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    The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy

    4.4 (104 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Large Dog Park
    Jjc M.

    This is one of those places you want to give less than 5-star to keep the crowds away! Living close by, I'm here often with our dog children to enjoy walking all over the place getting our steps in. There is so much history, landmark buildings, Hampton house rentable for events, garden, children area with playground (etc), children train ride, water views, lake, new gazebo, walk paths, beach (sunbathing & fishing) convenient parking area and continual seasonal events. My favorite is walking in the light mist or rain usually when no one is around except few dog lovers. I personally find the membership fee more than worth it. In case I'm not clear, I highly recommend this place.

    Tata G.

    One of our favorite pandemic discoveries. I love this place for its rich history, grand buildings, beautiful gardens & most of all the raw beauty of its beach.

    Ginger B.

    July 2020. Beautiful grounds! I hadn't been here in years. It was a great place for some outdoor time with friends on a weekday afternoon during the pandemic. There are signs throughout about mask-wearing and social-distancing, which helped us to feel comfortable and safe. Note that the tours and buildings are currently closed (other than the restrooms). Looking forward for when they are able to safely open! There were a few families at the park this afternoon as well. There are kid-friendly trails, etc. Some people brought dogs but the actual dog run had a sign that it is closed. There are seats and picnic tables that we took a mental note of for future reference as a lovely outdoor space to safely eat while distanced. We walked most of the trails and admired the water and the beach. There were people on the beach and even in the water, but there are no lifeguards and there are signs that the beach is closed. (We admired the beach and water from the shore, away from other people and without actually walking on the sand.) There is a $15 entrance fee per car but you can also get an unlimited annual pass.

    Claudia B.

    Unbeknownst to us, we came here a bit too early for the buildings to be open to the public. I don't mean time of day early, I mean that we need to come back later in Spring when they'd allow visitors to go inside. I think it was set to open Memorial Day weekend or thereabouts, and we were there early April. Nevertheless, there are lots of outdoor grassy areas and/or trails, not to mention a beach, that we did NOT avail ourselves to because my back was hurting that day, and it just wouldn't have been a good idea to test out. I think we'll just have to come back and try again when it's not considered Winter hours. Next time, I'll check to see what's going on beforehand, and who knows, maybe my back will allow me to walk around, too !!

    Darya S.

    Parking car pass is $15, but you can get a free one from your local library! This is a huge, clean, and quiet park that makes for such a relaxing hour or two. Come for a brisk walk, a picnic, time by the dog park, or an adventure through the castle on a sunny day. I wandered with my mom and brother around the pond, trail 3, trail 5, and the area by the Hempstead House. The air is so clear and the land is so spacious. It's awesome especially if you want some private time with someone. There's also a rose garden, but it's being worked on for some Netflix show. Grab a map and explore! There are also yoga/meditation sessions, mansion tours, family nature programs, and seasonal celebrations. Look up their calendar and plan a visit with your family for sure.

    Private beach
    Mei C.

    What a Beautiful, fantastical New York landmark this is. With it's whimsical history of the roaring 1920's this place has it all (there's a few castles!). Nestled at the tip of Hempstead Long Island-getting here was an easy hour drive. Paid the $15 parking fee and were free to roam around the castle grounds. At the entrance there's a big map that directs you to trails that lead to each castle (guided tours are provided with a fee). There is a particular trail past the duck pond- that leads straight to a deserted beach-What an amazing find! The water was clear and not polluted- it might be nice to sweep up the dead seaweeds though. The castle grounds with it's well manicured gardens was as marvelous as it gets- kind of reminds me of the Great Gatsby (the movie). After the walk around there is a children's playground that has a mini zip line for young kids to play and have fun on. Overall, a great place to spend time with the family.

    Castle
    Brandon M.

    It started with a slow drive over an old bridge which really sets you up for what you're about to experience. The first thing you see is a beautiful old castle, you might think that's the only castle you'll see but you'd be dead wrong. In the distance there is an equally stunning historical castle that strikes awe as you approach. There are simple easy trails to the stunning beach. The only reason why this is getting 4 stars is because you could not tour the castles and the gift shop was lackluster. Otherwise would recommend.

    Hempstead House
    Victor H.

