About Tarrytown

Here is some information about Tarrytown, things to do, places to eat and information about getting around.

Getting Around

Metro-North Railroad - Hudson line. Express service between Tarrytown station and New York City's Grand Central Terminal is about 35 minutes. Local service is available between other Metro-North commuter stations. Local taxis swarm the station at the approach of a train (if you are accustomed to New York City yellow cabs with their single fare restriction and meters, be aware that taxis in Tarrytown can take multiple passengers and charge flat rates by zone). On-board train fares are subject to a stiff surcharge, so buy your tickets at the station or at the vending machines located on the southbound (to New York) platform.
Getting around Tarrytown depends on whether or not you are staying in local lodging and what you want to see. If arriving by train from New York City and planning on only a day trip within the central business district, you can easily get about on foot or by local taxi. NY Waterway tours have their own bus transportation between destinations. If you stay in local hotels or motels, your own vehicle or taxi service are something of a necessity. Broadway (aka Route 9) is the main north to south route through the village. It is divided into North Broadway and South Broadway by Main Street.

Things to See Around Tarrytown

Tarrytown and it surroundings are a relatively old area for the United States, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, so there are lots of old churches and mansions to see. In addition, Sleepy Hollow, the village adjacent to Tarrytown, is famous for the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, and many of the sites are related to this story.

* Lyndhurst, 635 S Broadway, 914-631-4481. A Gothic-styled mansion, formerly home of railroad baron Jay Gould. Lyndhurst is now a property of the National Historic Trust. Separate prices for visiting the mansion and the grounds.

* Visit the home of Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip van Winkle. Sunnyside, West Sunnyside Lane, 914-591-8763.

* Andre Captor’s Monument, N Broadway. Revolutionary War site. A monument marks the spot where 3 Americans captured British spy John André, exposing Benedict Arnold's treasonous plot to turn over West Point to the British. Also the spot in "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" where Ichabod Crane first encounters the Headless Horseman.

* Philipsburg Manor Upper Mills, 381 N Broadway, +1 914 631-3992 Historic Dutch manor and mill restored to its appearance in the late 17th/early 18th century. In "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", Ichabod Crane saunters beside the manor's millpond with the "country damsels" of the neighborhood.

* Visit the Rockefeller estate Guided tours of the main house, Kykuit ,and its gardens and art galleries, are available through Historic Hudson Valley. Weekdays 10AM-3PM, weekends 10AM-4PM. All Kykuit tours depart from Philipsburg Manor, 381 N Broadway.

* Union Church of Pocantico Hills, 555 Bedford Rd, +1 914 631-8200 (tour info), Weekdays 11AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-5PM. The stained glass windows by Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall were commissioned by members of the Rockefeller family. The rose window was the last work by Matisse before his death. Self guided and guided tours.

For those with more macabre sensibilities, there are a few graveyards you could visit …

* Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground, 430 N Broadway. The church has been in continuous use since around 1690, except for a few years during the American Revolution. Free guided tours of the burying ground. This is the spot where Ichabod Crane sought sanctuary from the Headless Horseman. If you happen to be here after dark, keep in mind that the Headless Horseman “tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard." Park inside adjacent Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

* Pay a visit to Washington Irving, Andrew Carnegie, Walter Chrysler, William Rockefeller, and Elizabeth Arden in their final abodes in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 540 N Broadway, 914-631-0081. Free maps are available in literature boxes at the cemetery office and at the the cemetery's south gate. Gates open 8:30AM-4:30PM.

Hiking

If you follow my blog you probably already know that there are tons of wonderful places to hike all over the Hudson valley … if you don’t read my blog, you should … because then you would know about all the great places to hike in the area :) But, for easy reference, I have included some of our favorite hikes here. Pictures of all of these hikes can be found on my blog at pjgaskill.blogspot.com.

Tea Town Lakes – This short (3 – 6 miles), beautiful trail is pretty close to Tarrytown, just a few miles north in Ossining, New York. The well-marked, rolling trail walks you around two very beautiful lakes through a shady deciduous forest and past some swamps. There is also a nature center that is worth a look. To get to the Tea Town Lakes from the Tarrytown house, take route 9 (the main road through Tarrytown, route 9 is called Broadway in Tarrytown and becomes S. Highland road in Ossining) about 7 miles into Ossining, Turn right onto Cedar Lane, which is a quick right turn about half a mile past the intersection of route 9 and SR 133. Follow Cedar Lane about 4 miles, it will become Spring Valley Road. Continue along the road and the lakes and nature center, as well as a parking area, will be on your left. If you reach Blinn street you have gone too far. If you want to take public transit, take metro north to either the Ossining or Corton-harmon stations and catch a taxi to the lakes, about 5 miles away.

