kykuit

This was one of the best things that we did last year. The estate has several tours and I highly recommend it. It is easily accessed by car or even train with a short cab ride from the metro north station. You will see how the ultra rich lived and marvel at the type of life that existed for the very priveldged few.

Wonderful museum in a formerly used Rockefeller mansion. Definitely worth a trip from NYC. Try to pick a nice day because the grounds are beautiful too.

Kykuit may not be the greatest heritage house but it is a fascinating visit revealling so much about the Rockefeller family. Our guide was fabulous putting both the house and the family into an historic context. The marvellous sculpture collection is a bonus. The location of the Henry Moore is quite superb. Do go.

Well organized with 1.5 hour tour by an extremely knowledgeable, candid and witty guide. If you are going to see any of the other sites at hudsonvalley.org in the coming year, I suggest you become a member (for $50 per senior per year) as there is a $10 discount on the Kykuit tour and other historic sites are free including Washington Irving's Sunnyside, Philipsburg Manor, Van Cortlandt manor, Montgomery Place, and the Union Church where the Chagall and Matisse windows are displayed. Also, they suggest you arrive anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes in advance. You don't have to as long as you've made and paid for a reservation. Incidentally, the Union Church with the Chagall windows is a 5 minute drive from Kykuit and you can save a $1 on each admission with a flyer from the Kykuit reservation desk.

Very organized timed tours. The tour guide was full of information, kept to a strict time table while offering enough time to wander and enjoy the views. The house is marvelous, the gardens very striking. The art collection is remarkable. It was great to hear about this wonderful New York family, who didn't fail to give back to the state that gave them everything.

This guided tour was one of the best- we liked it better than Hearst or the Newport Mansions. Our guide was so knowledgeable and spirited. The art collection was eclectic and amazing. The house, grounds and history were good too.

This beautiful historical home and gardens are right in my backyard and I never knew of it. Kathy Burke was our tour guide. I don't know how she could recall so many facts about this Rockefeller estate and the families that have lived here. It makes me want to learn more about this philanthropic family. A beautiful fall day.

Spent a few hours at Kykuit recently and enjoyed the time. It was a beautiful fall day and the views of the Hudson driver and the palisades was great. Our tour guide was well informed and able to share many details from the family and life. The tour was mainly of the main floor, art exhibit and garage. Wish we could have seen the upstairs, and the "playhouse" where we heard the family really got together and enjoyed the facilities. Fall is busy so plan ahead.

Although Sleepy Hollow is certainly not sleepy during the month of October the tour of Kykuit was well worth the traffic we endured to get there. The Grand Tour certainly was the one to take. Our tour guide, Tom, was excellent and was exceptionally knowledgeable about the estate, the family and the art. Although the family had such wealth the home was not an ostentatious display of excess like the homes in Newport. The setting is breathtaking. The way it is set it looks as though there is nothing but the estate and the river as far as the eye can see. As an avid gardener i was taken with the grounds and the variations of plants. Well worth the visit!

I enjoyed the visit but I have a major reservation. The house is excellent but regrettably you are processed through it at a pace by your guide. The guide was excellent but it's a rush. The modern art collection is outstanding but again you are given very little time with the paintings. The gardens look beautiful from the terrace but you are not allowed to visit them. I visited 12 Hudson Valley properties and felt that this was the house with so much to offer but with only limited access and too little time to enjoy it.

A short, scenic train ride from Grand Central, is the Hudson Valley, River towns, with some historic sites. One of these is the Rockefeller Estate. They sell tickets at the Philipsburg Manor. From there , you and others are shuttled to the Estate. The Mansion and the grounds are very impressive, beautiful landscape, views of the Hudson, lovely! Be sure to bring your camera!!! The tour, included, inside the Estate as well, the tour guide was very knowledgeable. Much history, of all the Rockefellers, and great Art, the likes of Warhol, Picasso, etc... So, for beautiful views, history, and the feel of a Museum, I recommend a visit!

While in the Tarrytown / Sleepy Hollow area make sure to stop by Philipsburg Manor (Sleepy Hollow Visitor Center) to pick up this bus tour to the Rockefeller Estate (or get your tickets online by logging onto www.visitsleepyhollow.com. The tour is two hours long. Cost: $40 pp. Me and my husband took the grand tour of the John D. Rockefeller Estate (Standard Oil, Vice President of the U.S. and four-term mayor of N.Y.) with fourteen other guests and we had an excellent guide the whole time (although I think a smaller group would have been nicer and you wouldn't have to strain to see or hear the guide). The home is impeccably maintained and has quite an impressive art gallery in the basement level. What drew my intention the most was the gardens which were still in bloom, especially the rose garden. From every view, there is impressive artwork in the beautifully landscaped gardens. And you can view across the Hudson River, which is especially gorgeous in autumn when all of the leaves are at their peak.From the main home we went to the coach house which is loaded with the horse drawn carriages from the early 1900's and some impressive old time first automobiles such as the Ford Model A, Ford Model T, Cadillac's, and make sure you check out the Governor (1 of 2 made). (You'll also find restroom accommodations and a drinking fountain here at this location.)It was a great way to spend the morning, especially since Sleepy Hollow is still pretty sleepy around nine in the morning!!

We visited with our daughter, her boyfriend and our granddaughter on what was their first visit and our second. Had a GREAT tour - awesome tour guide - and enjoyed the history that this mansion provides as well as the spectacular views of the Hudson and the Hudson Valley. Will continue visiting any time we are in the area!

The Rockefeller Estate, also known as Kykuit, is one of the Hudson Valley's most beautiful gems. Not only has it been immaculately preserved and meticulously cared for, it's also full of history and is extremely enriching.I took my roommate to visit Kykuit for the first time today (I have been once before), and we couldn't have had a better experience. We took part in the Classic Tour at 4:00 PM (which lasts approximately 2 hours). The Classic Tour is definitely the best way to go if you want to get a fantastic and well-rounded tour of the Rockefeller Estate (you see everything except the upper levels, which don't have much anyway…or so I hear!). Some of the best highlights from the tour were the library room, entertainment room (in the heart of the mansion), underground art galleries, rose garden, and the gardens on the western side of the Estate overlooking the foliage and Hudson River. Both the art and architecture of the Estate is eclectic and carries true cultural and historical significance. When you're at Kykuit, you really get a true sense of the simplicity of life during that time period, not to mention all of the luxurious amenities that come with being a Rockefeller. However, the true highlight of our tour was our outstanding tour guide: Cybil (or Sybil). She went above and beyond during the tour, and was extremely informative. She is such a kindhearted person, and really kept your attention when talking about the history and previous occupants of the Estate. Cybil didn't just know about Kykuit either, she was willing and able to answer questions about Sleepy Hollow, the Rockefellers, and so much more. If you take the Classic Tour, please try and request Cybil. My only regret was not carrying any cash to give her a generous tip for a knowledgeable and fun 2 hours! Overall, Kykuit is well worth the trip. If you go, try to make it later in October so you can enjoy the fall foliage and partake in some of Sleepy Hollow's Halloween festivities. I promise that you won't regret it!

Four generations of the Rockefeller family called Kykuit home. Built by John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, and last lived in by Nelson and Happy Rockefeller, the home is now a National Trust Property. Furnishings from the family decorate the home, including the 20th century art and sculpture collection of Nelson Rockefeller. Our guide was very well informed on the history of the home and the family, including their contributions to conservation and philanthropy. There are several different tours to choose from, including the gardens and Coach Barn. We opted to tour the house only.