    Unique scenic and historical landmark! We came to visit the preserve on a Saturday morning and we had a fun time taking in all that this place has to offer. Unfortunately the tours were cancelled today (even though I called a couple days prior to make sure they were still scheduled). This we couldn't visit some parts of the preserve including the Mille Fleurs and Falaise mansions. However, we were still able to enjoy the Gould Castle and the outside of the Hempstead House with the Rose Garden. Took some pretty cool scenic pictures. The welcome center at the castle has bathrooms and air condition. The A/C was crucial on this super hot day lol. They also allow dogs throughout most of the outside grounds and trails and also have a designated dog run where they can be unleashed.

    Dog chilling on the grass
    Tee N.

    I love this place. It is well maintained and I love that it is dog friendly. It was our spot to catch some fresh air and sun without being too close to other people during COVID. We loved walking by the mini beach. We purchased the family membership for the year for $120. It was worth it for us since we came every weekend in the early morning during the summer (included admissions and parking). Parking is usually $15 per car.

    Mari T.

    This gorgeous place is very quiet. The admission was only $15 / per car so it was worth it. This is a nice get away from the city. They have a mini beach and forest trails for people take a walk around the garden / landscape. They have a dog park for dogs owners. Although I wish the castle and Hempstead House was open. I was told it has been closed for two years. I am not sure if it is due to pandemic or renovation processes. But it was still nice to see exterior of the house and castle. Definitely beautiful overall. I love it!

    Lourdes M.

    The gloomy day did not stopped us in coming to this park. While waiting for the dog run event , we toured the manor grounds. The admission building ( Castle Gould) is instagrammable. There is a fee to tour inside but unfortunately closed during our visit. The Hempstead house as I heard hosts lots of performances and events. For our day visit, there was nothing on schedule which is a perfect timing to tour the house but was told needs advance booking. Passing by the area, we heard some artists playing their musical instruments - sounded like there was rehearsal going on. We were glad that nobody stopped us from looking around and enjoying its garden. The ocean view is magnificent from the vantage point we were standing. The house looks magnificent with the roses as the foreground. Can't image how beautiful it will looked like during springtime. It is a good walk between these two buildings. Manicured lawn - perfect for summer picnics. Tables are available as well as benches in the premises. There is a $15 admission fee and a free shuttle to see and tour the mansion (Falaise house) meters away from the main site. We opted not to go and planned to see it on next visit. We went for walking trails instead - the trail going down to the beach and going up to get a top view of the Long Island sound are manageable. It was a short walk distance but worth the time. Definitely more enjoyable to enjoy the trees once the cooler temperature hits- cant imagine how beautiful the different colors of the leaves will looked like. The parking fee of $10 is worthy of what you could do and see on this place .

    Kitty H.

    We went today on a Saturday for the first time. Some facilities were closed, not sure due to pandemic or not. Info desk was closed. It has two indoor bathrooms with slow moving line. A staff was regulating that each family uses one bathroom ( whole bathroom despite it has 3 stalls, only one group or family was allowed). Two portal potty on the other side of parking lot. No food or drink places. I saw some vending machines by the bathroom but they were all unplugged with signs saying out of order. Lots of dogs on leashes. A few ppl didn't masks despite signs were everywhere about masking and social distancing. Admission is $15 per car. Free for members. Once inside, everything is free to use. They have cool playground with zip line and other not so common play structures. A few trails to choose from, shortest one is 1/2 mile. We walked down to the beach. One side is more rocky, one side is more sandy. There's a pond but no live animals seen. We can only look at the outside of the castle. Great photo spots. Definitely will return. Suggestion: Increase bathroom facilities. Have a feet washing station at the beach area.

    Andrew H.

    Very cool park. It has a great combination of spacious landscape, scenic trails, beaches and historic castles. If you are a dog owner, this place will be heaven for your pup. The grounds are immaculately kept. Most of the visitors were respectful although there were a lot of people not wearing masks (COVID-19). The trails were clearly marked and had some nice spots over looking Long Island Sound. The beaches were cool. I'm not sure about the "rules" about being on the beach with your dog and certain areas that were off limits but I guess just pay attention to the signs or follow the crowd.

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    5 months ago

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    7 months ago

    We went to a wedding here at the house they have the property, and it was beautiful. The service was great and the food was excellent.

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    9 months ago

    I Paid $15 to use the bathroom. Everything was closed, basically a dog run. No signs, no nothing.

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    3 years ago

    Simply an amazing location with a wealth of history. So thrilled to have Ben and Joanna's wedding here. Much love - JGD.

