We will be in North New Jersey and will be doing day trips. Our plans is to do one to do West Point, Vanderbilt Mansion & FDR Home and Library, the other Philadelphia and the its old town, then one day in manhattan (where we have been numerous times). My question is the two first days possible (we are driving) and if so is there the not missable ones, and how we can use the time as efficiently as possible. Thank you for all your suggestions, it would be great to help us to plan the trip. The trip is in mid-April. We are from Los Angeles.

If you got an early start & have good stamina it's quite doable. It's about 1hr from West Point to Hyde Park.

Its's doable, but I think you'll be rushing it. The FDR Library, especially, takes a bit of time...and it's well worth your time, as it's a fascinating exhibit. For us, the FDR Home and Library, the Vanderbilt Mansion and lunch are a full day!
I would think it would make more sense to substitute a lunch at the CIA instead of driving to West Point and saving that destination for another trip.

Also, West Point is open to visitors for tours thru one authorized tour guide company - no self-touring.
Here's a link - there is a one hour tour and a 2 hour tour
http://www.westpointtours.com/individual_tours.htm

As others have said, FDR's house is a 45 minute tour, and there is more to see on your own on the grounds and in the Library. It's fascinating.

To fully appreciate the FDR library (which we think is far more interesting than the home) you must spend well over an hour.

In Hyde Park, I long to visit the home to which Eleanor Roosevelt would retreat. It wasn't open to the public the last time I was there--years ago.

http://www.nps.gov/elro

Dear all,

thank you so much for the wonderful feedbacks. Please keep posting, as my trip is almost 2 months away. Yes, yes we have decided to visit FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt's home/library, stop by CIA for lunch (we have a wonderful meal at their St. Helena location, in Napa Valley), then if time permitting to the Vanderbilt Mansion. Any suggestions for Philadelphia?

Kikikim, I've done exactly the itinerary you have suggested in your last post, and it was relatively easy (and I was coming from Manhattan via public transit). The only drawback to lunch at the CIA is that I believe you still have to dress up (jacket at least for men). That's a bit annoying.

Philadelphia is pretty straightforward if you want to see the historical sites. Most are right there together. The Constitution Center is a must-see, but you'll have to weigh whether it's worth it for the long wait for the Liberty Bell. If you have time, do go to the art museum if you like art. I enjoyed that, but it's a bit far from the other major sites (not a problem if you have a car, though).

I take that back. The dress code has changed since I last went. Jackets are no longer required, even at Escoffier and American Bounty.

The last time we were in Philadelphia, we enjoyed touring the Bishop White House: http://www.nps.gov/inde/bishop-white-house.htm