Locust Grove Estate & Hudson Walkway

Fall is in the air, so let’s head up to the beautifully scenic Hudson Valley for some fresh air and history!  Set on a hill overlooking the picturesque Hudson River is the Locust Grove Estate, an Italianate mansion surrounded by beautifully landscaped grounds.  Built as a summer home for artist and inventor Samuel Morse in a style inspired by the elegant villas of the Italian countryside, this lovely estate fell into the hands of the Youngs who nurtured it into what it is today.  Our tour here will take us through the history of this storied space with its fabulous 15,000-piece collection of furniture, paintings, and decorative arts.  After being wowed by the interior, take time to stroll the spectacular gardens with river views or walk on a historic carriage road or scenic hiking trails while taking in all the Hudson atmosphere.  Now it’s time to sit back and relax for an included lunch in nearby Poughkeepsie at a charming local spot.  You’ll have a chance to walk off those lunch calories along the World’s Longest Elevated Pedestrian Bridge, the Walkway over the Hudson, spanning from the town of Poughkeepsie to Highland.  A stunning panorama will unfold as you stroll out onto the walkway looming 212 feet above the Hudson River while you make your way to the other side or as far as your feel will take you. $195

#001 ~ Wednesday, October 16: Departs Ridgewood at 9:00 am and returns approximately 5:30 pm Cancelation date:  September 15

Vanderbilt Mansion & Planetarium

One Day Tour ~ Thursday, November 14, 2024

Welcome to Eagle’s Nest, the summer home of William K. Vanderbilt, initially built as a small English cottage that evolved into the sprawling 24 room Spanish Revival mansion that we’ll see today.  The rooms of the mansion’s living quarters are just as William and Rosamond left them, filled with priceless art, furnishings, and personal possessions.  As you take an intimate look into the lives of this privileged family, you’ll take a step into an enchanting time capsule of a vanished era.  The home was also a space in which to showcase the thousands of natural history and cultural specimens William had collected from his travels around the world.  From the museum rooms, it will be as if we circumnavigated the globe without leaving Long Island as we view discoveries from the Galapagos and Pacific Islands to the Atlantic and Caribbean.  After an included café lunch, sit back and gaze into the night sky at the Reichert Planetarium where we’ll be lifted off Earth to travel the universe among the millions of stars, galaxies, black holes, and stellar secrets.  $195

#002 ~ Thursday, November 14: Departs Ridgewood at 8:30 am and returns approximately 5:30 pm Cancelation date:  October 11

Historical Village at Allaire

One Day Tour ~ Sunday, December 15, 2024

Today, the magic of the Christmas season comes alive at the Historic Village of Allaire so let’s step into this enchanting showcase of holiday cheer.  This former self-sufficient community known as the Howell Iron Works Co. will be transformed into a festive atmosphere with enchanting sights, sounds, and activities for all.  Enjoy the warm glow of open hearths as you wander through the village from the chapel to Allaire House amidst the joyful sound of live caroling.  Participate in an array of Victorian holiday celebrations from ornament making to traditional party games.  Stop by the General Store to find a special gift, craft or seasonal goodie, and warm up with piping hot drinks and sweet treats prepared in the Village Bakery.  Be delighted by the music program in the chapel and from roaming carolers and storytelling among holiday greens in the Enameling Building.  All historic buildings will be decked in bows and ribbons and trimmed in festive greenery both inside and out, and historic sleds and wagons adorn the background prepared for their journey over the river and through the woods.  After our wanderings, we’ll make our way for an included late afternoon lunch before we are home nestled in bed with sugarplum dreams dancing in our heads.  $180

#006 ~ Sunday, December 15

Departs Ridgewood at 8:45 am and returns approximately 7:00 pm - Cancelation date:  November 15