Hudson Highlands – This gorgeous, surprisingly hilly area contains what is probably the best hike I have done in vicinity of New York city. The particular hike that I love is called breakneck ridge, although the Hudson Highlands park contains a large number of trails to follow. The highlands, a series of 600 – 1000 foot ridges bordering the Hudson river just north of Peekskill, provide incredible views of the Hudson and Storm King, the hill on the other side of the river. There is good scrambling and hiking, as well as a ton of elevation gain, so this trail is not for those who want to just stroll around in the forest. Be aware that event though the trails are well marked, there are a lot of them in the same area and it can get confusing, so be careful to watch for the trail markers as you go. To get here, take route 9 north from Tarrytown about 30 miles until you reach a junction with SR 301. Turn west on 301 and drive into the village of Cold Spring. From here you can follow route 9D through the village until you reach Little Stony Point bridge on your left. There is a parking area on the right and additional parking across the street next to the bridge. It is probably easier to get here by public transit, just take Metro North to the Cold Spring stop, then walk up main street, turn left on Fair Street and left again on 9D. The entrance to the Hudson Highlands is less than a mile from the Metro north station.

Eating and Drinking

Cheap Eats and Drinks

Los Andes Bakery, 180 Valley St,914-631-3256. A bit off the beaten path, this small chliean bakery also makes excellent sandwiches for very cheap.

Leftis Gyro, 1 main street, 914-524-9687. Cute busy greek food in the center of Tarrytown. Nice people watching from the outdoor seats.

Eldorado West Diner, 460 S Broadway, +1 914 332-5838. Located at the exit from the Tappan Zee bridge, across from the Doubletree Hotel. 460 S. Broadway,

Tarrytown Delicatessen, 350 S Broadway (Bridge Plaza, near Stop and Shop), +1 914 631-9622. Hot food, sandwiches. Excellent German potato salad.

Bagel Emporium, 350 S Broadway (Bridge Plaza, next to Stop and Shop), +1 914 333-0033. Sandwiches to go, fresh baked bagels.

Bellas Restaurant, 5 S Broadway, 914-332-0444. Cheap, pleasant American diner, serving breakfast, and lunch.

Striped Bass, 236 W Main St at the Tarrytown Boat Club (near the rail station on the west side of the tracks), 914-366-4455. Fresh seafood with, as you might guess from its name, an emphasis on the favorite local gamefish. Lunch daily 12PM-4PM Dinner M-Sa, 4PM-10PM.

Horsefeathers, 94 N Broadway, 914-631-6606. Popular local bar with a good selection of (bottled) beer. Does not serve food.

Coffee Labs Roasters, 7 Main St, 914 332-1479. Canine-themed coffee house roasts its own beans. People tell me the coffee is great but since I don’t drink coffee I could not tell you.

Fancier ...

Caravela, 53 N Broadway, 914-631-1958. An elegant and comfortable brazilian/Portuguese/mediterranean restaurant right in the heart of Tarrytown.

Equus, 400 Benedict Ave, 914 631-3646. The restaurant at The Castle at Tarrytown is VERY, VERY expensive, but its hilltop location offers stunning views of the Hudson Valley and the food is really outstanding. Prix fixe four-course dinner $74, six-course dinner $100. Prix fixe lunch $38. Prix fixe three-course champagne brunch $54. Breakfast 7AM-10:30AM, lunch 12PM-2PM, dinner 6PM-9PM (Sa 5:30PM-10PM), Su champagne brunch 11:30AM-2:30PM. High tea daily 2:30PM-5PM.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns, 630 Bedford Rd, 914 366-9600. Blue Hill is an ultra upscale restaurant located at the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, and it also has a restaurant in Manhattan. Blue Hill in Westchester is a model farm adjacent to Rockefeller State Park Preserve, and the food served at the restaurant all comes from the famr. Su, W, Th, 5PM-10PM. F-Sa, 5PM-11PM. Appropriate attire required. Prix fixe three-course dinner $65, prix fixe four-course dinner $75.