We did quite a few old home tours while up in the area and this was easily one of my favorites. Guides in period garb explained various portions of the home and answered questions as well. The pace was never hurried or rushed and there was plenty of time for photo opportunities. Unfortunately our day was besieged by high winds, so we didn't explore the grounds much, but the buildings were really fascinating. read more

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Tranquil house out in Sleepy Hallow of the man that made the town famous. Although I think it would be even more enjoyable near Halloween, this is still a great historical site to learn about Washington Irving as one of the great early American authors. There is a big parking lot then a short trek to the visitor center. The tour groups are small so it can be good to buy tickets online, but we bought them on site with no problem. The gift shop has a lot of great items to peruse while you're waiting. The tour guides dress in period costumes which is a fun touch. Our guide was newish so didn't have all the answers to questions, but she was still pretty knowledgeable. A lot of the items in the house are directly from Irving or his descendants, so it was very informative to learn about his life and his most well-known books. The house has a nice view of the river and makes for a nice walk around the property after when the weather is nice. It's a great site in the Hudson Valley and worth visiting. read more

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Always a little nervous when doing something like this with our son but so far he's been actually very entertained. Anyway this tour was really amazing and we absolutely loved it. We learned so much about the area, the writer, etc. Plus my son had fun. It wasn't a super long tour either. read more

This weekend I visited Sunnyside in Irvington, NY. I was there for a 9pm show of Irving's Legend. This was my first time in the Sleepy Hollow and I was excited to check it out during spooky season. The estate is beautiful, and I hope to return this month for a tour of the grounds and more time exploring Sleepy Hollow and this historic area in the Hudson Valley. There's a small parking lot on the property. Keep an eye out for "event parking" signs. There was a person in a reflective vest with a light to help guide people to available spots. You'll see a tent where you can line up. About 20 min to show time, you'll walk down a lit path to the gift shop and waiting area. Close to show time, you'll walk down a hill to an area with seats where it will begin. At night time, watch your steps. I think night time adds a little extra to the performance; would recommend. Just bundle up bc it's gets chilly. You know, fall weather, ghosts, etc. There are bathrooms in the gift shop. The gift shop is flush with Washington Irving and Sleepy Hollow merch. They sell from bottled drinks and potato chips if you need a snack or something. I bought a bookmark and postcard because I'm a sucker for souvenirs. Jonathan Kruk is the master storyteller, and there's a team of puppeteers and a musician composer playing live music and sound effects during the performance. If you have little kids, I think it's tame enough that they won't go freaking out, but it is a scary story so make your best decision on whether to bring them to the late shows when it's really dark outside. Overall, I had fun and want to come back to the estate again for a tour. The area is beautiful too. Recommended! read more

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A very nice location by the Hudson River. Interesting tour inside the house where Washington Irving and his family lived in. We learned a lot about the "founding father" of American literature and his novels outside of "the legend of Sleepy Hollow" They have different events all year and especially during Halloween season read more

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Great experience with knowledgeable history. The fact that sleepy hollow was made into a tourist destination is pretty fascinating. Irving's house was a step back into history with eclectic style. I love the restoration and craftsmanship of this antique building. Such simplistic times read more

I loved the tour! If you like the story of Sleepy Hollow, you might enjoy this tour. I've been here twice. The second time, I wasn't able to do the tour since they were sold out. Always book in advance. You get a really good look at what life was like back then. There's a cute shadow puppet movie that they play at the end. Overall, very pleasant way to spend the afternoon. read more

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Such a cool experience for the day even though once again covid messed with the experience of getting to go inside his home- closed until next year. But u do get to be a creeper and peel thru the windows. U can see his writing room kitchen living room and hang out on his porch where he enjoyed it most Cool history lesson for our 8 year old. Our storyteller was dressed in era clothes and had a lot of knowledge not just on Washington but history in general. read more

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We signed up for the tour here and it was fantastic! The views from the house are amazing and Washington Irving's house was fun to explore. I owe the experience to the excellent guides stationed around the house who were so knowledgeable and engaging! Learning about the history was so much fun for the family and the property is beautiful! Highly recommend. read more

