Families

Lyndhurst is an excellent place to introduce children to the arts, landscape, and American culture. Depending on the age, physical stamina, and maturity of your children, certain programs may be more appropriate than others.  Please check our website for special events held throughout the season which may appeal to your family.

A visit focused on the Lyndhurst landscape is appropriate to children of all ages. The 67-acre landscape provides five-foot-wide cement pathways, which accommodate strollers, leading to overlooks with sweeping views of the Hudson River. These trails are easily accessible from parking areas. Visitors under six years of age will find exploring the grounds and outdoor offerings a pleasurable option.

Families wishing to visit Lyndhurst Mansion during the regular season must do so by guided tour. The Classic Mansion Tour is a one-hour discussion of history, architecture, and art and may not be entertaining to young children. These tours are best for children over the age of 10 or 12, depending on maturity and interest level. For families with young children or toddlers wishing to visit the mansion interior we suggest selecting Tour at Your Leisure options conveniently offered three times throughout the year; the Spring Flower Show in April,  the Autumnal/Halloween Decorations in the Mansion during October, and Holiday Mansion Decorations in November/December. These special events give families an opportunity to visit the mansion without the restrictions of a formal guided tour. Visitors under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Strollers and backpacks are not permitted within the mansion during these weekends but can be left, at the owner’s risk, on the mansion veranda.

Specialty tours, Backstairs, and Landscape, are limited to those 12 years of age and older for the safety and comfort of all tour participants. The length of these tours and the need to climb extensive flights of stairs makes them unsuitable for younger children.

Lyndhurst offers concerts and theater performances at special times of the year that may be appropriate for children. Halloween is a major time for family visitation. Our Halloween programs tend to be focused on humor and spooky fun rather than scares and horror.  However, the youngest children may still be scared by the imposing size of the dimly lit mansion and by actors costumed as traditional Halloween characters.

Please contact us in advance if you have any questions about programs suitable for children.