Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth At The Lighthouse Ice Cream Company
A little sweet has never hurt anyone, and the locals here would swear by this ice cream house!
With a variety of delightful and delectable items on its menu this ice cream parlor opened in May of 2011 still continues to rock the taste buds of locals and tourists alike.
There are pastries, sorbet, ice cream, gelato, and espresso available on its menu. The best part is the ice cream is produced fresh every day and made in small batches, thus ensuring maximum freshness.
The ingredients are all sourced from local farms thus further enhancing the taste. If you are visiting Tarrytown with your kids, then make sure that you indulge them with an ice cream at this place.
Sleepy Hollow Tarrytown New York
The village of Sleepy Hollow neighbors the town of Tarrytown in New Yorks Hudson River Valley. Located along the eastern banks of the river, only around thirty miles outside of bustling New York City, Sleepy Hollow is known globally through The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, written by Washington Irving. Owing to the roots of the village in early American folklore and history, as well as the short story of the infamous Headless Horseman, the village is also considered by many to be one of the worlds most haunted places. Sleepy Hollow offers a mix of historic landmarks and natural beauty.
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Go See Some Live Music
The historic Tarrytown Music Hall unveiled a $1.5 million renovation in 2015, and its refreshed but retro facade is a beautiful feature of Main Street. It hosts concerts of all kinds, as well as dance performances and plays. The nonprofit Jazz Forum Arts hosted a jazz series at the music hall for many years before opening its own spot in June 2017, where you can eat dinner and have drinks as you listen to great live jazz.
13 Main St., Tarrytown 914-631-3390 or tarrytownmusichall.org
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Getting To Sleepy Hollow & Tarrytown Ny
Getting to all the best things to do in Tarrytown, NY and Sleepy Hollow attractions couldnt be easier since its located only around 30 miles north of Manhattan and easy to access on the Hudson Line train at Grand Central Station or Penn Station. Train trips take around 35 to 90 minutes from here and many of the best things to do in Sleepy Hollow are walking distance to the train station.
However, if you want to explore more freely and not worry about time tables and catching/missing trains we recommend renting a car in NYC.
There are two main train stations that service the area, Philipse Manor and Tarrytown and require a walk to nearby attractions.
Tarrytown Station is the closest to all the things to do in Tarrytown, located about a mile from Sleepy Hollow. And Philipse Manor Station is closest to all the things to do in Sleepy Hollow with about a 15-minute walk to Sleepy Hollow attractions like Phillipsburg Manor and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and Old Dutch Reformed Church.
If youre driving up the Hudson Valley, its an easy straight shot of a drive that takes around 40 minutes from Manhattan and 60 minutes from most spots in Brooklyn.
Some of these attractions wont be accessible without a car. We also recommend bringing along your bicycle if youre an avid cyclist to get around.
Take A Walk Along The Revamped Pier
The former site of a General Motors plant that closed in 1996 is now lined with newly developed condos and green space. Start your pier walk where the train station is and make your way up the river to the lighthouse. The most notable addition to Tarrytowns riverfront is the striking new Tappan Zee Bridge , which was opened to traffic in 2017, replacing the eyesore that was there before. Driving over the bridge can be quite stressful, but admiring it at a distance from the pier is highly recommended.
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Where To Stay In Tarrytown New York
Many of the major hotel chains, including Hilton, Marriott, and Wyndham have hotels within close driving distance to all of the attractions we share. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Whiteplains/Tarrytown and had a great experience. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the included breakfast had an assortment of both hot and cold foods. We always use search engines like Expedia to find the perfect hotel for our trips!
Explore The Grandeur Of Kykuit Estate
You do not want to forget the magnificent Rockefeller familys Kykuit Estate.
Kykuit is one of many magnificent homes and estates that visitors to the Historic Hudson Valley can view.
The Rockefellers are the closest to New York royalty that you can imagine.
Standard Oils founder, John D. Rockefeller, built his fortune in the petroleum business throughout the nineteenth century.
The Rockefeller family has left a lasting imprint on New York City and the Hudson Valley.
John D. Rockefeller commissioned the construction of the colonial-style house in 1913, and it now sits perched high over Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown.
It stands six stories high, with ivy covering the front and stone arches, and the gardens are immaculate.
In addition to the outside, the interiors are also lovely.
The Rockefellers private collection of contemporary art, including Picassos and Andy Warhol, is housed beneath the mansions basement.
Now, however, the home is available to the public, despite its continued ownership by the Rockefellers.
There are various ticket choices available for the Kykuit Estate.
The Classic Tour is less expensive and briefer.
Meanwhile, the Grand Tour covers much more ground, including an upper floor, but tickets were much more costly, and excursions lasted longer than two hours.
