Lyndhurst, a historic site of the National Trust, is one of the great domestic landmarks of America. A visit to the house and its 67-acre park is a must for all who are interested in 19th-century architecture, decorative arts, and landscape design.
Lyndhurst is adjacent to Washington Irving’s Sunnyside. There are historic and aesthetic connections of interest between the sites, but it is the ability to walk from site to site that has the most special appeal. Visitors may walk the publicly maintained Croton Aqueduct Trail from Lyndhurst to West Sunnyside Lane.
Lyndhurst was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892) in the gothic revival style. Davis completed this first phase in 1842, and designed much of the furniture. In 1864, Lyndhurst’s owner hired Davis to more than double its size.
In 1880 Jay Gould (1836-1892), the railroad magnate, Wall Street tycoon, and prototypical robber baron, purchased the estate and renamed it Lyndhurst. He added a colossal greenhouse in the gothic style by the firm of Lord and Burnham; its cast-iron structure still stands. Gould hired Herter Brothers to redecorate and added paintings by Corot, Courbet, Bouguereau, and others, many still extant.
The important “gardenesque” landscape is by Ferdinand Mangold (1828-1905). Many of the landscape features created by Mangold, his predecessors, and his successors, are preserved, including spectacular specimen trees.
New York-style pizza and Italian pasta dishes.
Latin American cuisine in the center of Sleepy Hollow.
Amenities include fully equipped kitchen, on-premise laundry, and free grab-and-go breakfast.
An informal Irish pub and restaurant on Beekman Avenue.
American classics with a Parisian twist.
Enter the year 1750, when Philipsburg Manor was a thriving milling and trading complex that was home to 23 enslaved individuals of African descent.
A majestic paradise with sweeping river views
Authentic homestyle Thai takeout.
Hosts readings, open mics, and other special events.
Built in 1685 by the lord of Philipsburg Manor, the Old Dutch Church is the oldest church in New York State. The church is open on many weekend afternoons in summer and fall. The Burying Ground is open year-round. Combine your visit with a trip to Philipsburg Manor, right across the street.
An informal, affordable Mexican restaurant featuring many fresh, seasonal ingredients from the Hudson Valley, including organic produce from Stone Barns.
Sophisticated menu of tasty, authentic Indian cuisine. Excellent buffet lunch.
Amenities include free breakfast, WiFi, a fitness center, and a pool.
Trails for hiking and a restored Keeper’s Cottage.
You can visit Washington Irving’s grave in the bucolic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, just a few miles north of Sunnyside in the village of Sleepy Hollow. Guided tours of the cemetery, located across the street from Philipsburg Manor, are available for a fee from April through November. Self-guided visits by car or on foot are free.
Afternoon and evening tours are a great way to complement your visit to a Historic Hudson Valley site or event.
Stained-glass windows by European masters Matisse and Chagall, commissioned by the Rockefeller family, adorn this unassuming country church.
Amenities include free WiFi, free hot breakfast, and an indoor pool
Harvest’s waterfront setting affords spectacular views of the Hudson River and the Palisade Cliffs. It takes a few twists and turns through Hastings to arrive at this remarkable site, but sophisticated Mediterranean cuisine and a fine wine list combine for a superb high-end dining experience.
Established by David Rockefeller as a memorial to his wife, Peggy, Stone Barns Center promotes sustainable, community-based food production. The site is the home of the celebrated restaurant, Blue Hill at Stone Barns.
Blue Hill at Stone Barns is the Barber family’s second restaurant for fine dining, their first being the well-known, highly regarded “Blue Hill,” in Greenwich Village. Their creative, prix fixe menus reflect the seasons and feature food from Hudson Valley and regional farms. In 2004, the New York Times rated this restaurant “excellent.” Reservations for the restaurant (dinner only) are required. Blue Hill also runs a small, informal café for lunch and snacks. Reservations are not needed for the cafe.
