I went on the Catskills Fall Foliage. It was wonderful We went on a cruise, a train ride and I went on a gondola at Bellayre Ski Lodge. Nik is great and I had a wonderful time read more

Hines Tours - Bellayre Lodge - Hiking Near Me - Manhattan, New York

Two single day trips visiting gems on both sides of the Delaware River. This past season, I did two separate day trips with Hines tours. Both trips began in Northwest NJ & ended in PA; one of the trips then made a stop in NJ afterwards. The first trip was to Abraham Staats House South Bound Brook, NJ which dates back to the Revolutionary War.  Even as a NJ native, I never knew this place existed. The place was fascinating with period rooms, artifacts, and a performer on an instrument called a Hammered Dulcimer. We were then treated to a battle re-enactment done by actual descendants of the Revolutionary War.  We then went to Ringing Rocks Park in Upper Black Eddy, PA. We first walked on a trail leading us to a beautiful waterfall. What makes the park unique is the park's boulder rocks that do actually ring when you tap them with a hammer (hammers not included but some guests brought their own). On the second trip, the first stop was in Sussex county NJ at Sterling Mine Mineral Museum. This had been a working zinc mine until 1986 and opened as a Museum in 1989. We first toured the museum which housed their extensive gem collection. The museum space had been repurposed from the miners' locker room and had preserved the original lockers and the shower sprouts used by the miners. Our phenomenal tour guide then took us through the underground mine explaining the minerals and equipment used in the mines. We were immersed in the life of a daily miner including the demographics of the miners, different job specialties in the mine, and how miners were matched with their jobs in the mines. Our guide also explained the importance of zinc in our everyday lives and I now have added zinc to my daily regimen & feel better for that piece of advice. Our guide described how brilliant fluorescent minerals were accidentally discovered & we were treated to a brilliant light show both in the mines & at the Florescent Mineral Museum. After lunch, we drove over the Delaware River to Bushkill Falls in Poconos PA.These Falls, dubbed the Niagara Falls of PA, is a popular destination boasting 8 Waterfalls. Nik led a tour for those who wanted to join and hit all the waterfalls. Otherwise people could visit the falls at their own pace. Each waterfall was more spectacular than the last. There was plenty of viewing areas with places to sit and be mesmerized by the falls. Bonus that we saw the falls on a perfect sunny fall day.  During the first trip, on our way back to NYC, we then made a bonus stop at Red Hill Museum in Clinton NJ. This museum is highly photographed and had been on my bucket list but hadn't had the opportunity to visit as it's not too accessible by public transportation. We toured the mill and learned about the family who owned the mill, the industrial process, and life in the 1800s at the mill. For example, we saw a model school house which had listed on the wall not only the rules for students but also the rules to which rules teachers had to adhere during those times. The town itself was quaint and picturesque. I cannot recommend Hines Tours enough for a dosage of adventure, history, education, and fun. read more

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I have traveled with Hines Tours for i think about 8 or 9 years now. I always have a good time, i learn new things about nature, and i meet new people all the time. I always enjoy myself and these trips are not expensive. For the prices you pay, you get quality. Everything is always organized, we leave on time, and we arrive back home on time. The tour guide Nick is always professional too. This year i was late on picking a trip to pay down on, so everthing sold out fast. I definitely will pay on time next year 2020!! read more

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I joined a group of friends this past weekend on a crazy Caving and Rock Scrambling Adventure by Hines Tours. This specific tour is geared for the thrill-seeking type as we spent the day exploring a wild noncommercial cave and scrambling up a steep exposed mountain with views of the Hudson River. Our trip was well organized by Hines from the get-go. First, we convened at the requested meeting point in the UES. That's where we met our tour guide, Nikolai, and his girlfriend/side-kick for the day (so sorry, forgot her name!). I assume he owns the company as his last name was Hines? Anyway, while we signed our lives away (waivers), Nik prepared our van -- which seated 12-15 comfortably, nothing shi-shi but got us from point A to point B safely (I was informed that they usually use buses for larger groups). Okay, on to the good stuff! Spelunking/Caving We were lead by an expert caving instructor, Steve, who had us crawl down a little tiny hole that was the entrance to the cave. If you plan on doing this, you definitely need to dress appropriately as it's COLD, slippery and wet over all. Luckily, you're equipped with a helmet light, knee pads and flashlight -- the helmet came in handy as I frequently bumped my head on the cave's ceiling when crawling through the more narrow pathways. Steve gave us a well balanced experience as he provided us with background spelunking knowledge but also physically challenged us as he steered the group through various locations (e.g. "big room", "little room" and inner-windings of the cave). Supposedly we didn't get to see much so I definitely want to explore the caves more in the future! Just be mindful that there were times when water was up to our knees (wear galoshes and heavy duty gloves); plus there were tight spots that required agile maneuvering to get through. FYI, this was my favorite part of the trip! Hiking/Rock Scrambling The temperature for this portion of the tour was the total opposite (aka, HOT!). You'll need to dress lightly but smartly and with hiking boots (silly me, I had on an old pair of shox). The climb was exerting and even a little hairy at times, especially for people who are afraid of heights (big tip: don't look down, keep your eyes straight ahead!). It's not the usual hike as I really scrambled for crevices in the boulders to make my next move. Also, hiking boots would have really come in handy as the traction in my old sneakers made me a little nervous throughout. Not sure if I'd do this type of hike again but I'm damn proud/glad I did it! Or maybe I'll change my mind once I purchase a proper pair of hiking boots... Overall, our meal situation was all-inclusive as we were 1) provided with bagels, cream cheese and juice boxes at the start of our trip, 2) served a set lunch at a restaurant right beside the cave, 3) given water and snacks for the hike and 3) finished off with snack packs and juice boxes for the ride home. I wanted to be the first person to review Hines Tours as they definitely opened my eyes to an incredible experience and wanted to spread the word. I'd likely do another tour with them again :) P.s. Total duration start to finish was 14 hours P.p.s. For every 6th person in your group, the 7th is free! read more

