Magazzino is a museum in Cold Spring, NY that displays Postwar & Contemporary Italian Art. We…read morevisited this space on a Saturday "day trip". When we first arrived at Magazzino, staff let us view the Antonio Marras and Maria Lai: Llencols De Aigua Installation- this will be there until January 2026. All of us visitors were then told that some areas are not open to the public at this time. This promopted the woman at the front desk in this specific building to state that museum general admission is 1/2 price per person ($10 instead of $20) and that she could only take one form of payment. Because we wanted to pay cash, we were told that we can pay admission in the next nearby building w/ separate staff. It was nice weather that day, & we enjoyed walking on the property to the next building. Although a portion of the space was closed to patrons, we got to see some artwork w/ in Robert Olnick Pavilion, which was created in 2023. This included the Arte Povera which is their Permanent Collection. The architectural design of Magazzino Italian Art is modern & beautiful in its simplicity. Magazzino has lots of campus-style open space w/ beautifully massive windows & gorgeous greenery. A water feature & open walkway between one gallery to another completes the nice minimalist aesthetic. Favorite Masterpieces : Michelangelo Pistoletto -Stracci Italiani,2007 Michelangelo Pistoletto- Siera di giornali, 1966-2017 Luciano Fabro - Italia all' asta, 1994 Luciano Febro - Due nudi crescendo le scale, 1987-1989 Luciano Fabro - Efeso II, 1986 Marisa Merz - Senza titolo, undated Mario Merz - Che fare?, 1968-1973 Mario Merz - Igloo con vortice, 1981 Giuseppe Penone - Albero di 3 metri, 1988 Giulio Paolini - Mimesi, 1976-1988 Giuseppe Penone - Unghia e marmo, 1988 (placed outside on greenery made of marble & glass) Magazzino Italian Art has outside tables & chairs. We sat for a bit and enjoyed the fresh air and views. We had to get a picture of the words "Reject Racism" etched onto the entrance door before our departure. What a good way to end our visit! magazzino.art @magazzinoart

I love this museum. It is worth visiting for the architecture alone. The beautiful light filled…read morespaces are the perfect backdrop to any artwork that they choose to exhibit. Also right up the hill from the museum, you can visit a collection of donkeys. Don't miss this Hudson Valley gem.

Not very ADA accessible!…read more Two parking spots near the main house marked "Handicapped" were off-limits to us (w a handicapped hang-tag). "These are reserved for special events," said a docent. "Are there special events today?" we asked. "No, but you have to park in the visitors area," way, way over there. That made walking to enjoy the view of the Hudson. We would gladly have paid the admission fee, but we were clearly not welcome, even to stroll from a parking place close to the views.

My friend and I were in the area on a cold Saturday and decided to take a tour. We were the only…read moreone braving the cold. Our tour guide Carol was excellent! She was friendly and knowledgeable and answered all of our questions and was so thorough in explaining the history of the house and how it go where it is now. We didn't get the experience the gardens since there was snow but I will be back in the warmer weather to see the grounds. The view of the Hudson was gorgeous!

I don't think I understand modern art, yet I spend hours here every visit…read more I usually prefer to wonder alone but sometimes tours are nice because then I can talk to others who also enjoy but don't understand the exhibits either.