Sunnyside - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Irvington, New York

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I love living in an area that is so robust with interesting history. The Historic Hudson Valley offers a tour of Washington Irving's home along the Hudson and even though when we attended a fall tour when we weren't allowed inside the home, the phenomenally informative staff made our rainy day visit enjoyable. Even though it was raining, we admired the grounds and walked around as much as we could. I imagine on a nicer day, it would be the perfect way to spend an hour or so. It's so beautiful. If you are a literary history nerd, have at it with your questions. The tour leads positioned around the home and grounds are knowledgeable and happy to chat with you. I really look forward to returning when I can go inside. This is the perfect fall activity. Fun fact: you can see the home from the MetroNorth Hudson Line! Now I look out for it every time I ride. It's so stately and beautiful. read more

Washington Irving's home on overlooking the Hudson River. Unfortunately it was closed when we were there due to Covid 19. Can't wait to return and see it and it's magnificent grounds. read more

Sunnyside - Sunnyside - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Irvington, New York

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House and grounds were interesting, however, our tour guide was insufferable; they rambled on awkwardly with no awareness that our group was anxious to move onward to the next stop. Lots of boring filler talk and kept us stationary for very long periods in claustrophobic settings or in the full sun. We actually snuck out early because the tour guide was too much. This is a 30 minute tour max that they are intentionally dragging on. read more

My family and I had a great time. The grounds are well kept and the house is very charming. Our guide Marisa was terrific! She was very kind, knowledgable and answered all of our questions. We will be going back for the various holiday events they host. read more

Very charming, quaint and humble home but truest unique and enjoyable experience. My boyfriend and I love visiting historical houses and we decided to do Sunnyside and Philipsburg Manor on gorgeous Saturday. I would strongly recommend to book ticket before you go online. Even though you can buy ticket at the place, you may need to wait for next tour if it's already full and you can go inside of the house only if you are part of tour. Also I recommend to become member of historic Hudson if you are around this area and planning to do other houses in this area, it's cheaper I think. What's unique about this house was many things in the house is original because it has been their house or museum so they were able to keep many of original pieces in very good condition. This isn't mansion like kykuit but has very unique feel to it. The guide was very charming and knowledgeable and I can tell he loves history and enjoy his work here. I learned so much about Washington Irving! I would recommend anyone to visit here if you enjoy seeing historical houses. read more

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Tour guide Gianna was so informative and entertaining. Her wisdom about Sunnyside was infinite and answered all of our questions passionately. The Sunnyside tour is definitely worth the trip out to sleepy hollow. read more

About two years ago my friend and I took a boat ride to Cold Spring. There was a tour guide on the boat who communicated hot spots along the way. A few of them were gems of Historic Hudson Valley. The 5 that I jotted were: Kykuit, Sunnyside, Van Cortlandt Manor, Philipsburg Manor and Union Church of Pocantico Hills. I've now scratched 2 off this list: I visited the Union Church and it's a must see: the stunning stained glass windows of Matisse and Chagall. Today was Sunnyside: this romantic riverside cottage with its breathtaking view of the Hudson River. Today was a picture perfect balmy September day; the fall foliage is starting to turn the trees into reddish gold hues and with the sun beating on the Hudson, I couldn't ask for better weather. The timed guided tour lasts about an hour. You can buy tickets online or at the gift shop.* Before the tour begins, I viewed a ten minute film that gave an overview of Irving and Sunnyside. The guide gives a nice overview of Washington Irving's life; what he was like before he wrote, losing the love of his life to a deadly disease, the major influences of his life etc. She also explains in depth the architecture of Sunnyside and how all of Irving's extensive European travels played a major part of the decor. The tour includes of course going inside the two story home. We were not allowed to take pictures of interior but guide goes through each room and gives little nuggets like how Ebenezer Scrooge was in charge of Irving's financials, Dickens actually wrote A Christmas Carol here etc. The rooms are as they were when Irving resided here. After the tour, you can roam freely on the property and there are picnic grounds and tables to dine on. There are spectacular vistas to marvel at and I couldn't stop taking pics of his home. I highly recommend coming here. Now some info*: Tickets:$12 can be purchased on Sunnyside web or in Gift Shop. I recommend purchasing on web. The tours are timed and run every hour, last tour is 3:30. Metro: Metronorth to Tarrytown or Irvington. Taxi ride runs @$10. Taxis are near train station. Train ride @35 minutes from Grand Central to Tarrytown. Cab ride @10 minutes. Gift Shop sells some cool stuff and of course good selection of Irvington's books and writings. The entire staff at Sunnyside were friendly and accommodating. They also host special events like weddings. October truly is a great month to visit Sleepy Hollow for real Halloween spookiness. Lastly, all of the gems I mentioned in my first paragraph are situated very close to each other, so it is possible to do Sunnyside and Van Cortlandt Manor in the same day, for example. read more