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Learn New Yorks Past At Philipsburg Manor
Philipsburg Manor is a great site to see what New York used to look like in the mid-18th century.
Once known as Philipse Manor to the European settlers who lived there, the site now takes visitors back to 1750, when it was a thriving gristmill.
In addition to the mill, farm, and manor home, the Philipse estate encompassed 52,000 acres along the banks of the Pocantico River.
There was a dark side to the Manor as well, as 23 slaves of African ancestry lived there.
Today, the Manor functions as a living museum to educate visitors about slavery in the United States and agricultural life in the 18th century.
In addition to exploring the Manors façade, you may also explore the Manor indoors, where you will find replicas of the periods antiques.
Staff dressed in period costumes commemorate the Philipse family and recount their story.
Tour The Tarrytown Music Hall
Just a three-minute drive away from Sleepy Hollow, many people think that the Tarrytown Music Hall is haunted due to its deep history.
Completed in 1885, the Music Hall has served as a place for entertainment for some of the village’s most renowned residents, including the Rockefellers.
It has also functioned as a forum for numerous national causes, a movie theater, and is currently a performing arts center.
Ghost tours and paranormal investigations are also available at the Music Hall on several occasions.
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Whatis The Story Of Sleep Hollow Again
In case you forgot, here is a refresher of the original short story The Legend of SleepyHollow byWashington Irving. He based hisstory in a town named Sleepy Hollow near Tarryown where supernatural thingsseemed rather common.
The particular incident he describes is the appearance of the damned soulof a former Hessiansolider, locally known as the headless spectre Galloping Hessian of theHollow. The main protagonist, lanky anti hero Ichabod Crane, visits aparty at the Van Tassel mansion to try and court his crush.
His hopes are crushed and he rides off into the night, encountering the aggressiveheadless horseman by the bridge, whos throwing his pumpkin head at the scared Ichabod! It remains unclearwhat happened to either those figures as Ichabod was never seen again.
- Tarrytown
- Philipsburg Manor
Watch The Unsilent Picture
Want to discover even more of what Sleepy Hollow has to offer?
To see something fresh and exciting, check out Unsilent Picture!
Instead of an Irving short story, “The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture” serves as the inspiration for this film.
Live music, such as accordion, cello, and electric guitar, accompany the silent film on one side of the screen, resulting in an unsettling soundscape.
A Foley artist, on the other hand, creates real-time sound effects like footsteps or a glass breaking.
What we have here isn’t simply a movie it’s an amazing live performance that’s unlike anything else.
The 40-minute short film runs at Philipsburg Manor’s 444-seat tent theater.
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Go To Lyndhurst Mansion
Another huge estate spread over as many as 67 acres is the Lyndhurst mansion, also known as Jay Gould estate.
The most beautiful aspect of this piece of architecture is its vintage and Gothic details, which was very famous during the 1800s.
The house itself is as many as 175 years old. And by God’s grace, it still has the astonishing beauty that it had during its prime time.
Its premises, served as the home of as many as three influential families, which earned it a spot on the National Historic Landmarks list.
The most enchanting and depicted details of this Gothic beauty are the narrow hallways, the arched windows, and vaulted and ornamented ceilings. This gives it a spooky and yet very beautiful feel.
There is also a conservatory where various different species and specimen trees are planted.
There are also various artifacts and elegant furniture on display that will leave you gasping with delight.
Refuel With Coffee And A Pastry On Main Street
Coffee Labs Roasters is an ideal place to drop in for coffee and a treat, and perhaps stay a little while. It serves sustainably produced coffee from its partner farmers in regions across South America, Africa and beyond. Coffee Labs also sells baked goods from a variety of purveyors, including Balthazar Bakery and Revas Outrageous Cookies there are also gluten-free and vegan options from Gone Pie and Baked Vegan.
7 Main St., Tarrytown 914-332-1479 or coffeelabs.com
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Thats The Best Tarrytown Ny Things To Do
What do you think are the best Tarrytown NY things to do? Is anyone cooler than Washington Irving? And why is that Headless Horseman sneaking up behind you? Please leave your thoughts below!
Note: If you want to know how I put my travel itineraries together, just click here. If you have more time in the Hudson River Valley than just 24 hours of Tarrytown NY Things to Do, try spending 24 hours in Cold Spring as well. Or you could make time for 24 hours in Beacon. Ive got you covered either way!
Spend A Day On The River
Sleepy Hollow is right on the river so its a great chances to do some river-based activities such as boating, fishing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, etc.
Getting out on the river is a nice break from the more spooky things to do in Sleepy Hollow, and its a chance to just enjoy the great outdoors and the beautiful scenery!
