The largest Gothic style cathedral in the world, and the head church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The entire 11 acre campus includes the cathedral, cathedral school, several houses for religious life, a peace fountain, and several gardens.
The island of Manhattan has a dozen National Park sites that hold historical significance and one of the most popular sites (thanks to the Broadway show Hamilton) is Alexander Hamilton’s Grange National Monument, the only home Hamilton owned, located in uptown Manhattan. We recently spent the morning touring the property and learning all about Alexander Hamilton’s family and career.
This past year our travel plans were mainly influenced by our daughter’s college search. We drove up and down the Northeast looking at schools from Boston through North Carolina. Wherever we stopped, we found new historic spots, family friendly attractions, and great new lodging options. In 2025, we found time to update some of our…
One of the only remaining “Gilded Age Gold Coast” mansions on Long Island in New York, the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum is the former estate of William K. Vanderbilt and his third wife, Rosamond. The great-great grandson of shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, William purchased the 43 acre property in Centerport on Long Island in 1908 and began with a small “English Cottage”. Over the next two decades, he expanded the property and grew the “cottage” into a 24 room Spanish Revival mansion named “Eagle’s Nest” along with several museum buildings. Vanderbilt chose the Northport Bay location because it is the deepest port closest to Manhattan where Vanderbilt could moor his boats. William and Rosemond lived on the property from May through October, although they also commuted into their home in Manhattan.
The fall and spring weekend home of William and Mai Coe and their four children during the “Gilded Age” of the 20th century, Planting Fields is a 400 acre estate, home to dozens of designed gardens, five miles of woodland trails, two green houses, and a 65 room Tudor Revival style home. William Coe, a Brit who came to America as a young child and made his fortunes in marine insurance (he insured the Titanic!). The family primarily lived in Manhattan and spent their summers on a Wyoming ranch. They enjoyed Planting Fields for the outdoor spaces and often spent time horseback riding and hiking.
Washington D.C., our nation’s capital city, is full of family friendly attractions, historical sites and museums, cultural events, and open spaces to appreciate nature. Many sites are free to explore, thanks to the Smithsonian Institute, and many sites have only a nominal charge. This week, we’ve updated our City Guide and pulled ALL of our features of DC attractions in one spot with travel tips. We know the summer vacation is a popular time to explore Washington DC, and we hope, whenever you and your family visit, you’ll check out some of these sites and have a stronger appreciation of our nation’s rich history.