Beacon, NY - virtually every person I've brought to DIA has had the exact same reaction of "WTF is…read morethis?" when they glance upon the pile of dirt, roomful of garbage, or giant monochromatic canvas, and throw up their hands in irritation and bewilderment. It's part of the fun (at least everything's a conversation piece, as you argue what is the point/meaning of this), but I appreciate the BS check called out by my philistine friends and husband who are unmoved by the academic hoo-ha that I, a pretentious art twat fed a steady diet of "theory & criticism" at university, so love to make a cerebral meal out of. Conceptual and contemporary art aren't everyone's cup of tea, but you don't have to understand or even appreciate art to bask in this massive gallery of space, light, airiness, minimalist beauty, and contemplation. To walk through these open spaces is meditation. And if you stay into the afternoon, the light is spectacular. Plus, like in any art museum, it's always fun to check out the hip international street fashion people are sporting. In addition to the changing exhibitions and installations showcasing both established voices and next-gen up-and-comers, DIA boasts works of magnificent scale by the likes of Richard Serra, Andy Warhol, Louise Bourgeois, Gerhardt Richter, etc. in its permanent or longterm collection that to me is worth the price of admission alone. The collection highlights works by many important artists of the 60s & 70s, the era in which DIA was founded to help artists achieve visionary projects that were ambitious in size or scope. The basement level always has cool special exhibits, so don't miss it! And if you think "jeez my kid can make this!", take them to the family friendly events and programs like Saturday Studio where your little Mondrian or Damien Hurst in the making can create projects that are surely refrigerator- if not gallery-worthy. Then save it for 40 years and auction off their "Untitled #1" or tape a piece of fruit to a wall for buckaroos when they become famous. If this experience really leaves you miserable, you can escape to the quaint towns of Beacon or nearby Cold Springs after, where there's lots to do, shop, eat & drink. This is a fantastic stretch of the Hudson Valley to explore! To conclude, I'd love to invite you to my next performance art happening, where I light a pile of debris on fire and title it "Hot Trash."

I found Skyscape museum while walking in the area and trying to get out of heavy snow. I wasn't…read morefully sure what to expect but I left really happy we got to experience it. Skyscape is a really engaging and a well designed experience. Theres a lot to see and do, with interactive spy style missions that kept both me and my son entertained the entire time! My son was completely locked in the whole time and I was right there pretending I definitely understood the instructions on the first try. It's mostly a hands on experience, you're not just walking through exhibits, you're actually participating, solving challenges and learning as you go. Even better, it didn't feel crowded, which made it comfortable to move through at our own pace. We were able to go back and redo some of the exhibits we enjoyed, which made the experience even more fun the second (and third) time around. Overall, a great mix of entertainment and learning, especially for kids but enjoyable for adults too. 10/10. My son loved every second. I loved pretending I knew what was going on.

We recently visited SPYSCAPE and overall enjoyed the concept and experience, but there were some…read morefrustrations that made the visit less enjoyable than expected. The museum itself is very creative and interactive, and the spy-themed activities are fun and engaging, especially for students and groups. The idea behind the exhibits is fantastic, and when the activities work properly, they are exciting and memorable. However, during our visit there was a very large group present, which made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. Several of the interactive stations were not working. The phone activity was not functioning at all, and most of the lie detector stations were broken, with only two available for use. This created long wait times and limited opportunities to participate. Additionally, we found the staff interactions to be disappointing. Some staff members spoke to adults in a way that felt condescending, almost as if they were addressing children, which was frustrating and took away from the overall experience. SPYSCAPE has a lot of potential and truly is a unique attraction, but maintaining the equipment and ensuring respectful, professional customer service would make a significant difference. With those improvements, it could easily be an outstanding experience.

STEPH JUDGMENT: An incredible (mostly) outdoor art museum…read more We'd heard a lot of great things about this museum so we knew it was a must-visit. Even with our high expectations we were still very impressed. It's a 500+ acre museum where most of the works are monumental and/or site-specific sculptures. The $25 admission is a great deal for so much amazing art, and the equally amazing grounds. We spent 6+ hours here but didn't get to see everything. We were also just on foot, but they do have trams and bike rentals. The weather was gorgeous on the day of our visit and we were having a ball wending our way around leafy trails and expansive emerald meadows, all interspersed with works of art. There was also a re-creation of a Norman chateau that served as an indoor museum and gift shop. Their cafe was excellent; I got the French onion burger with veggie patty (mushroom-based, great flavor, with melted Gruyere) and an iced cold brew, and the hubby got a grilled cheese, which was also good. We had such a great time; would definitely love to visit Sharon

Went on the last day before it closes for the season…read more It's very modern ticket center and restrooms. There is also a free tram that takes you around if you don't want to walk. A qr code on the map can be scanned in order to obtain additional information on the sculptures. Some extra walking might need to be done in order to get to the foot of the sculptures. There are also bike rentals if interested. Staff are all kind and helpful. Just ask. Dress warm if you come this time of year. It's definitely a lot more colder then downstate. Cider in the outdoor cafe helped a bit. Will try to come back in warmer months as there's picnic tables that may make it a great day trip.