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I'm a bit of a history buff and always try to take in at least one site or tour when away on vacation or at a new spot visiting for the first time. Nothing is more appropriate than an excursion to Washington Irving's home up by Sleepy Hollow / Tarrytown. As the writer of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle, amount countless other books, he was America's first prolific novelist and the among the first to make quite a nice living off of it. Sunnyside is a charming home with splendid grounds overlooking the Hudson River. Irving was not rich by any means, but would have been considered upper middle class by today's standards. His home is a mixture of styles that range from Dutch to Spanish, to romantic. At the forefront of the house there grows the original ivy and wisteria that surrounds the front door and face of the house. The inside of the house features many rooms that have been kept in their 1800's state, some with their original furniture, paintings, and articles, while others have been recreated based on what would have been the standard of the time. You can tell the Historic Hudson Valley society takes great care of this home, and it looks terrific.The surrounding grounds are well kelp and picturesque. The view overlooking the Hudson River is beautiful. They encourage visitors to stay after the tour to explore the grounds and even picnic if desired. Old-style wooden benches are placed here and there in the woodsy part of the grounds offering a relaxing view of the water. It's just a peaceful place. Too bad the railroad had to come through and build a line going right by the house near the shoreline that takes away from Irving's tranquil paradise. The guided tour of Sunnyside is only $12 for an adult ticket, and they keep the groups small as we only had around eight of us when I was there. It also runs for only an hour or so, which is great if you have impatient kids with you that get bored easily. Our tour guide, Joyce, was absolutely delightful and very informative. She was patient and answered any questions we had. The guides dress in period costumes here which offers a fun look to the experience. They even were setting up the grounds for a wedding that evening and she said they are magical here with the landscape views and candlelit pathways. We had a terrific tour guide and a wonderful time. The grounds are kept so nice. The next time we are up here we need to check out the Sleepy Hollow cemetery which is close by, as many famous people are there, including Irving and his family members. read more

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Sunnyside was the home of Washington Irving. Irving was the author of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. The house features Dutch and Spanish influences, a picturesque view of the Hudson river and a vast collection of original furniture, paintings and articles from the 1800's. Tour guides are dressed in costumes of the period. Tours last about 45 minutes and are presented by very knowledgeable, pleasant and interesting guides who recount the history of the house and Washington Irving's life. With your $12 admissions and family tour you also receive a travel tote which contains 1) games for children 2) scavenger hunt 3) set of 19th century dominoes and 4) the legend of Sleepy Hollow picture book. Sunnyside is maintained by the Hudson Valley Historic Society which also maintains Kykuit and Lyndhurst. Sleepy Hollow cemetery is nearby and is where Irving, family members and other prominent figures are buried.Check online for the special events calendar. read more

