Hudson River Adventures

We, two families of four, went to Bannerman Castle last weekend with our kids. It looked awesome online and we were excited to check it out. It is much more of a history lesson about Frank Bannerman than the archeology adventure we were expecting. Currently you can't go near any of the structures which is unfortunate. It also makes wearing the hard hats a little unecessary. Our guide Wes is extremely knowledgable and passionate about the island and has done a lot of research about its history, as well as what efforts are underway to preserve and restore it. Our group's opinions of the tour were mixed. If you want to learn about a unique piece of New York History then you'll enjoy it. If you are looking to explore, there are other choices in the area. In fact the day before we stumbled upon the abandonded ruins of a couple of buildings in Hudson Highlands State Park near where the Brook(Red Blaze) and Notch(Blue Blaze) trails connect.

I don't have time for anything more. Thanks.

quiet, pleasant trip. on time. the boat was clean, the facilities were fine

Ever wondered what that Castle was across from Newburgh? Take an afternoon boat ride and you will find out. The tour is well worth it. Guides are informative and friendly, great opportunity to learn about HV history first hand and take some interesting pictures. Recommend that you Google Bannerman and do a bit of inquiry before hand. All in all, a nice way to spend 3 hours and worth the price of admission which goes to support the trust working to restore the island.

Short ride to the Island, the tour was detailed but the tour guide allowed for those of us who wanted to take a lot of pictures to straggle a little. The place itself is amazing and rich in history. I would definitely recommend but may not be for children since you have to climb a lot and wear a hardhat (and sit still enough to not annoy other people on a 1.5 hour tour). I would recommend highly.

An excellent way to spend an afternoon in the Hudson Valley; essential information for understanding the Hudson River and the history of the Hudson River valley

The boat trip was short enough so the fact that the sound system was second rate and the video screen too small to view, did not matter. However, the "Bannerman Island" walking tour was wonderful. Our tour guide Gary Ferguson was well versed in the island and local history as well as armed with pictures and stories. I have lived in the area for 20 years and others in my group were born and raised by the Hudson River, but none of us knew the rich history of Pollepel. We know now! Hard hats, a requirement of the state of New York are supplied at no additional cost. They are color coded so more than one group can tour the island simultaneously. You do not enter or go very close to the crumbling "castle" or the residence building so I am unsure why we had to were the hats. Rules are rules. Plan on climbing a lot of wooden steps, scrambling down dirt paths and getting very winded climbing to the residence building. Bring your camera for some truly spectacular photo ops. Also bring a bottle of water. I would recommend this trip to everyone passing through or living in Newburgh NY.

My friend and I took the train from Grand Central to Beacon. Unfortunately, we bought tickets for the earlier cruise departing from Newburgh and had to take a cab to and from the train station in Beacon. I blame Google maps for this, not Zerve or the Trust that operates the tours. Anyway, once we got there we had a great time! Our tour guide, whose name I don't remember but who wrote the book for sale on the cruise, was great! He knew so much about the island's history and it was obvious he really cared about the subject matter. It was a wonderful day and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, easy trip out of NYC for the day. Just make sure you buy Beacon tix, not Newburgh!

I wish the group would provide specific goals where the donated money would go. If I knew the plan on how they are restructuring the island and its buildings, I would be more ready to donate. Most rehabilitation goals have a map with steps on it so donators could see the whole project. As it stands, it looks kind of disorganized and with that appearance, I would rather not donate.

Everyone was professional and made the tour interesting and very informative.

Tour was good. Our guide was knowledgeable and kept it interesting. Be prepared for a lot of walking on uneven surfaces. Bugs can also be a problem. Boat trip was nothing special. It was the nicest day of the year and there was no outside seating. All and all it was a nice way to spend the afternoon.

My wife, mother, sister and I took a Pride of the Hudson cruise and enjoyed it very much. The length of the cruise was great; not too long, not too short. The part of the river covered is quite beautiful. The information in the narration was good. Generally a great experience. The boat offered a nice choice of open air and covered spaces.

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My wife and I took both the Pride of the Hudson and the Bannerman Island cruises. I enthusiastically recommned both. The Pride of the Hudson cruise was casual, informative and provided the opportunity for pictures not otherwise available. The concession prices are reasonable and the Pride of Hudson is a clean and well maintained vessel. The crew was professional, courteous, and very knowledgeable. The Bannerman Island cruise was just great. We have heard about Bannerman's castle and were very curious about it. We were cautioned about the 72 step climb from the dock to the remains of the residence and castle. We are both seniors with all of the creaky joints that go with that status. The steps are gentle, very well constructed, and easily managed. The trails and paths are also easily navigated. The ruins and their story are fantastic and absolutely not to be seen anywhere else. An outstanding value, a wonderful experience, and just plain fun to do. I recommend taking the Pride of Hudson cruise first and the Bannerman Island cruise second.

Our tour guide (Margret ?) was very good - very knowledgable and answered our questions. I recommend this to anyone that enjoys this type of tour; we enjoyed it very much. Although one cannot go close to the buildings because of their unfortunate deterioration, it was great to see them in person (vs in pictures).