A very beautiful place to spend some time absorbing art, space and nature. Kino Saito is a treasure…read morefor the community.

What a treat to run into this beautiful museum while searching for coffee in Verplanck! Talk about…read morea hidden gem! I had a great latte in their coffee bar and had the unexpected delete of seeing some excellent sound exhibits. It was free to enter, a $5 suggested donation was more than worth the experience!

Wow what a beautiful place to take the family. This zoo is very well hidden and was near empty when…read morewe visited. You would never know it's there unless you purposely look for it. Free entry but pay to park certain times of the year.

Pros: 1) Great add-on activity pre/post-hike…read more 2) Lots of cute animals that are pretty close-up. 3) Low cost for admission (it's donation based) 4) You can see the staff feeding the animals, if you time it right. Cons: 1) Quite a few of the animal enclosures were closed. 2) The amenities in the zoo and museum look so dated. (Some don't even work) My wife and I gave our donation upon arrival. However, I noticed many, many, many people walk right past the donation box without even care in the world. I get it, money is tight nowadays. However, if we want these sites to look nice we really should pitch in. Just leave a dollar per person, and it will add up. I really enjoyed my time there, and the workers were really friendly. Pro tip: 1) Don't take your pets into the zoo. We saw a lot of these people. 2) Don't blast music on your bluetooth speaker while walking in the park. That's why we invented headphones, papi.

Newburgh, NY - if you'd assumed that Orange County Choppers hailed from Orange County, CA (as I…read moredid), it might surprise you to learn they were actually founded in Orange County, NY, and formerly headquartered in Newburgh. So there's a pleasing logic to Motorcyclepedia setting up shop in this city, which turned out to have a surprising motorcycle pedigree associated with its industrial-era manufacturing past. The core of the collection is American iron: Harley-Davidson, custom choppers (including works by Arlen Ness and a tribute to Indian Larry), rarities like the short lived Excelsior-Henderson, and antique pioneer motorcycles, as well as police & military bikes (including one that was part of the motorcade when JFK was assassinated), and more that are part of specialty and thematic exhibits. A smattering of British, Japanese, and European brands are represented as well. The crown jewel is the massive gallery dedicated to Indian motorcycles - I believe one of the largest Indian collections in the world - displaying every model made (originals and replicas) between 1901-1953 during active production. Even if you're not a moto enthusiast, this museum is super cool and interesting, and is very family/kids-friendly! (Free admission for ages 16 and under.) There's an awesome exhibit of iconic motorcycles from Hollywood TV & movie classics such as The Terminator, Ghost Rider, Easy Rider, Tron, Batman, Happy Days, etc. And as a fan of 60s-70s B movies, I also dug the groovy retro music & movie memorabilia spread out across the museum. Kids are more than welcome. My preschooler (who's more of a car guy) loves the play corner with toys, rides, coloring, and cartoons, or just wandering around the sprawling complex looking at stuff, which is an adventure in itself (and exercise for me!). There are many unique vehicles, not just old bikes and whatnot, though yes, plenty of those too. Founded by Gerald "Jerry" Doering and joined by his son Ted, the father-son duo opened Motorcyclepedia in 2011 (incidentally right after the conclusion of the American Chopper series which propelled OCC to fame) in this massive 85,000 sqft space, starting with their own collection and growing it to the 750+ bikes on display today over two warehouse-sized levels. Wear walking shoes! I was surprised by how much bigger the space kept revealing itself to be. Motorcyclepedia is an absolute treasure, and a must-do attraction in the Hudson Valley IMO. Whether you're a casual visitor or a die-hard motorhead and history buff, there's a lot to explore and be entertained by, with plenty of photo ops and props. We've shared this experience with many out-of-town visitors and everyone has loved it.

Absolutely amazing collection of motorcycles. I've been there 1000 times and still haven't soaked…read moreit all in. A must see for any history buff or gearhead!

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.