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Capital city of New York, United States
Photo: Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Albany is the capital of New York. Albany is an interesting showcase of several centuries' worth of architectural styles, including the modernistic Empire State Plaza.
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Designed by renowned architect H.H. Richardson in the Romanesque style he popularized.
The Empire State Plaza is something to behold. It lies between the New York State Capitol building and the New York State Museum. While many critics have found that the Plaza is architecturally intimidating, at best, it can be quite beautiful. Free concerts are often held on the plaza during the summer, ranging from Blues Festivals to Rock concerts. And the Fourth of July fireworks are spectacular.
Free guided tours, M-F 10AM, noon, 2PM, and 3PM; Sa & Su 11AM, 1PM, and 3PM. Free self-guided audio tours M-F, 9AM-3PM (driver license or passport must be left as collateral for audio player). Plaza Visitor Center, Rm. 106 Concourse, Empire State Plaza. Security screening will confiscate pocket knives and other sharp objects.
Impressive neo-classical colonnade.
The main street that runs to the Albany Waterfront. Though much of the lower portion is decayed and empty, it retains a regal air and is well worth a visit, particularly as revitalization of the area takes hold. State Street is home to many of the stately 19th-century homes that can be seen in Albany and was once home to writer Herman Melville. Nearby lies Pearl Street, which has undergone a renewal, and which caters to the 20-something bar and club scene. During the summer, the Alive at 5 concert series is an open festival on Broadway near the base of State Street. It draws quite a large crowd, and is generally a fun time for all. You can no longer bring your own beer, however—you must purchase it on site.
Formerly the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Building
Built circa 1728, it is the oldest remaining Dutch building in the city.
The view from the 42nd floor Corning Tower Observation Deck encompasses not only the city of Albany but the foothills of the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Check-in at the security desk in the concourse under the Corning Tower, photo ID required. Plaza information office.
Retired World War II US Navy Destroyer Escort, offering tours W-Su during the summer. Recommended ability to climb and descend stairs.
The largest state museum in all the 50 states, has some really nice collections.
Another nice museum well worth a visit.
Watervliet was the first Shaker community in the United States. Shaker leader Ann Lee is buried here. Guided tours June through October, Sa at 11:30AM and 1:30PM, when available. Other tours available by appointment; two weeks notice required. See other Shaker villages in the northeast United States through the itinerary Touring Shaker country.
A delightful, and for the most part safe, park (care should be taken at night). In the park's center is the Park Playhouse, which offers free, good musicals and plays throughout the summer. May offers "Tulip Fest" a nod to Albany's Dutch heritage that consumes Washington Park with (mostly) tulips as well as a craft fair.
A center of Albany youth culture and an interesting place to visit. Lark Street is between Washington Park and the Empire State Plaza and is the main drag for a vibrant residential neighborhood. In September, Lark Street hosts one of Albany's most treasured events, "Larkfest", a popular street fair.
Western edge of the city. It's a 3,000-acre inland pine barren maintained by controlled fires (which clear out invasive plant species and cause the native pine cones to release their seeds). Trails through the preserve are open to non-motorized uses year-round (except during burns, of course
Held at the Empire State Plaza, Washington park and in the Corning Preserve/Albany Riverfront Park on the Hudson River during the summer.
Plays held at the park playhouse during the Summer.
Held every First Friday of the month, this event aims to bring to a wider audience the local artists and local shops of Albany. Artwork exhibitions, live entertainment and gallery openings bring Albany to life. For transportation; A trolley will stop at participating venues throughout Albany. The trolley leaves from the Upstate Artists Guild at 5PM and duration of the round trip is approximately 30 minutes. After the First Friday event, live music and original films are played from the Capitol Region Film Makers and people dancing.
A 86-mile-long trail for biking, walking, jogging or skating which starts in the Corning Preserve in downtown Albany, right along the Hudson River, and stretches out to Rotterdam Junction in Schenectady County.
Trails for biking, skating, jogging and walking in the 5-mile long park along the Hudson River, with picnic areas and a boat launch.
The Valleycats are nearby Troy's minor league baseball team. The team is an independent team that competes in the Frontier League (it was in the New York-Penn League until 2019 and was at the time associated with the Houston Astros, but the NYPL was dissolved when the minor leagues were reorganized before the 2021 season). The Valleycats play at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium. Tickets range in price from $5–15.
