Hi! I am going to the Hudson Valley in October for the first time for my girlfriend's bday. We'll be driving up from the city on Friday morning and returning on Sunday afternoon. I have a hotel in Tarrytown (the Tarrytown House Estate) and a dinner reservation on Friday at Blue Hill Stone Barn and those are the only thing that are set. I would greatly appreciate any feedback about the following questions:

1. I want to go to the Storm King sculpture park. Does anyone know (a) about how long it will take to get there from Tarrytown; (b) any lunch or dinner suggestions near Storm King; and (c) about how much time should I plan on spending at Storm King?

2. My dinner reservation at Stone Barns is at 10 pm. Do you think it's worth going over sometime in the afternoon to wander around the property? Is is a nice place to visit?

3. I also like the idea of a winery. I've heard about Millbrook and Warwick Valley - does anyone have any feedback about (a) whether those are good places or (b) whether there is anyplace else - given my location - that I should go?

4. Finally, I'd love to be on the river in some way. Does anyone have any suggestions for (a) sailing; (b) resturants with river views; or (c) nice casual walks on riverfront areas?

Oh wait, one more. The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze - is it fun for adults? Worth $15? Thank you!!!!

Re: the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze...my family spoke of it just last night. We will all be in NY in a few weeks, and the plan is to go. My 2 sisters rave about it (one has no kids, one has 3 teenagers that want to go)..sounds like it's a hit.

Enjoy your drive to Hudson Valley.

To answer some of your questions:

1. Storm King is about 30-35 miles from Tarrytown and it's well worth the drive. Figure about 2-3 hours to absorb this wonderful site.
2. Stone Barns is surrounded by hundreds of acres of the former Rockefeller property which the family donated to local governments for the public's use....and it's a magnificent site for walking, hiking or running. So, yes, it's a great place to visit, as is Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate, which is right there.
3. Yes, there are wineries in that area, but others will have to give you feedback.
4. As for restaurants with a river view, I strongly recommend Harvest on the Hudson in Hastings-on-the-Hudson, just south of Tarrytown. It's one of the best restaurants in the area. There are others with good views, their food can't compare to this one.
5. The Blaze is quite interesting and worth a visit. Get your tickets in advance, as it usually sells out. And make sure you get them late enough so that your entire experience is at night.

Thank you so much for your assistance! I really appreciate it!!

Stone Barns is wonderful food in a beautiful setting - certainly worth a nice walk around the grounds at mid-day, or at sunset. They have have an ice cream cart and an area that sells sandwiches and snacks, there is a lovely garden to walk thru - and best of all is to catch glimpses of the chefs at work through the kitchen windows.

What mp describes is only a very, very, very small part of the former Rockefeller property that you can explore. There are miles and miles and miles of trails.

Millbrooke was wonderful when we were there but it has been years. The views from the road as you wind along past farms and fields are breathtaking. I remember one year there were hot air balloons floating along over the forests, up around a very good restaurant called Allens ..
Millbrook isn't really that close to Tarrytown though.. I think.
http://millbrookwine.com/index.php

For a nice walk with a great river view, behind Phelps Hospital on Route 9, is another part of Rockefeller where the trails have magnificent river views, if it's a nice day, pack a picnic lunch.

Red Hat in Irvington has a nice roof top bar too for drinks before your dinner at Stone Barn (and it's not too far from the Tarrytown House).

Storm King is very interesting and about 45 minutes from TT. If you go in the AM, come back across the Bear Mt. Bridge and go to Cold Spring for lunch (or West Point, Hotel Thayer, might be good too). Cold Spring is a very charming town.

Or, if you drive down to Haverstraw, in North Haverstraw there is a Marina with a restaurant right on the Hudson too.

We have tickets for Blaze (we tried to go last year, but got rained out). We are two adults who just love pumpkins!