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    5 years ago

    Always worth the trip, weather to walk the beach or the trails. Thank you for letting us bring our canine pets.

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    Ask the Community - The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy

    Are there areas to have a picnic?

    Yes, there are several areas with picnic tables.

    Are dogs allowed here?

    Dogs are allowed as long as the dog is on a leash at all times and on all areas including the trails.

    Should I need to book tickets for Sands Point?

    No, there is no need to book tickets for the Sands Point Preserve. Thank you for your interest.

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy

    The Hempstead house won't be open until second week of September due to private events such as weddings.

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

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    Execution Rocks Lighthouse

    Execution Rocks Lighthouse

    3.5(4 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    A light with a…read more spooky history A lighthouse about a mile or so off the coast of New Rochelle. A unique light about 42 feet with no copies that I know of. It was built in 1850 and then rebuilt in about 1868 because of heavy wind and sea damage. A very cool place that some people say is haunted. Of course many lighthouses are said to be haunted because they are spooky places but this one has a reason for the weirdness. The light gets it's name from the revolutionary war. The story or legend has it that England become embarrassed by public executions because the defiant colonist would scream out nasty things about the king before being hung. So the British decided to kill the recalcitrant rebels in private. They took them out here and chained them to the rocks that the light was eventually built on and let the tide come it and drown them. I have even heard that this was the main inspiration for part of the the Declaration of Independence. Of course the ghosts of the rebels could never find peace and still inhabit tha area. I don't know how true the story is but the rocks and lighthouse are a cool place to kayak. The sound narrows and is only about four miles across so it is an easy yak to get from Connecticut to New York. I've stopped at the rocks many times, never seen any ghosts but it is a convenient place to stop and take a leak. A light with a spooky history

    Awesome to anchor and watch the nyc sunset , this place has a lot of history definitely Google it…read moreand read about it very awesome place to hang out in the boat in the middle of New York Harbor

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    Execution Rocks Lighthouse
    Execution Rocks Lighthouse
    Execution Rocks Lighthouse

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    Raynham Hall Museum - The house centuries ago

    Raynham Hall Museum

    4.1(15 reviews)
    8.4 mi

    We got a Groupon for this place, which makes the price a lot more reasonable. They don't open until…read more1 pm on the weekends, and on Saturdays they don't even give guided tours. Instead, they give an "augmented reality" audio tour which is kind of hit or miss. The house was preserved for the historical significance of the Townsend family, one of which was a spy for George Washington. I didn't feel there was a ton of information on the family though. Pointing their phone at the different objects in a room turned on audio about them, but only a couple of rooms in the actual house were interactive. The rest didn't have signs, and one loan employee was around to answer questions at the end. The exhibit in the visitor center was nice though. I just don't think the AR experience was really up to replacing a person, both in amount of information and the uncanny valley, unnerving portraits. There is street parking and a nearby lot that are free on weekends. The gift shop is minimal. It was an okay spot to visit, but I would recommend coming on Sunday or whenever they offer actual tours to get a more thorough understanding of the house and the history of the people who lived here.

    We went here on a winter weekend, and were fortunate to have the builsings to ourselves. The…read morehelpful staff took out modest admission fee and explained that they don't do tours on Saturdays but they do have tour devices using augmented reality. That means that when you walk through the buildings, you scan the cell phone device on important paintings and artifacts and they talk to you with further information about who or what they are. The small building that contains the entrance is packed with paintings, dioramas, documents and artifacts. Next you walk to the main house, built in the 1730's, and housing the Townsend family. At the time of the Revolutionary War, Samuel had to make room for a British colonel. In spite of the fact that he sympathised with the patriots, he maintained good relations with his "Guest." At the time of the war, the house had eight rooms. One of his sons was one of the leaders of the Culpepper Spy Ring, Placing the home on the National Registry of Historic Places. Each room was elegantly decorated, with the exception of the space for the enslaved housekeeper. In spite of the fact that we didn't get a formal tour, the staff member tagged along with us and kept up a spirited conversation - even giving us a bonus look at the Victorian wing which doubled the size of the structure. The house is said to be haunted, of course. Very highly recommended. The full set of photos can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/terryballard/albums/72177720323110655

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    Raynham Hall Museum - Welcoming and helpful staff

    Welcoming and helpful staff

    Raynham Hall Museum
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    Spice cabinet

    The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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