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Get Spooked At A Halloween Happening
Join the Headless Horseman and tens of thousands of others for Halloween in Tarrytown. Every October Tarrytown and the adjacent Village of Sleepy Hollow present a month of events based on Washington Irvings The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Get in the mood for scary fun the Sunday before Halloween when the annual Tarrytown Halloween Parade proceeds along Main Street. Dont miss taking a selfie with the famous tales Headless Horseman who makes his presence known at the parade. Make time to take a free self-guided walking tour of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily to visit Irvings grave, or join a guided tour. October events range from haunted tours and hayrides to storytelling. The array of happenings gives Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow its reputation as Hudson Valleys top Halloween destination for spooky fun.
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Tour The Hamlet Of Kykuit
The majestic home of the Rockefeller family was mainly built under the vision of John D. Rockefeller Jr. It was then converted into Historic House Museum.
With as many as 40 rooms, it is especially famous for the vast array of art collections, including artworks gifted by the governor of New York, and vice president of United States. The tours are guided and conducted by the Historic Hudson Valley.
The word Kykuit is a Dutch word, which means look out. The estate is located on the Pocantico Hills, and looks out on the Hudson River, hence the name.
The Hamlet is perfect for some exploration and taking a walk around in the beautiful green gardens.
There are also empty basement passages, which were transformed into a private Art Gallery, and includes works by various notable artists including Warhol and Picasso.
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Catch A Performance At The Tarrytown Music Hall
This small Hudson River town may be quaint in size, but it has attracted monumental names in music, specifically to perform at its Tarrytown Music Hall. Names of past performers include the likes of Miles Davis, Tony Bennett, and Louis Armstrong.
The Tarrytown Music Hall, the oldest theater in Westchester, was built in 1885. It was frequented by New York royalty, from the Rockefellers to the Vanderbilts. It’s an intimate space with less than 1,000 seats and to this day draws in big names in rock, jazz, blues, country, R& B, and comedy. In addition to music it hosts dance and film screenings.
The concert hall itself still carries the air of that old-world splendor, with beautiful wooden carvings, gold and red accents, and soaring ceilings. It’s certainly a beloved slice of Westchester County history that has carried beautifully into the present.
Fun fact: The space is said to be haunted, and visitors can take paranormal investigation tours on select dates.
Address: 13 Main Street, Tarrytown, New York
Shop For Gifts For Loved Ones
Now for some retail therapy: Pretty Funny Vintage is in an 1890s Victorian house a few minutes off the main drag and sells all kinds of new and vintage home goods. On Main Street, check out Trilogy Consignment for great finds on clothes, as well as Ona, which sells handmade gift items from local and global artisans.
80 S. Broadway, Tarrytown 914-631-3368 or prettyfunnyvintage.com
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Nyack Beach State Park
4.5 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By Nicole C – Smithtown, New York
This tour was an unexpected stop for me, but absolutely amazing! I did hear, however, that tours usually fill up quite quickly and sell out so I would try to get your tickets ahead of time. This tour is of Washington Irvings Home right on the Hudson. The house is quaint and charming and the tour really brings it to life, as well as showcasing Irvings personality and influence over America and the world in its entirety. Linda was our tour guide and she was EXCELLENT! You can roam the grounds there after your tour or even just go on the grounds themselves for a few dollars. Its absolutely breathtaking.
Best Things To Do In Tarrytown Georgia
Have you ever visited a new place and felt wow about it? For many visitors, it happens at Tarrytown.
Tarrytown may not be as popular as other cities in United States, but dont let that fool you. Tarrytown is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination.
You might wish to revisit it someday again, to take a break and relax at Tarrytown.
If you have plans to visit United States and are not sure if Tarrytown should be included in your itinerary, keep reading. In this list, we have put together some of the things to do in Tarrytown and around. We have a hunch that if you include this city in your travel plans, you will be thrilled you did so.
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The Old Croton Aqueduct
Another one of the top things to do in Sleepy Hollow, New York for history buffs is a visit to the Old Croton Aqueduct. Touted as New Yorks first water system, it now functions as a 26-mile walking trail that crosses through both Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.
Offering stunning views and a great glimpse into both villages, its a great choice for things to do in Sleepy Hollow for nature lovers too.
When To Visit Sleepy Hollow
The town is sleepy indeed throughout the year with occasional events. Check the event calendar for details.
Still, THE best time to visit Sleepy Hollow is of course in autumn. Comefor the special Halloween events to really get your spook on.
From spring to late autumn, you can join guided tours around Sleepy Hollow cemetery to learn more about the local history, literary heritage and see the tombstones of famous personalities and entrepreneurs.
For a Halloween worthy experience, head to Philipsburg Manor in October for its newly transformed haunted landscapes. Its not for the faint of heart! There will be a headless Sleepy Hollow horseman and haunted trail waiting for you at Horsemans Hollow.
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