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Though the main attraction during our weekend getaway to Westchester was Kykuit, The Rockefeller estate, we chanced upon this humble home of Washington Irving, the famed novelist behind The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The name given his estate, Sunnyside, is truly fitting, as it is just so perfectly quaint and delightful. The house itself is of a modest size, but made gorgeous with all the lush greenery that wrap around the home's facade. Additionally, being set on an ideal vantage point, surrounded by the Hudson River, greatly contributes to the estate's charm. We didn't take the tour, in fact, we just paid $5 per adult to take a self-guided tour with the help of a map supplied by the house and strolled around at our own leisure. The grounds aren't exactly massive, but then again, it is certainly large enough to tire you out if you're walking on a hot and humid summer day as we did. Sadly, we were only able to peek inside the home through the windows, and discovered that the home is nicely preserved and the historical details remain unchanged. A tour was being conducted at the time, so it was nice to know that the place wasn't desolate if even the number of visitors pale in comparison to a grand location like Kykuit (again, a must-see if you're in Westchester). Another positive was the garden, which I am not quite sure is part of the Sunnyside estate, but that was a highlight for me. We breached the gate and moseyed on into the charming little garden nook. Most of the flowers were either in bloom or past it's prime, but it was still gorgeous and a great aspect of visiting this place. On the downside, I was really looking forward to seeing the nice pond leading up to the house, but that was unfortunately completely defunct and not at all appealing. Otherwise, there were nice nooks here and there to glimpse over, and there is even a "screening room" where loops an old, yet helpful VHS tape (that's right, VHS) explaining the history behind Sunnyside. Again, extra points for charm, here. Overall, a quaint and peaceful sort of experience, but doesn't quite top the (my) Westchester to-do list, it's more like a respectable 3rd bullet or so. read more

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Modest historical home, best paired with Kykuit or another attraction to round out a days worth of activities. Still it has a quaint charm that perfectly befits its rustic character. The home, a mix of old world (think English country meets spanish-arabian) styles, actually works perfectly with the character of the landscape and, though clearly the home of an accomplished man, still has that air of humility that was so prevalent in the days of the early republic. Situated at the edge of the water it overlooks the Hudson, the palisades and much to the chagrin of Irving, the railroad. You are given free reign to wander the grounds, though they are not as extensive as other historical homes, they have their own bucolic charm, and though at times you can see the neighbors homes nearby, one can still forget oneself and pretend to be in the country. Tours in the house are guided by someone dressed in historical garb, always a nice touch. This was a working house, humble, so expect no sweeping hallways, more likely you'll be ducking your heads at some points and squeezing by narrow hallways. Is this a must see, no, but it has a lot of charm, and if you come expecting a modest country home and not an estate you'll be more than satisfied. I highly recomend bringing a picnic, there's no food but its perfectly suited for such. read more

We pulled into the parking lot on a Sunday around 1pm, and the first thing we saw was an orange calico cat. At first she played it coy as we tried to get her attention, but soon she was rolling around begging for tummy rubs and purring like her life depended on it. It was at that moment that I knew I would love my visit to Sunnyside. On our way toward the gift shop, we encountered another cat--a grey one--just hanging out on a low stone wall, She wasn't quite as enthusiastic as the orange one, but still happy to be petted. It turns out that the two cats live at Sunnyside, and on the weekends when the groundkeepers aren't there, they get lonely and position themselves for attention from guests. The orange cat is Katrina and the grey one is Eloise. Where to begin with Sunnyside? The grounds are a beautiful, serene oasis that I would happily wander for hours. The house itself is actually a converted groundskeepers cottage that Washington Irving converted into his home because he liked being closer to the water. Because it's a small structure that has been expanded, it has some delightful quirks. Irving actually did most of the design of the house, and in the spirit of romanticism, added a lot of elements that just look good but don't really do anything, or he disguised functional parts of the property to make them more romantic and keep the ambiance. For instance, the barn where his staff stored ice over the summer is disguised as a small chapel. But when you open the door, it's just a pit full of ice. Well played, Washington. He was also a very well-traveled man and incorporated fun bits of other countries' designs into his house. It doesn't look hodgepodge or weird, just cool. The house has English chimneys right next to two faux windows put in just for symmetry. He was a man who knew how to make architectural elements work together, and I kind of want to copy his ideas. Our tour guide was excellent, and the tour itself was very entertaining and informative. All of the staff that I interacted with were incredibly friendly and helpful--including the two cats. read more