Sports teams of the University at Albany (locally called UAlbany), competing in 8 men's sports and 10 women's sports, mostly in the America East Conference. The football team plays in FCS, the second level of D-I football, in the Colonial Athletic Association. Most venues are on campus, with the highest-profile ones being Casey Stadium (football) and SEFCU Arena (basketball).
N. Pearl St.
Downtown.
formerly the Pepsi Arena and Knickerbocker Arena
Autumn is always a good time for apple-picking at any one of the orchards in the area
The reflecting pool of the Empire State Plaza becomes a skating rink during the winter, which might be an equivalent of the Rockefeller Center rink.
The Captain JP can accommodate up to 600 passengers and is by far the most lavish vessel in the Capital District. The Capt. JP II has three climate-controlled enclosed decks, along with full service bars and dance floors on each deck. They regularly feature live entertainment on the music cruises and also hold private events.
The Linda is on Central Avenue in Albany. Visit the venue for many kinds of events or rent out the space for your own event
small amusement park designed for younger ages primarily.
Showcases the beauty of American tulips, and not to mention the feast on food and art.
Scottish culture get showcased this time of year from pipes and drum bands to feasting and drinking over Scottish delights or just viewing an exhibition of horses, going back to your routes through genealogy information or maybe getting fashionable through tradition Scottish clothing. Though far from Scotland, this festival might give you an introduction to what your next destination may like be.
Regional chefs, restaurants, wines and beers.
An upscale NYC-Style restaurant. Wonderful staff, beautiful live jazz. Dress accordingly, you won't be disappointed.
Superb for healthful, super tasty and interesting sandwiches and wraps. Beautiful desserts to tempt you if you have room after their generous salads and sandwiches. Highly recommended, an outstanding value.
A good Mexican restaurant, loved by locals. The food can sometimes be a bit expensive for what's being offered.
Authentic Mexican cooking. It's not expensive, and the food is exquisite. Recommended!
Indian restaurant boasts the best weekday lunch buffet in the area.
An Albany classic, its walls are adorned with misty photos of Albany's interesting past. The quality and prestige of Jack's has gone down, though it still may be the best place to get fresh seafood at a place that has defined downtown for almost one hundred years. Don't dress like a slob.
A wonderful Middle Eastern restaurant. The dim lighting and brick walls gives this place a unique classy atmosphere. Food is healthy and reasonably priced.
Wolff's offers authentic German food and beer selections and there is always a futball game on.
For health food shopping, has a variety of health-minded dishes and baked goods made daily. Grab a "meal deal" for under $5. Check out the amazing cheese selection.
An upscale Italian restaurant.
A good bar and restaurant. Many will argue their wings (as opposed to Wings Over) are the best in the city. Great burgers and grilled sandwiches.
This is a wonderful restaurant that serves a brunch that is unparalleled in the capital region. Enjoyable patio dining is available during the warm months. Try their breakfast cocktails (their bloody mary is unmatched.) Part of the menu is on a weekly rotation which features creative takes on eggs benedict.
Pepper Jack's has a large variety of inexpensive delicious food. College students and professionals alike love this place. Try their breakfast wraps, simply amazing!
Columbian and Ecuadorian cuisine.
This is an excellent Italian and Greek deli. You can get sandwiches, subs, soups, and even lasagne. There isn't really any place to sit down, so virtually every customer gets take-out.
A well-established Mexican restaurant. Great food, worth a visit.
They have really good Irish and American pub food. Very relaxed professional and working class crowd.
For spicy south India cuisine, this is a nice place to visit. Many will say the atmosphere is lacking but the food will keep you coming back.
A hibachi (teppan-style cooking) and sushi restaurant located right by Albany Airport, and is probably the most popular of its kind in the area.
A local favorite, reasonably priced and has excellent breakfast food. Try their Irish Eggs Benedict. Careful, this place can be very busy around lunchtime or weekend mornings, although weekdays aren't too crazy.
This is a wonderful cafe and a local favorite. Great atmosphere, the walls are filled with photography or paintings from local artists, all of which are available for sale. The food is excellent. The baked goods are divine. And their coffee and tea selection is endless. Try the Russian Caravan Tea if you dare! Java's typically hosts the indie-college crowd, many of whom come here to write papers and leech off their free Wifi. Very friendly staff. Sometimes, Java's hosts open-mic nights.
Excellent homemade salads, soups and sandwiches. Prices are comparable to places like Panera Bread, but you have much better atmosphere and quality here.
Large place with plenty of TVs for watching whatever sporting event happens to be on.
