Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor came highly recommended by a neighbor. It is the real…read moreoutdoor-experience deal! Turns out, visitors and curious tourists do not need to drive far into other states and spend hours getting to a serene and calming outdoor park. Erie Canalway and its soothing, calm waters below beckon lots of outdoor folks; boaters, kayakers, fishermen and families. The signs all over explain the multiple important aspects for industry in the Cohoes area, which since time immemorial was a nexus for textile manufacturing and bleaching. The waterfalls (and their inertia) were used to power vast factories that produced and bleached shirts, bed linens, clothing, shoes, suits, hats and most important of all, collars for men's business shirts. Erie Canalway is the beginning of a long and vast Westward canal and trench way that stretches all the way to Syracuse and Rochester. Make sure to check out Waterford Harbor with its live street music, buskers, bars, cool breezes and restaurants. Ideal for tourists! Review: 5

This was a nice break from highway travel. We parked at Peebles Island State Park and explored the…read moreCanalway and locks. Lots of maps and information posted explaining the history and significance of the area.

Well worth visiting including the on-site museum. I would say think about the historical context as…read moreto when this was being built.

This is an interesting outdoor place to come and visit. Words cannot describe the gentlemen…read morespending 40 years to complete this. You have to come and see for yourself the hours of shaping stones with hand tools to be an outdoor art piece that is beautiful to see, walk around to enjoy. There are park benches around where you can sit and enjoy a snack and take in all the different levels of this outdoor artwork. The entry to the park includes a road that you have to share with in/out traffic. Drive slowly and turn out if needed to let the other traffic pass. Be patient and you will enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Cost: $11 online. In person is $1 extra Tip: 1) Purchase tickets online. As we were leaving there was a sign that said park at full capacity and only those with pre-purchased tickets were allowed into the park. 2) Main parking lot can get full fast. It wasn't until after we parked and went to the ticketing office there was a sign for overflow parking. 3) I did not see a bathroom anywhere, so plan accordingly.

I recently took a tour as part of the SUNYADK continuing education program. Learning about book…read moreproduction over the centuries was fascinating. Being able to touch real vellum and see the artistry that goes into creating a beautiful book was a unique experience.

Fascinating tour displaying the history and some of methods and the equipment used to put our…read morerecorded history on paper

Russell was our guide for the tour. My wife and I are avid Ghost Tourists and try to do one in…read moreeach city we stop through. The tour takes you in a sort of quad up through the grand old state and government buildings, filling you in on the reported ghost sightings in each place along the way. The tour is scripted- as every one we've been to is- and Russell did a great job with his performance. What I like about this tour is how they make a point to let you know that if you have any stories to share about the places they're visiting they will incorporate that into future tours- a great idea to encourage people to interact. Our group was just my wife and myself and as such it was a fun time, informative and gave us a look at Albany we never would have known. Great job and wishing them all the best. Go!

My wife and I took this walking ghost tour on Friday, October 7, 2016. The tour started at the…read moreAlbany Hilton Hotel. The guide, who was VERY knowledgeable and friendly, took us up and around the capitol stopping along the way to tell the group stories of the past of supernatural encounters people have had, seen, and been a part of. The stories were full of detail and were extremely interesting, I highly recommend this tour.

What a great way to learn more about downtown Saratoga and the darker history. Our tour guide was…read morevery engaging and informative and kept it fun for the group. I would definitely recommend it.

We went on the Haunted Saratoga Ghost Tour on Halloween and had a great time. The tour was the…read moreperfect mix of spooky and fascinating -- our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and an absolute pleasure to spend the evening with. He brought Saratoga's haunted history to life in such an entertaining way. Highly recommend for anyone looking to experience a bit of local lore and ghostly charm!

Gorgeous restored Jacobean style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of financier…read moreJ.P. Morgan. The tours average about two hours. Tour guides are well versed on the lifestyle of the wealthy Morgan family and what life was like during the Gilded Age of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hours are Daily 10AM to 4PM. Do call and check ahead as the 28,000 square foot home is often host to private party events and weddings. Check out their website: https://gildedage.org/ Enjoy!

I'm so glad we found Tour with Donovan after searching for tours of the wineries in the Hudson…read moreValley. Donovan is awesome. Very professional, listened to what we wanted, then took us to three wineries that were fantastic. Each winery had its own unique character and the wines were spot on, as well the spirits in the last one we went to. Donovan's van was very clean, well air conditioned, and had all the amenities needed to go from one winery to the next. He's very knowledgeable of the area, well prepared, and an all around fun and great guy. He picked us up at our hotel at Marriott Courtyard Poughkeepsie and after the tour dropped us off at the Beacon Train station it really worked out very well. We'll be gathering a group of friends and hopefully do another tour in the fall or before Christmas. For sure we will pick Tour with Donovan again! Thanks Donovan!

