We did quite a few old home tours while up in the area and this was easily one of my favorites…read more 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.

Tranquil house out in Sleepy Hallow of the man that made the town famous. Although I think it would…read morebe 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.

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.

This fully domed octagonal residence presented a wonderland of history, art, furnishings, and…read moreoutdoor Spring greenery. Our tour guide added to the intimacy of our small group. She filled us with facts and humor as we marveled at the home's history in each room. The Armour-Stiner Octagon House visit is not to be missed.

It was fall, we were headed up north for apple picking but it was raining, and my girl likes…read moretouring old homes. You do the math... As far as old home tours go, this one was pretty interesting, and our guide was a veritable font of knowledge! Not only about the home, but also the residents and the transitions from one to another, etc. A horror movie was filmed here so that's pretty cool. I watched it once we got home. Sadly, it was not good...

Lyndhurst is a beautiful castle overlooking the Hudson River. It's a three-floor museum that's very…read morewell maintained and preserved. I visited during the flower show, and it made the experience even more special. So many talented floral designers decorated every corner of the mansion, turning the castle into a truly stunning display.

I a Period Piece girl and have become so fascinated with the past. I've been visiting my local…read morehistorical places and learning the history of the lands. This place has so much preserved beauty it truly just takes your breath away. You start to realize they don't make things the way they use too anymore. The passion in craftsmanship The fine details to every aspect of this home is completely astonishing. The Lyndhurst Mansion is significant as a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture, designed by A.J. Davis for NYC Mayor Paulding, and expanded by a merchant named Merritt, and later owned by railroad tycoon Jay Gould, serving as a key Gilded Age estate with unique features like its bowling alley, observatory, and original furnishings, now a National Historic Landmark preserved by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

If you want a thorough history of this cool spot, read the previous review. It's excellent and what…read moreinspired me to come visit. As someone who had a grandfather who survived WWII and a great uncle that did not, it was poignant to see such a nice depiction. I'd recommend it to anyone else who had relatives serve for the same reason.

For 1.3 million World War II American soldiers, Piermont, NY was their last stop in the country…read morebefore they sailed across the Atlantic to join the war in Europe. They were housed in nearby Camp Shanks, and on the day they left America to join the war, 40,000 men a month walked down the pier, and boarded either a ship to France or a ferry to New York on their way to England. For many, the walk down the Piermont pier was their final walk on American soil. This striking monument features a statue of a helmeted GI in full uniform. He has a hand grenade and a shovel on his belt, and a sash with many pockets for equipment storage. His right hand is raised in a sign of farewell. His left hand is resting on a stone whose plaque bears the following inscription: Last Stop U.S.A. During World War Two, 40,000 U.S. troops per month, including many Piermont residents, passed this spot enroute to the end of Piermont Pier, the largest port of embarkation on the East Coast, where ships were waiting to transport them to military duty in war-torn Europe. Many of these troops landed on the shores of France where the invasion began on June 6, 1944. Thus this area came to be known as "Last Stop U.S.A." After the war came to a victorious conclusion, some 533,869 men returned home to the U.S.A. first setting foot on their homeland at the end of that same Piermont Pier. "Lest We Forget," many of the men who embarked from Piermont never returned. This plaque is dedicated to the honor of those who served and the sacred memory of those who never returned. Dedicated 1994

This will always be the Tappan Zee Bridge to me and many other New Yorkers. Not only have I driven…read moreacross it I've also run a half marathon up to it when up in Sleep Hallow/Tarrytown. The bridge was renovated and improved and has a terrific look to it, especially when lit up at night. The bridge has a pedestrian and bike path which makes it safe for runners and the views are great. I think it's about a 5K trek from one side to the other. Definitely a nice route to take on for a training session.

$36.68 to cross the Governor Mario M Cuomo Bridge in my Sprinter van! I didn't want to buy the…read moredamned thing; I just wanted to drive across it! This may be reasonable if my fillings weren't already loosened from the highway both before and after crossing. The roadway is riddled with potholes and seam bumps. Perhaps the cost of a steak dinner would be justified by the cost of good roads. On my 2000-mile journey from North Carolina to Massachusetts, however, the roads in Rochester and Westchester are among the worst I encountered. I-287 rated one star in https://www.yelp.com/biz/interstate-287-tarrytown?hrid=m0TRxKKllKLpBqlatt-4Lw. On this same trip, I crossed the Henry Hudson Bridge (a much more reasonable $8.25) and the Pell Bridge in Rhode Island (practically free at $4.00). Even my time on the New Jersey and Massachusetts Turnpikes didn't cost as much as the 4 miles of the Mario M Cuomo Bridge! Next time, I will drive the extra 20 miles to take the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge because not only is it only $2, they only charge it eastbound. [Review 959 of 2025 - 562 in New York - 24513 overall]

This was created in 2002 by Richard Masloski. It is a Bronze statue that captures the character…read morecreated by Washington Irving. "Rip Van Winkle depicts the literary character reclining. He has a large beard and crumpled hat and his eyes are half-open as if he has just woken up. His boots and hands blend in with the ground like he has become part of the ground. It is located on Irvington's Main Street under a beech tree between Town Hall and the Main Street School. It was unveiled in Irvington on September 21, 2002."

We had guest visiting and we always pass by this place so we thought, why not give it a shot!? It…read morewas a cold rainy day so we ran in not knowing what to expect. I think this is an awesome distillery and I can see it being even more fun in warmer weather! This place is know for whiskey and rye. It's cool because they do sampler in a little vile glass which I think is creative. Their cocktails were also super delicious! The service was great! It's seems that they definitely have regular customers that come in. It's not too big of a spot but there was a lot of seating both tables and around the bar.

A nice whiskey distillery with a bar/tasting room and nice outdoor seating by the stream. I love…read morethe beautiful ambiance of the outdoor seating area - its flanked by trees and you can listen to the gurgling sounds of the stream while enjoying your drinks. This distillery is also has grounds you can walk around and explore (not too big though). We took a peek at their aging/storage room with wooden casks while there, as well as their distillery. We were treated to a free, small sample of their whiskey at their bar. Its a nice stop when in upstate NY area.