What a great little historic spot tucked along the Hudson River. We were trying to kill time before…read morean afternoon wedding and I came across this place while searching online. This historic site was home to pivotal decisions during the Revolutionary War, made by George Washington himself. The museum/buildings themselves have limited hours (which are listed on the parks website) but we were able to walk the grounds freely which was nice. There are gates/fencing surrounding the site, which were locked as we went around - but toward the opposite side of the site (where I believe their designated parking lot is? We weren't sure but it looked like their lot) there is an opening where you can walk a gravel path that will take you through the site. It was really cool being able to see the buildings here. Even though the park is nestled in a neighborhood/town, I felt pretty immersed in the history just walking along the paths. We got to see the buildings that George Washington was present in, plus the various monuments that were erected on site. The state parks put up informational signs around the area so we could easily read up on the history. It was a really nice way to get even just a taste of history while we were here, which was perfect for our constricted time frame. If I'm ever traveling this way again, I'd definitely try to make it for a tour of the interiors.

Very nice park to walk around. There are few historic monuments here. Great views. If you are…read morenearby, definitely worth visiting.

Took the Elevator to Upper Landing Park. The ride is gorgeous. With Views of the beautiful walkway…read morearchitecture. Ray a friendly Walkway Staff member managed the elevator for safe and secure rides. The elevator ride is definitely a must, especially for those first timers and sightseers. Signed, The Happy Hour Huntress

Longest pedestrian bridge in the US, former train tracks. The views are beautiful easily accessible…read moreit is free, but must pay for parking on the Highland side. Easy walk or ride back and forth to Poughkeepsie, plenty open walking their pets. It's definitely a must visit when in the area.

The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt is part of a larger Roosevelt themed location that you can choose…read moreto do one or all of. There is a shared visitors center, the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, where you can purchase tickets accordingly. We stopped in thinking we would purchase the Home tickets and explore the center a bit, but the friendly ranger told us there was room for us on the tour starting in 5 minutes if we wanted to head straight down to the meeting spot. The tour itself was quite informative, and the house is well preserved. This is FDR's childhood and adulthood home, and this is reflected in the house itself, where we were shown the room in which he was born, his childhood room, and the room he stayed in as an adult with its two phones - one a direct line to the White House. The mobility accommodations added after FDR's round with polio are also evident in the house, with an example of a home wheelchair he designed using a standard dining chair on bicycle wheels (so it would match when he was seated at the table), ramps, and a manual elevator he used to move between floors. The nearby grounds are also nice to explore - beautiful gardens, intriguing artwork, and you can pay your respects to the Roosevelts. FDR's Presidential Library is also located on the grounds, though with a separate entry. The Visitor Center has good amenities, including a cafe, the Uncle Sam's Canteen, run by the friendliest staff who were pulling out freshly baked croissants when we initially stopped in; a theatre where they show a film about the Roosevelts, a gift shop, and clean restrooms.

7/9/25: We visited the historic home of FDR. It's a must see for all, no matter your political…read moreaffiliation. All visits are by guided tour. Springwood was Roosevelt's birthplace. In addition, Franklin and Eleanor raised their six children at the family estate. The decor is understated, unlike like the Vanderbilt's. After FDR was stricken with polio, the home was designed for his wheelchair access. During the tour, the female guide spoke at length in a couple of areas. ***Think there should be some type of wall guide hand rail for those who are unable to stand for periods of time listening to the guide. The second floor of the home has a narrow walkway. I think the people that oversee the estate should consider my suggestion for people with mobility issues. This is why I took one star off. On the grounds, you'll see a statue of President Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill, FDR Presidential Library and museum, beautiful gardens and a café. Looking forward to going back to visit the FDR Presidential library and museum. Due to time constraints, we only saw half of it. In the Library and Museum, we did see an excellent exhibition of wonderful letters from famous persons (World Politicians, Scientists, Celebrities) to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Admission fees as follows: Federal Park Pass- Free Standard- $15 A parking lot is available outside the visiting center.