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"Charming" really is the best word for it. It's not a massive, looming estate - but a quaint home - with an authentic "home" feel to it. Washington Irving lived here, as did many of his family members. The study alone was worth the trip, but the amount of original furnishings and art made it even better. And, oh, the stories - of the other important visitors who came here, and the ones Irving himself wrote. Irving is an interesting fellow! I took the tour twice in one day. I was less impressed the first time and just had to take another (I drove from Mass. just for this). The second time was just me, so I was fortunate enough to have a personal tour! The guides wear period costume, which I thought was cute and all but it didn't necessarily add to the experience. They do a lot of specialty programs and theme tours - in particular, I'd love to see what they do for Halloween and Christmas. Word of warning: if you're using a GPS, don't trust it. GPS devices want to take you to an address in Tarrytown... but Sunnyside is actually in Irvington. read more

If you tour Kykuit, Lyndhurst, Philipsburg Manor and Sunnyside, you will get an excellent overview of the evolution of American housing over time.Granted we're talking the housing of the well off because that is generally what survives.Part of what makes Sunnyside worth visiting is that while Washington Irving was clearly affluent, he wasn't a Rockefeller or a Gould.This is middle class housing.It isn't grand.At the same time it most assuredly isn't the Tenement Museum. The setting must have been great in Irvings day . Now with the rail line almost next to the house it is a bit compromised. . read more

A beautiful dreamy home! I loved this tour. Our guide was in traditional dress and her knowledge of Washington Irving and his home was stellar. The property is gorgeous and beautifully kept and you can even picnic on the property after the tour. Don't miss this gem on the Hudson. read more

I am. Very much into this kind of thing, visiting famous people houses and this was first on my list. We loved the tour and the lady guide. She was pleasant and didn't mind answering silly questions. One of the questions was mine, I wanted to know how in the world a writer, 300 years ago, could afford creating such a beautiful landscape, basically a forest. Because, mind you, it is all man-made, or largely known as planted-Forrest. Everything so rounding that house was man-made. I thought that was beyond awesome. The house is nice, I loved the simplicity of it. My favorite room in the house was his study and then the entertaining room. We will also go back to see everything later in the fall. I'm curious about the foliage. read more

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Sunnyside was the pleasant home of author Washington Irving. It is now a historic site open to the public. I visited back in 2003. I remember that the home was built in a mixture of number of architectural styles, including Spanish Washington Irving is the famed author of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunnyside_(Tarrytown,_New_York) When visiting, don't forget to take a guided tour of the other Historic Hudson Valley sites: http://www.hudsonvalley.org read more

Charming home of author Washington Irving, in Tarrytown, NY, just up the Hudson from NYC. Artifacts and house and garden are open to public. Worth the trip. http://www.fieldtrip.com/ny/45918763.htm read more

Came today with my niece and took the children's perspective tour. It's shorter and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. The location was nice and staff were very friendly. The house looked freaky at first but after the first 5mins I was so into the cool artifacts and the old fashion way people used to go about their everydays life's. it used to take Irving 53 days from NY to England and 3hours from Irvington to NYC what now takes us 8hr flights and 35 mins train rides read more

Sunnyside - Nice location - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Irvington, New York

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Worst museum experience ever. My son and I were turned away at the door after traveling a long distance just because we had the misfortune of arriving after a bus load of people. Apparently two more people would have sent them over the edge. We asked if we could pay and just see the exterior of the house and walk the grounds. The answer was no. They were inflexible and rude. For the amount of volunteers that were standing around and doing nothing, they could have accommodated TWO more people. read more

My family and I came to visit Sunnyside due to my son's love of the story 'Sleepy Hollow' for years. He was very excited to visit the home of the man who wrote his favorite story. The house is just breathtaking. The architecture is so detailed. My son enjoyed the art room where he made a spider and paper pumpkin. We enjoyed playing corn hole and trying to make a spider web. My son was completely enthralled by the story teller telling the story of Sleepy Hollow. His facial expressions, inflections, etc kept my sons attention. He sat there unmoving the entire story. My only disappointment as I stated on another review, is that the headless horseman did not make an appearance. We saw evidence that he had been on the property but as with our other tour, he does not come out during the day only at night. This is a true disappointment. It would have been awesome if at the end of the storytellers story the headless horseman came trotting over the bridge. Of the entire experience, that was truly the only disappointing thing. Thank you. read more

