Need a Summer Vacation? Take a Road Trip to Historic Tarrytown

Spring is defiantly here and summer is right around the corner. Summers a great time to take a road trip and travel to some place you have never been, just pick out a place on your map, gas up your car and grab your wife or husband and runaway together. Having lived in New York I can tell you that there is so much to see and do, most of which can be done for free or at no cost. The good part of New York is that if you do not want to stay in the city, just travel 25-miles to upper Westchester area and you will find the most quaint little village nestled on the Hudson River called Tarrytown. Tarrytown is located off of Route 9A with its neighboring village being Sleepy Hollow and the legend of the headless horseman, which is one of upper Westchester's main attractions, especially in the fall around Halloween.

Short History of Tarrytown, NY
Records show that the very first settlement in Tarrytown was in 1645 by a group of Dutch settlers; although, the exact location is not known. Before the area was settled with the Dutch settlers, the Weckquasgeeks Indians inhabited this place on the Hudson River. These Indians were a peaceful tribe and they were closely related to the Mohican, Tappan and Wappinger Indians. They farmed the rich soil for squash, tobacco, corn and beans; they also fished the Hudson River for Perch, shad, eel, oysters and blue claw crabs.

Things to See and Do in Tarrytown on a Budget
Lyndhurst Castle, located at 635 South Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591, (914) 631-4481. A famous architect named Alexander Jackson Davis built the castle; he also designed most of the Gothic style furnishings in the castle as well. This beautiful castle is surrounded by the most amazing landscapes and gardens in the upper Westchester area. A walk through this garden area is a very special and relaxing experience. The fee for this attraction is $10.00 for adults, $9.00 for seniors, children from 12-17 with adult is $4.00 and children under 12 years of age get in free.

Sunnyside House, this historic house is located at 89 west Sunnyside Lane Tarrytown, NY 10591, (914) 591-8763. This historic landmark was restored over a 10-year period and is now a museum. Washington Irving, the author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, occupied the house until he died. A visit to this house will give you a first hand look at how this man lived. The tour through the house takes about one hour and the cost is free, but the last tour starts at 4pm daily except Sundays.

Tarrytown Lighthouse is located at Kingsland Point Park on Palmer Avenue, Tarrytown, NY 10591, (914) 366-5109. Tours are free, but you will need to call first because volunteers preform the tours and may not be there that day.

Best Hotels in Tarrytown, NY
Springhill Suites is located at 480 White Plains Rd Tarrytown, NY 10591, (914) 366-4600. The hotel is very new with beautiful suites and a great place to stay with children. The average room for 2 is 80.00 per night with an adjoining room the fee is 145.00 per night.

Courtyard Tarrytown Greenburgh is located at 475 White Plains Rd Tarrytown, NY 10591, (914) 631-1122. This is small but quaint little Inn type hotel and it is in a very quiet and relaxing environment. The suites go for 119.00 per night with a continental breakfast in the morning.

Tarrytown House Estate is located at 49 East Sunnyside Lane Tarrytown, NY 10591, (914) 591-8200. This is one of the old restored mansions of Tarrytown and is now one of their most popular hotels. The suites here are very large with several amenities and the fee is 139.00 per night for 2.

Best Restaurants to Eat at in Tarrytown
Silver Tips Tea Room is located at 3 North Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591 (914) 332-8515. The food here is always fresh and the soup is made daily with lots of love and flavor.

The Sunset Cove Restaurant is located at 238 Green Street Tarrytown, NY 10591, (914) 366-7889. Come and eat a great Italian meal and watch the sunset over the Tappan Zee Bridge.

These are just a few things that Tarrytown has to offer and remember NYC is just a short 30-minute train ride on the Metro North into the city and you can live it up and hop the train back to the peaceful Village of Tarrytown. This historic town was also the host of Kevin Costner and Whitney Huston in the movie "The Bodyguard".

References for this article came from www.tripadvisor.com and www.americantowns.com