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.

Carnwath Farms Park was a huge discovery, and boy, it's a beautiful treat to stop at. The trail…read morethat runs through this park is called the Wappinger Greenway Trail with so many surroundings to explore, and also views to observe across the Hudson River, specifically, to the south and west, Newburgh, West Point, and The Hudson Highlands State Park, to the north, Mid Hudson Bridge, and east, a bit of Fishkill with not a whole lot of viewing. The trail starts as you enter the park, beginning on the right side before the parking lot. There are a couple of spots to park right at the trailhead. It mainly parallels the Hudson River in the woods with a couple of fields until finally reaching more fields. Following the signs, it will end toward Wheeler Hill Road with a downhill with woods. This may go down as my favorite park in the Hudson Valley. The judging belongs to you.

We took the guided tour here. It was definitely worth it. The staff were extremely knowledgeable…read more There is also a barn inside that you can rent for a wedding. Beautiful place!

Mount Gulian is a wonderful home that is set up beautifully on the Hudson River. This location is…read moregreat for educational tours and weddings in the restored barn. Give a try.

If you like historic home tours and museums and would like an easy day trip from NYC or the…read moresurrounding areas, check out Kykuit! It is a beautiful place and also nearby other Hudson River mansions if you want to make a day of it. I did the version of the tour that includes the art collection downstairs and enjoyed it.

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.

While part of the F. D. R. National Historical site in Hyde Park, a visit to Top Cottage requires…read morethe purchase of an additional ticket, a parks service provided bus ride (included in the Top Cottage ticket price) and about 90 minutes total commitment to see it. (About an hour at the cottage and the remainder bus time) For some or all of those reasons, many folks do not have Top Cottage on their list of things to do when visiting the FDR site. That is a shame because for four of us visiting the FDR site earlier this month, Top Cottage was one of the highlights. Not only of the F.D.R. site but of the three days we spent in the Hudson River Valley. Highly recommended! Built during his second term of office, Top Cottage is where Roosevelt would "escape the mob" (although you'll learn that neither he nor anyone else over nighted here during his time as President) to recharge his spirit. FDR also entertained visiting dignitaries here - like the King and Queen of England for the famous "hot dog picnic". Sadly, after FDR's death one of his sons and his wife moved into Top Cottage and it was eventually sold to settle the son's divorce, then sold again and only came into the possession of the Park' service in the late 1990's (?). It opened to the public in 2001. At Top Cottage you'll be able to browse around the inside on your own and if it is a nice day you'll have the great pleasure of sitting out on the same back porch as did FDR, Winston Churchill and others and listen to the wind and watch the same hills in the distance. It's easy to understand why Roosevelt felt his spirit revived by time spent there. And if you are very fortunate you will have Bob to drive the Top Cottage bus (such a nice guy) and remarkable "Ranger Charlotte" leading the tour. (That's her providing a wonderful tutorial on the Top Cottage porch in one of our photos.) You can find more information about Top Cottage at the National Parks service web page listed here. http://www.nps.gov/hofr/planyourvisit/top-cottage.htm If you're in Hyde Park, treat yourself and visit it. (Open daily from May through October.) Only a few tours (maybe four?) are offered daily and only a limited number of people (maybe 16?) are permitted on each tour. So just as Roosevelt used Top Cottage to "escape the mob", that's also true for those who tour it now. A tip: After riding the bus up, you'll have an option to ride the bus back to Wallace Center the FDR site or walk down a forest path to Valkill when weather permits.

Excellent spot. 1)…read moreThis is FDR's retreat during his presidency. 2) Also known for the famous visitors such as Churchill. 3) The tour is nice, and you can sit and touch most of the stuff inside. 4) I would not say to put this on top of your to do list, it is something is you saw the other 4 spots and just want to get this out the bucket list.