We love Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown and decided on this trip to take a tour of Sunnyside. It was just okay. We bought tickets when we arrived and they were $14 each. There was a woman outside of the house giving a history of Washington Irving's life and about the actual house. We were then allowed to go inside and stand in a very small part of four different rooms where we were told about the room we were standing in by a different person in each room. The tour was very short. Maybe 15 minutes at most. We then spend a short amount of time walking the grounds before leaving. It was nice to see once, but would not go back. Before arriving for this tour we went to the Lyndhurst Mansion, which was spectacular and the tour guide was wonderful. We would definitely do that tour again and again. read more

I love this place. I've been 3 times and been lucky enough each time to have my own personal tour...the last was even on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded at all, which was lovely. It's a charming, relaxing, and wonderful experience. If I ever get married, I want my wedding to be on these grounds. They are beautiful! This is a perfect experience to counteract the craziness of NYC tourist spots if you live in NYC and have friends/family in from out of town. The tour guides are so freakin' pleasant, and knowledgeable. I also recommend checking out the Sleepy Hollow cemetery in conjunction with your visit to Sunnyside. Two thumbs way up for both! read more

This review is coming from the perspective of someone that was considering this place as a wedding venue (and I'm talking about this place in retrospect [retrospect meaning half a year ago!]) Hubby and I wanted to have a unique venue, possibly historic with lots of green which this place had and thus a nature-y feel, ideally by a body of water (one of my priorities back then), cool-ish architecture... The thing is the only place that this has for a wedding space is the patio outside their gift shop, which isn't a bad space because you can tent it, but the patio space itself isn't huge. People also have ceremonies by Irving's house which means your guests are going to have to walk a few hundred feet from your ceremony to your reception. Not a bad deal, except the ladies in your party are probably going to be wearing stiletto heels, and their heels will most likely get stuck in the grass if they don't balance on the balls of their feet correctly. I think one of the main reasons we also didn't go with this place is because the view of the Hudson was fenced off (thus not really being a venue *by* the water) because of the MetroNorth train tracks. As a historic place, it's quite quaint! The main attraction here is the house and the grounds, so it definitely wouldn't take too long to do a tour. I recommend coming here if you're checking out all the historic sites in Westchester! read more

A truly enjoyable, educational experience! Our tour guide (Hal- in full period costume) was charmingly informative about the property & everything in & around it. Answered all our questions. Very highly recommended for history buffs or those wanting to do something a little different on a weekend. Mr. Irving was So much more than just Sleepy Hollow & Rip Van Winkle. Book your tix online early. read more

If you have any interest in Washington Irving (and you should), touring Sunnyside is a must. Irving purchased a mid-17th century two room Dutch cabin, and expanded it to an eclectic Dutch style house, not too big and not too small, but quite livable. Except for the time he spent in Europe, he lived here for the rest of his life (he was in his early 50s when he bought and expanded it. It overlooks the Hudson, although his river access was affected by the building of the New York City to AlbNy railroad, which took a slice of the land by eminent domain. After his death, the house was greatly expanded again and Irving family members lived in the house until 1945, when it was sold to the Rockefellers who eventually turned it over to a non-profit to be opened to the public. The final addition was torn down and the house reverted to what it was during Irving's lifetime. We had a great guide and a wonderful tour. read more

Where we enjoyed the Hudson Valley overall, we were very disappointed that on the 4th of July we were told that Washington Irving's House was not able to allow us in for a tour. The tours were "full". Granted, this was our first time spending the 4th in the Sleepy Hollow area and we loved it- except that most things were closed. My friends and I are writers who weren't allowed in to the Irving Homestead. It was upsetting, and that's why I'm giving one star. read more