is definitely worth a visit. It doesn't take long to go through, but you'll likely leave thinking about how much life and resilience are preserved in those old stone walls.

Absolutely beautiful cemetery. We spent Mother's Day weekend walking around this peaceful cemetery…read more It was so serene and calming. It's incredibly well kept and clean. The volunteers do a great job ensuring that the property is perfect. We loved visiting the old stone fort and seeing how historic this museum and cemetery is. It's a gorgeous place to meditate, find peace and clarity. The museum is currently closed due to the pandemic but will hopefully reopen soon. Perfect place to spend an afternoon.

This cave is actually Fulmer mine area. Enjoy the hike up the mountain. Extremely hot, that day so…read morewe stood at the mouth of the cave to cool down! Area known for being a source of hematite. Will hike around the area again as there are several trails to hike. Delaware river is at the base and got a nice view of tubers enjoying the river along the way. We'll have to try that too sometime.

Great hike! I would recommend this hike to everyone. Very nice views. We did the whole loop and was…read moreworth it

What a peculiar place to put poor 'ole Rip, on an elbow turn with a swail and no burm to keep the…read moreauto from a tumblin' if it's iced. Rip Van Winkles Awakening is just darn adorable and kinda creepy at the same frame, no matter the angle and I absorbed every one. My Dutch bretherin hit the nips of wicked flaggon a bit too zestfully, as returning to dame Van Winkle mustn't be a desirable situation. And just then an old fellow with hip high galligasketts and a keg upon his shoulder began to call his name and poor 'ole hen pecked Rip compiled only to awaken two generations later. With Wolf, his domestic adherent and partner in lazy days in the wood not answering Rips call and his fowling piece rusted and a worm infested stock - the good natured Rip Van Winkle now remains, once again, still and permanent in time-- looking over the Hudson Valley in the Catskills, (a disjointed member of the nighty Adarondiacs) and here he shall remain.

just amazing the talent and vision of the artist is just to behold…read more just take a drive and enjoy this master piece

Martin Van Buren's residence, Lindenwald, is tucked away in the peaceful town of Kinderhook, New…read moreYork. It's a unique window into the life of America's 8th president. I had visited the site years ago when there was a larger visitor center and an introductory video that gave a broader overview of Van Buren's presidency and personal story. Today, the visitor's center has been scaled back to a trailer, and unfortunately, there's very little introductory context provided for those less familiar with Van Buren's role in American history. One of the main displays now focuses on the history of slavery in America. While this is an important topic, its placement here felt somewhat disconnected, as Van Buren neither owned enslaved people nor lived in a slaveholding state during his time at Lindenwald. Given the limited space available, I found myself wishing more of it had been used to explore Van Buren's own political career, personal life, and legacy. They only have a few tour times a day, and the guide cited budget cuts with a roll of her eyes. We waited around a bit for the next tour, but the audio tour around the property wasn't very informative. Once our group tour began, it opened in the empty basement, where much of the discussion centered on the broader legacy of slavery and Sojourner Truth. While those subjects are historically valuable, their connection to Lindenwald itself felt tenuous and overshadowed the site's direct link to Van Buren. It appeared the tour guide had a greater interest in that topic than on the actual topic. Upstairs, the rooms were far more engaging. The main hall was particularly impressive, featuring original design elements and beautiful wallpaper. The guide shared some insight into Van Buren's later life, though key biographical details--such as the early death of his wife--were only briefly mentioned at the end. The tour concluded at a small gift shop with a nice selection of books and keepsakes. Overall, having prior knowledge of Van Buren helped me piece things together, but for first-time visitors, the lack of focus on his presidential legacy may leave them wanting more. I couldn't help but think that some of the funding loss was due to the staff losing sight of the park's primary purpose. Lindenwald remains a special site with strong potential. I hope future interpretive efforts rebalance the content to better highlight Van Buren's contributions and the historical significance of the home itself.

An interesting historical tidbit. This historic site includes Van Buren's "gentleman's farm" and…read moreestate called Lindenwald. He bought the estate later in his life in 1839. Washington Irving (the famous author) was a notable long-term guest at Lindenwald. Fee: Free Tip: if you want to tour the historic house, budget at least 2 hours because you might show up while a tour is in progress and need to wait for the next tour.

It's beautiful! The bridge is astounding and I love that you can walk the entire length. It's…read morepretty long! I walked 2/3 of it with my husband down and back and it was like 1/3 of a mile or something like that!

A lot of this is more of a walk. The bridge has pretty views. The last part of it is more of a…read morehike. It was fun.

3/18/26: The Vanderbilt Mansion is a must see when visiting Hyde Park!…read more You first drive up a winding driveway, till you reach the visitor's center to purchase tickets. Should you have a National Service Park Pass, you'll be able to enter for free. It's best to call at 9 AM just to be sure there's availability. Inside the center, you'll find restrooms and a large display of the Vanderbilt family tree. Our docent Mike first started the tour at the visitor center. Mike was very knowledgeable and had wonderful wit. The visitor center used to be the guest house for Mrs. Vanderbilt's bachelor friends during their stay over. Mike walked us over to the main estate. The outside of the estate is stunning. We then entered the beautiful estate. All the furnishings are absolutely gorgeous. The last part of the tour is walking down the servants stairs. However, the best photo view is probably looking up from the bottom of the staircase. Hope you enjoy the photos. Photos are allowed, but without flash.

Our primary purpose in coming up to Hyde Park was to visit the Roosevelt sites, but we figured we'd…read morestop here at neighboring Vanderbilt Mansion since we were already in the area. It was well worth the stop! Tours are required to enter the mansion and last an hour. It was well worth it - our tour guide was fantastic - engaging, knowledgeable, and fun. This 54 room estate was owned by what our tour guide described as the "Vanderbilt least likely to star in a reality show," his wife Louise was fascinated by France so all of her spaces are heavily French inspired, and despite a very clear upstairs/downstairs division, these Vanderbilts left significant portions of their fortune based on individual years of service to their servants in their will. The story of how this mansion ended up with the National Park Service was also interesting - the home itself was left to Louise's niece, who, while wealthy, was unable to pay the taxes on this additional large property. So she attempted to sell - but it was the Great Depression and there were no buyers. Neighbor Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a plan: offer to sell the property and home intact to the NPS for $1 as he also made arrangements to transfer his neighboring property to them, as well. The grounds themselves are lovely - the Vanderbilts maintained formal gardens and are free to explore. There is a stunning view - referred to as "a millionaire's view" at the time - of the Hudson River. Tickets can be purchased for house tours in the visitor's center. Note that the home does not have air conditioning so it can get toasty in warm weather.

I came here on a fall afternoon as the sun was setting. It's a bit of a drive up to the castle from…read morethe entrance of the park but not too bad- about 10-15 minutes. I like that there are stairs inside the castle. What a beautiful view from the top! The foliage was a bit past peak but still gorgeous. It was windy and chilly but totally worth the views!

Yesterday my dog Brody and I decided to visit Castle Craig which is perfectly situated high above…read moreHubbard Park in order to gain a view of both the park and much of Meriden. Though this year's peak fall colors were muted and a bit past, it was still highly enjoyable.