Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium — Attraction in Town of Huntington

Lovely place, but honestly I’m disappointed. A lot of people, including commercial photographers (in my opinion they need to book some separate time. Today it was few photoshoots and I couldn’t walk through some spots because they were occupied with equipment). Also mansion tour was very unclear. We wanted to purchase tickets for house tour and lady in reception said it’s all included in general admission. We only saw few rooms that were open for public and were highly disappointed, thinking it’s all that’s left from the mansion. In reality there is more to see, but it’s separate tour with a guide and I don’t know how it works. I saw in other comment last tour is at 3:30, and that’s the time we arrived. But nobody explained us anything. The rooms that were open though, had that “old” smell. Probably it wasn’t restored in a while. I think it worth a visit if you live nearby, but try to go early in the morning t avoid crowds and make sure you know how to get that mansion tour, and hopefully you will get better experience than I did.

Update: I came back 4 months after original review. This time my experience went much better. I got to go inside the mansion with a tour. It was really interesting, great tour guide and amazing history of the place. Also, this time I visited in September and it was way less people than in June. So if you could, I recommend to go “of season” to avoid crowds.

So overall I got satisfied with my experience. The main thing is - do research before you go. First time we were not properly explained, that there is few open rooms in mansion, and it’s not the whole house. To see the whole house you need to book a tour with tour guide and the last tour of the day at 3:30. So make sure you know all of that and don’t get disappointed like I did...

I rarely give 5 stars to places. But when I do is because is good. If you love nature, architecture, museums, space and everything Italy/Spain like. THIS IS YOUR PLACE‼️ This place is so beautiful, as soon as you arrive you question weather or not you're at the right place. The gates are open and you get in there, and is like visiting your mega rich friend house (if you have any, I wish I did). More than enough parking for your vehicle(s). And as soon as you come in, caretakers direct you to what to do and where to go to pay (yes, you have to pay, the place is huge and needs to be maintained, and is worth it.) You don't need to buy tickets online to get it (but you can). They have an area where you can go and use cash or credit card, where you're given a wristband to identify you before you go into the buildings. The entire place used to be someone's "Summer House" at the turn of the 20th century. This Vanderbilt guy lived traveling the world, killing and capturing animals, and bringing them back to his museum summer home. That's how opulent these people were. And to come back to this amazingly beautiful place, must've been magical in its heyday.

They even have a Planetarium. Awesome tech! And if you're tired, a good 45mins to rest and sleep. 😅

The pictures will describe the place for me. I have no words. And the pictures make no justice. You have to go. BUT! Head my words: take a hat, an umbrella, and a bag with water and goodies for you to enjoy and stay hydrated. You will walk A LOT. BUT, there are golf carts, and busses, that move people around the grounds (mainly elderly people where using them). ALSO DO NOT WEAR HIGH HEELS! Wear sneakers or something comfortable and put on your high heels for the pics...

5 Stars for the value and show and 1 star for the staff. We had tickets to the planetarium and seating was on a first come basis. I asked where to enter and the check in person said you can go to either entrance and I saw a small line right in front of me. I said right there and she said yes, or the East entrance over there. I went to the one directly in front. When the doors opened, the ticket collector told the people in front of us it was a VIP line although there was no VIP sign. He then said to us the same thing and I explained I asked if this was the line. He said you have to go to the West or East entrance with no interest that we had been given incorrect information. So, rather than being somewhat accommodating for his co worker's miscommunication, or saying something along the lines of he would let the people with whatever VIP tickets are in and then let us in, he made us go to the back of the line at the West entrance. Same thing happened to people 2 back from us, so those in front of us, those 2 back from us, and who knows who else meaning they need to do something as this probably happens all the time with people going there the first time. So, we got there early to be able to get a center seat and ended up in the last seat on the side because seats were already taken. I know this was an inexpensive ticket, but the consumer suffers because employees don't do their job correctly, and again, not just us, but people in front of us...