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Lyndhurst- Tarrytown, NY
Lyndhurst is an absolute architectural dream. Plucked straight out of the English countryside, it is without question one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the United States. Former home of universally detested Robber Baron Jay Gould, the estate offered a retreat for the already isolated tycoon. While he may have had no friends, he did have a ridiculous amount of money, which allowed him to purchase one of the finest houses in all the land, and fill it with beautiful objects. Originally built as a country villa in 1838 by renown architect Alexander Jackson Davis for former New York City mayor William Paulding, its Gothic Revival style…
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New Hope, PA
New Hope is so impossibly quaint, it pulls off being somewhat of a tourist trap. Despite crowding, parking problems, and overpriced antique shops, it still manages to charm. It’s a walkable town, with art galleries, craft breweries, and canalside restaurants. Full of interesting architecture, it is the type of town where you can see the past, and almost feel like you were there. Originally part of a King’s Grant given to William Penn, the area was first settled by non-natives around 1700. Given its prime location on the west bank of the Delaware River, 35 miles north of Philadelphia, it was soon home to several mills. In 1722, Old York…
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Rhinecliff Hotel- Rhinecliff, NY
If you love trains, you will love The Rhinecliff Hotel. If not, you should probably stay in Rhinebeck; but you would totally be missing out. Impossibly quaint and perched on the shores of the Hudson, all rooms have river views and balconies, allowing you to watch both trains and ships, which is fitting, as it was built to serve both ferry and rail passengers. Located just a few miles from Rhinebeck, the subdued Queen Anne style hotel was constructed in 1854 by architect George Veitch to serve the Rhinecliff-Kingston Ferry Terminal, as well as the Hudson River Railroad. It is a simple Victorian, with a gabled roof, and second story…
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Vanderbilt Mansion- Hyde Park, NY
There were a lot of Vanderbilts, and they were all wildly wealthy. They all had several amazing homes, each grander than the last, and certainly built to be grander than other Vanderbilt mansions, of which there were over forty. In Hyde Park, Frederick Vanderbilt built a Neoclassical Beaux Art beauty, which perfectly showcases the excesses of the Gilded Age, and what is possible when money is no object. Just to give a brief overview, the patriarch of the family was Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, a self made millionaire who built a shipping and railroad empire in the early 19th century. He had 13 children, but left almost his entire fortune, $100…
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Cherry Blossom Festival- Washington, D.C.
Without a doubt, Washington is at it’s most beautiful in the spring. Down at the tidal basin, it doesn’t get much better than those fleeting few weeks in March or April when the cherry blossoms bloom, and the entire area is transformed into a pale pink dream. Some years are better than others; harsh weather and high winds can destroy the delicate blossoms. But, when the weather cooperates, the experience is downright heavenly. The idea of cherry trees around the tidal basin predates the official planting by almost 25 years; during her first trip to Japan, National Geographic board member Eliza Scidmore encountered the trees, and was moved by their…