My 8 friends and I took a 5 and a half hour tour with Donovan and it was beyond perfect. Donovan…read moreworked with me on planning the entire itinerary and made sure we were visiting wineries I'd never been to before that would fit the type of vibe I was looking for, since I was the birthday girl. Donovan set up each reservation so I had to do nothing but, book my trip with him and when he arrived he even had champagne and bottled water for us! At each stop Donovan made sure that we were treated like royalty. He didn't just drop us off, he got out with us and set us all up comfortably at each winery even going out of his way to get ice for our wine and helping us choose the best reviewed wines at each stop. Then Donovan even took pictures of our group at each stop and then sent them all to me to make sure I had memories of our trip. Donovan's vehicle was clean and well taken care of. All 9 of us fit comfortably with room for a few more. He was so hospitable and so much fun to hang out with on our drive to each stop. He played the music we liked and kept us laughing the entire time. I can't say enough about Donovan. I would definitely recommend him 100%.

What a gem! We visited the area from San Diego and a friend suggested to stop over at the Grant…read moreCottage. This is a great move for any history buff. The home is in the original condition the way President Grant and his family would have experienced it, meticulously maintained by a knowledgeable staff and volunteers. I had a great time and learned a lot. Highly recommend!

My visit to Grant's Cottage was amazing. I learned so much about his last days and how he provided…read morefor his family. The staff and tour guide here are all very informative and friendly. The grounds are well kept and the cottage itself is well preserved. I have no words to describe the breathtaking outdoor overlook. It is not to be missed. Everything within Grant's Cottage is well maintained and you truly feel as if you are brought back to the 1800's. You will enjoy the tour whether you are a history buff or just looking to gain knowledge about President Grant. I highly recommend!!

We had a wonderful half day tour of the Catskills and Westside of the Hudson Valley with Seth in…read morehis fully restored vintage Land Rover, "Marianne". We drove the winding roads through the scenic mountain towns of Tannersville, Jewett and Windham. After a delicious lunch of authentic Polish food and a stroll in Catskill, Seth brought us to Left Bank Cider for a tasting flight. I don't know if we would have found half the places we visited if we had gone on our own! The Land Rover itself was great. The seats are set up like stadium seating, allowing for unimpaired sightseeing as we drove; our ride was safe, comfortable and smooth. We have never ridden in anything like it before. Heads turned whenever we drove by! What made the tour even better was Seth's knowledge of the area and his ability to tell a great story. Highly recommended.

From the owner: Hudson Valley Rover Tours is the newest and most innovative way to explore the Catskills and Hudson…read moreRiver Valley. From the unique comfort of our fully restored & modernized 1994 Land Rover Defender 110, we weave together the history, architecture, people, vistas, and craft foods & beverages of the region. All of our outings are private excursions. We offer customizable half and full-day tours. Our time is spent with Marianne, our 1994 Land Rover Defender 110. She is a unique combination of restored original with modern upgrades. The Rover is an original left-hand drive vehicle that is powered by a rebuilt 300Tdi engine. Upgraded with air conditioning/enhanced heating, USB ports, individual leather bucket seat and safari style seating, we are able to carry up to eight guests.

A lovingly restored and maintained historic home, with a one-room school house, a large barn, and…read morelots of history to explore and learn.

Cute little historic complex, which I'll describe in detail below, that pays its way for the Town…read moreof Colonie as a reception hall specializing in weddings. I can't comment on the weddings but it looks like a very good value for a small wedding and a charming, spacious setting. The historic complex has three main "attractions". The first is the Pruyn House itself, an odd combination of a federal brick and greek revival mansion, built in the first third of the 19th century for Casparus Pruyn and family. Pruyn was the agent/collector for Stephen van Rensselaer III, the last Patroon of Rensselaerswyck, the feudal remnant of the Dutch empire in the US that lasted in its odd legal form until the middle of the 19th century. It is not the main site of business, but it does speak a bit to the social history around the Patroonship system. There are interpretive placards in each room, including one on the Anti-Rent Wars that broke up the Patroon system finally. Most of the rooms have period furnishings in them, although not a full restoration, and as such it's a nice illustration of 19th century elite living but not exactly a full recreation. The upper floors have rooms that double as offices for the curators, so there are also modernized touches around. Even so, it's a moderately interesting look. There's not a lot of interpretation but enough to figure things out. Outside the main house is a lovely flower garden, and two more buildings. One is the Buhrmaster Barn, an early 19th century barn that was moved from a position close to the Mohawk River, and the old Verdoy school, which was moved from its location near Route 7 in 1995. The barn is used for receptions and programs, and has some very interesting intact woodwork but is, well, you know, a barn used for wedding receptions. It's nicer than a real barn but not as interesting. The Verdoy school house, though, is one of the best intact one-room school houses in the area, and they have a few desks and some props (I can't call them artifacts) left out, which I am guessing are used for school groups to come in, with some modern seating. It's worth a peek inside - the kids enjoyed playing school for a few minutes - but it's not a complete re-creation either. It's all free (donations accepted) and despite the relative lack of interpretation it should be of interest to those interested in local history, old houses, or just a pleasant walk around some grounds. There are picnic tables and a big open space in the rear, and I don't know if they care if you come and use it as a picnic spot, but I would recommend it as such if you're looking for one in the area and want to spice up your stop with a little history.