Top Things to do in Westchester County
Top Hotels in Westchester County
- 1. Sonesta White Plains Downtown
- 2. Baymont by Wyndham White Plains - Elmsford
- 3. Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers
- 4. Hyatt Place New York/Yonkers
- 5. Tarrytown House Estate
- 6. Royal Regency Hotel
- 7. Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers Westchester
- 8. Courtyard by Marriott Tarrytown Westchester County
- 9. Hyatt House White Plains
- 10. Hampton Inn White Plains / Tarrytown
Things to do in Westchester County, Westchester County: The Best Historic Sites
Westchester County, a collection of towns that serve as a popular suburb for the bordering New York City, is also the gateway to the Hudson River Valley, an area that promises a plethora of outdoor activities, from sailing to bird-watching to cross country skiing. The County also contains Rye Playland, a popular children's amusement park, historic sites from the American Revolution, the African American Heritage Trail and several famous houses, including Lyndhurst, a Gothic Revival mansion.
Restaurants in Westchester County
1. Square House Museum
2. Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By wreckthismess - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This is a super plus for the area. Great for jogging, wandering, seeing deer, great architecture and the quaint towns strung along the trail.
3. Washington Irving's Sunnyside House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 163 reviews
A visit to Sunnyside is an enchanted adventure in a romantic landscape and a much-loved riverside home that has been charming visitors for generations.Hear about Washington Irving's storied past and how he came to be America's first internationally famous author, best remembered now for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and other short stories. His characters, from Brom Bones and Ichabod Crane to the mysterious Headless Horseman and the comic Rip Van Winkle, are icons in American culture. Even Johnny Depp has added to their global renown.A gently curved path leads to gorgeous views of the Hudson River and reveals the allure of Sunnyside's unique design, its intimate setting, its bucolic grounds, and its association with a beloved man of letters. SUNNYSIDE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED UNTIL MAY 3. Please continue to check this listing or go to our website for updates.
Reviewed By R4960NKjustinw - Hasbrouck Heights, United States
This little fairy tale house is the home of author Washington Irving and his family. The house itself was once a small stone cottage that the author expanded to be his weekend home and then his permanent home after he moved up from New York City. The house and grounds still contain family artifacts and the barn and ice house are still in good shape and can be seen. The house's furnishings are family heirlooms that were bought by the Rockefeller family and brought back to the house. The tour consists of seeing the downstairs social public areas and the upstairs living quarters. It is not the biggest house in the neighborhood but it still is impressive. The views of the Hudson are amazing!
4. Kykuit
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 748 reviews
Grand home and grounds of this former Rockefeller estate offer a marvelous collection of modern sculptures, Chinese and European ceramics, fine furnishings and beautifully landscaped terraces and gardens. KYKUIT IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED UNTIL MAY 3. Please continue to check this listing or go to our website for updates.
Reviewed By LJL1974 - Middletown, United States
While the "classic" tour is slightly shorter and more limited than the grand tour, we did not feel at all shortchanged. The classic is over two hours (including the shuttle ride to/from visitor center at Phillipsburg Manor to Kykuit) and includes an extensive amount of the mansion interior as well as a wonderful tour of gardens and grounds, and the coach house. Our guide (Helen?) was amazing in her ability to fascinate us with information on the three resident generations of the Rockefeller family, the architecture and renovations of the main structure as well as the coach house, and the artists who created the amazing sculptures and other artwork throughout the home and grounds. This is a wonderful tour!
5. Lyndhurst
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 543 reviews
Lyndhurst mansion is closed but the grounds are open! Daily Grounds Passes are available through December 20th. Overlooking the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York, is Lyndhurst, one of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions. Designed in 1838 by Alexander Jackson Davis, its architectural brilliance is complemented by the park-like landscape of the estate and a comprehensive collection of original decorative arts. Its noteworthy occupants included: former New York City mayor William Paulding, merchant George Merritt, and railroad tycoon Jay Gould. Lyndhurst is a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Reviewed By an0nym0us9999 - Memphis, United States
Lyndhurst was a dream estate built by Mr. Pauling that was sold to Jay Gould that overlooked the Hudson River. During Halloween, the house was decorated with Halloween decorations that took away from the overall historic feel of the house but was entertaining. I took the tour of the house it lasted about an hour and a half and get a good look at the furniture that was in the house during Jay Gould’s life. The house itself wasn’t anything extremely impressive. The most memorial piece of information about the estate for me was that the TV series, Dark Shadows, was filmed at Lyndhurst, and Barnabas’ and Angelique’s paintings from the TV series were displayed in one of the rooms. The house was built in a gothic revival style where ever door, window, room, furniture and et cetera had a parallel matching accompaniment. It was a enjoyable historic site to explore.
6. Van Cortlandt Manor
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 396 reviews
Explore the stone manor house and brick ferry house, wander through the heritage gardens, and stroll down a quiet country road along the Croton River. There, you'll experience the domestic life of a patriot family living in the years just after the American Revolution - the New Nation period. Site is open for tours on weekends during July and August. Property also hosts the popular events LIGHTSCAPES in the spring and the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze in the fall.
Reviewed By 361MrT - Laconia, United States
Set within the Hudson Valley is a manor straight out of the 18th century and on its property is a breathtaking display of more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns. As you meander through the paths that are pumpkin lit, victors will come upon multiple themes filled with illuminated carved pumpkins—complete with spooky music, lighting, and some low-lying fog. Themes vary from spiders, cats, astrological signs, dinosaurs, circus trains, etc. However, my favorite was the overhead tunnel called “the Planetarium” which was totally made up pumpkins carved and grouped together to form a night sky. Music and “shooting stars” just made this theme even more exciting. Best time to go is when the chill in the air is just enough for your breath to be seen. Of course, make sure its dark when you go—preferably after 6:30PM.
7. Union Church of Pocantico Hills
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 146 reviews
This unassuming country church contains a stained glass window by Henri Matisse and nine windows by Marc Chagall, all commissioned by Nelson A. Rockefeller. The enthralling story of the windows and how they came to be here is the story of relationships among distinguished patrons and collectors of modern art, two great 20th-century artists, and the leading connoisseurs and tastemakers of the day. WINDOW-VIEWING TOURS ARE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE UNTIL APRIL 2. Please continue to check this listing or go to our website for updates.
Reviewed By Allergyissues - London, United Kingdom
A small non denominational church which had been used by the Rockefeller’s in the past has a wonderful Matisse rose window completed 3 days before his death and 10 other stain glassed windows by Chagall. Some dedicated to members of the Rockefeller family members after their death.
8. Headless Horseman Bridge
9. Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 110 reviews
Caramoor is a performing arts center located on a unique 90-acre setting of Italianate architecture and gardens in Westchester County, NY. It enriches the lives of its audiences through innovative and diverse musical performances of the highest quality. Its mission also includes mentoring young professional musicians and providing educational programs for young children centered around music. Audiences are invited to come early to explore the beautiful grounds, tour the historic Rosen House, enjoy a pre-concert picnic, and discover beautiful music in the relaxed settings of the Venetian Theater, Spanish Courtyard, Music Room of the Rosen House, and the magnificent gardens.
10. Greenburgh Nature Center & Manor House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By Florida-Gigi-1 - Punta Gorda, United States
The barnyard closing with Dana, the staff member who gave us our tour, was excellent! Dana was superb with my four year old and six year old grandchildren. The children were able to pet and feed the goats, sheep, and chickens. They walked the goats and put all the animals in their pens for the night. Then Dana showed the children two eagles, an owl, and a hawk telling them several interesting facts about these birds of prey. Great visit. Highly recommend it!
