My family and I will be visiting New York and then plan a drive northwards. I would like to visit FDR's home and museum and notice the Vanderbilt mansion is nearby. The Rockefeller mansion also sounds intriguing but I'm not sure the rest of my family's enthusiasm will hold out for all of these places. If you had to rank them, what would be your priority for visits? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

Both are terrific. For details see

http://www.nps.gov/hofr/

Depending on when you'll be there, it's a good idea to get tickets online. When we were there, a lot of people were turned away because they were fully booked for the day.

What are the ages of the other members of your family?
All three of the sites mentioned are definitely worth visiting. Do you have two days?

The Vanderbilt mansion and FDR house and museum are very near each other, and very different in style. FDR house (Springwood) is more about history. Eleanor Roosevelt's cabin/office is another small site nearby. Vanderbilt is much more grand but still accessible.

The Rockefeller estate, Kykuit is really grand, and there is a focus on the amazing art collection. The tours at Kykuit are quite a bit longer and more involved (you have to get a bus from another site to start, and then you are ferried about the property partly by bus) so it takes up much more time. Kids will probably get impatient.
Kykuit tours usually need to be arranged in advance so there is less opportunity to decide at the last minute.

I would opt for the 2(or 3) sites near Hyde Park, and save the Kykuit tour for adults if they are interested in art and gardens

I have been to the Vanderbilt mansion in Hyde Park. If you are going to see this home, I encourage you to also stop and take a tour--and have lunch--at Culinary Institute of America. It is really a wonderful place if you are a foodie like me.

One thing that really bothered me during my tour of the Vanderbilt mansion was how we were RUSHED through the house. The guides lingered FOREVER in the giftshop, but practically pushed us through the house. Many of the rooms are roped off and you have to "peer" into them from the hallway. If there is a crowd, it is hard to get a good look.

The mansion is opulent, with some beautiful stained glass and murals. My favourite room was the dining hall.

The grounds are nothing special, save the view of the majestic Hudson River.

Thingorjus

It is possible to do both FDR and Vanderbilt in the same day since they are nearby. I also agree you might want to get tickets ahead of time for Vanderbilt. I believe there is a big travel distance between Kykuit and Vanderbilt and FDR estates.

Oh, how nice to come home and see all these replies.

The "kids" are 19 and 16 and I know the 19 year old would really enjoy all of these places. The 16 year old will enjoy the FDR sites but two mansions might be overdoing it. We do have enough time to spare. I think I'm more interested in Kykuit but the Vanderbilt mansion is more convenient - ah, decisions!

Thin, I loved your description about being so rushed through the mansion and having endless time in the giftshop -- that has been my experience in so many places I've toured! We usually zip through the giftshop in record time much to the guide's dismay. The CIA sounds wonderful -- we've made the mistake (financially) of exposing the kids to good food so I know they'd like it, too.

I will try to get advance tickets once I've made up my mind -- thanks for that advice as well.

Thanks for your opinions. I'd be happy to hear any other suggestions as well. I do enjoy planning a trip!

Other possible places to visit
Sunnyside (washington Irving's home in Tarrytown)
It is adjacent to Lyndhurst

Van Cortlandt Manor


All three (plus other sites, to further complicate your decision-making process) are on the Historic Hudson Valley website
http://www.hudsonvalley.org/index.ph...=96&Itemid=160

Near FDR and Vanderbilt is the Mills mansion which I have enjoyed as well. If you are driving north and wish to take a stop along the way, Boscobel gives a glimpse of wealth from the early 18th century. It's one of my favorites in the Valley (as is Olana much further north). Agree that lunch at CIA would be a grand treat.

http://www.boscobel.org/main.html