Hines Tours - Hiking/Rock Scrambling - Hiking Near Me - Manhattan, New York

What's a Yelper to do, when she must not be wai sek and stay away from all the food that makes her waistline grow? Well, she can write about all the other things that are to Yelp about. Hines Tours is a small, family run business. They have nature and historic tours. I took tour #17 which is apple picking and the Renaissance Fair. Drivers/tour guides were at the waiting destination early and were there to check people in. They had 1 van and 1 car. Three of us couldn't fit into the van, so instead of telling us tour was full; they had a car ready for 3 more passengers. I was one of the passengers in the car. In total, there were 15 of us minus the drivers. You have to sign a waiver of any loss items or injuries but they give you the pen. So that is the first freebie. They start you off with a bagel and cream cheese package from H&H Midtown Bagels East, also their pickup/drop-off point. What a clever place to meet because H&H is open 24/7. If you don't like their choice of bagels, you have an option to buy other things. Along the way, we all got cold drinks such as water, iced tea, Capri sun and small snacks to give you some energy and nourishment. This is one tour where you never have to bring your own snacks and drinks. The good thing is the drinks are nice and cold. My driver was fun and it made for good conversation. Tour #17 was $119 and I think a good buy for a day out of City. At the end, they hand you a mysterious envelope with just the tour # on it. It was a letter thanking us and a magnet of the Renaissance faire as a memento. On another occasion, I took tour #20 which is Mystic Seaport and Cider Mill. A tour bus was waiting right in front of H&H Midtown East Bagels and again Nick Hines was early and checking people in. As usual Nick was being his professional self counting and making sure everyone was accounted for, affixing Hines Tours bracelets on us, collecting waivers and giving out snacks, and what a breath of fresh air it is to see someone actually doing his job and loving what he does. There was a change to the itinerary as Cider Mill does not allow tour buses, so we went to Mystic Village instead for some shopping. Nick gave us literature and maps before the tours so we can plan our time. The driver was alert and drove safely and there were no issues or over bookings. The bus was clean, and equipped with a bathroom, overhead space for any luggage/packages and television. By 7:00 a.m. the bus was closed and we hit the road. There was over 1 1/2 hours at Mystic Village and a total of 5 hours to explore Mystic Seaport. On the way home, a movie was played on the small televisions for the enjoyment of the tour group. We made it back to the H&H around 7:00 p.m. and once again you get a magnet memento. I would definitely travel with them again. read more

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If you're looking for a relaxing weekend and away from the busy city rush; your best option would be to join Hines Tour. The food was great, the room was quiet, the ride was peaceful and the trails and falls were definitely worth the trip. Looking forward to meeting with HinesTours soon again. read more

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This review is way overdue since I have gone on quite a few day trips with Hines by now but better late than never! I've used a couple of different tour companies in the past but what set Hines apart from them is that the guides are very knowledgable and professional (not some kids out of high school) and they truly seem to love what they do. Also, food and snacks are included in the price which wasn't the case with the other companies. So far I've been to numerous gorgeous waterfalls, gone hiking in the mountains, went to visit caves, been on a dolphin watch trip, and I have visited Amish country (and rode in a buggy - so much fun!). Since I can't always go on a long vacation during the summer and fall, I feel like I can still get some mini-vacation-time in with these day trips. These guys are truly the best, five stars all the way! read more

Great getaways. Nik took many precautions during his overnight getaways during summer 2020. We visited Lake George and Pennsylvania Wilds. Each day was packed with fun activities. The hotel/motel were we stayed were clean. read more

I went on Hines Tours to the Catskills. All in all, it was perfect. Nik is an amazing tour guide and really took care of us from A to Z. He covered all bases and I will definitely go back for another tour. A little bit about my experience: First you meet the bus on the UES at 645a.m. Don't be late! The bus is very comfortable with lots of legroom. Once you sign the waivers and the bus has taken off, Nik serves bagels with cream cheese for breakfast along with lots of extras! Juice, yogurt etc. Along the bus route, Nik explains what to expect on the tours and gives a bit of history and fun facts about what we explore The first stop was a Buddhist Temple. We got to go into all of the buildings and explore the vast grounds. It was simply gorgeous. Nik gives you ample time to explore on your own. The second stop is a small hike to view a beautiful landscape in the Catskills. Then we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch. It was an all inclusive, all you can eat buffet. There was enough vegetarian food served and was quite tasty. After that we stopped at a museum to get some real local history. it was unexpectedly very interesting and informative. Finally, we went on a much steeper hike and got an amaaaazing view of the Catskills. I recommend wearing hiking boots because they really helped on the steep hike. On the way way home, Nik served us snacks with juice again. He dimmed the lights and put on a movie. He really took care of us at each point of the trip! I will definitely book another trip with Hines Tours. read more

I went with my grandson on the caving and scrambling tour it was a wonderful expierence . very different from the commercial caves. Much more active dirty and wet but well worth it. My grandson who is 13 said he will remember it the rest of his life for a teenager that translates to awsom. Well organized. We have been on several of the hiens tours and they are all well done and worth the money read more

Totally fun. People of different ages go so it's a good mix. Nik takes care of everything. Sometimes I bring water and snacks which is unnecessary I end up leaving with more than what I bring. Really cool themes and lots of activities rolled into one day read more