Sushi Yokohama
An excellent place with wonderful food and a relaxed atmosphere. Serve lunch and dinner. Many different choices of sushi and Japanese dishes.
A popular gay and lesbian bar that is friendly and has a nice happy hour. Check out Karaoke night on Thursdays.
Good on weekends when the Romans come down for their orgy, good happy hour specials, a good selection of beer, and they have dartboards and pool tables. Very crowded on summer weekend nights.
A fun subterranean bar with several great microbrews, darts and a great patio during the summer.
Attracts an average looking and refreshingly unpretentious crowd. It's more "meet your friends" than "see and be seen." Albany's largest patio in the summer and a large upstairs for the winter.
Dine with a few beers. The building itself is the old Albany Pump Station, which used to pump the water from the Hudson River up to the reservoir, so the building has a ton of atmosphere and history. A local favorite - no trip to Albany is complete without a visit here.
Craft beer and American fare and bands. Another good after-work crowd. Fills with older hepcat college students later in the evening, especially on weekends. Good live music.
Often has bands playing Celtic folk and/or bagpipe rock and they have an outdoor area for eating, drinking and listening to live bands during the summer.
Another popular gay and lesbian bar.
A club/event space. Here you find Thursday swing dancing lessons, goth nights, and best known for the weekly Saturday '80s nights. Excellent music, mixed and unpretentious crowds. Dance to Cyndi Lauper with your friends. LGBT friendly!
An upper classmen bar. It's usually pretty busy.
A nice place to hang out on weekends. It's very busy with the typical college scene, but slightly more subdued than some of the others.
It is close to the State Capitol, Times Union Center, and a burgeoning downtown area on Pearl Street (Pearl, Jillian's, Skyline, Mad River, the Victory Cafe, McGeary's and the Bayou Cafe are all on or just off of Pearl Street).
Guest rooms and public areas are renovated. Fitness center, breakfast. Free parking.
The Morgan State House is an excellent example of late 19th-century elegance and design. It has been restored to provide the most unique accommodations in the Capital District. Voted "Best in the Capital/Saratoga Region", The Morgan State House is an inn in the European tradition. It is centrally located in downtown Albany, on a quiet, tree-lined residential street overlooking Washington Park and was the longtime home of the artist and suffragette Alice Morgan Wright (1881—1975), who lived here from 1888 (when she was 7 years old) until her death. The house was designed by R.W. Gibson, the architect of the Cathedral of All Saints, for her father, Henry Romeyn Wright, who made a fortune in dry goods during the Civil War. The multiple peaked gables and intricate interior details reflect the Japanese-influenced aesthetic of the 1880s. Alice Morgan Wright was a leading figure in the American suffrage movement and once was jailed in London with Emmeline Pankhurst. In 1921 she helped found the New York League of Women’s Voters. An influential artist of the Art Deco style, Wright maintained a studio on the fourth floor of the house, and her works can be found in museums and private collections throughout the country.
Downtown/Medical Center.
An Ascend Hotel Collection Member.
One of the best places to stay in the Albany area (though it is a bit further away than one might like, near Albany International Airport.) The Desmond's charm is in its embracement of the historical group of Shaker's who once were a big part of the Capital Region. The Desmond often hosts weddings and has two quality restaurants on site, Simpson's and Scrimshaw. Free internet in rooms, free wireless internet in lobby. Entirely non-smoking.
The hotel is about 20-30 minutes from downtown Albany, and cab fare is about $20 on average. There is a bus stop about 100 feet from the hotel, but it can take almost an hour to get to the city this way, and the hotel doesn't provide bus schedules or seem very knowledgeable about the area buses.
Offers guests free continental breakfast. Near Albany International Airport.
It has a few gift shops and other unique stores with an alternative vibe. If you're downtown take a gander and support local shopkeepers by buying a glass pipe, a bustier dress with cherries on it, or a rainbow flag to hang in your front window.
The most upscale shopping venue in the area. Independent boutiques and brand stores like Crabtree & Evelyn dominate, with a few chain staples; there is a TGI Friday's right next to the Starbucks. Color Me Mine is a neat little DIY craft shop where you can paint your own ceramics.
Otherwise referred to as "the mall," it's the biggest shopping center in the region and at one point was among the top ten largest shopping malls in the United States. The best spot to park is by Best Buy, which is in the center of the mall. Flagship stores include Macy's, JC Penney, a Forever 21 superstore, Best Buy, H&M, Borders and the Apple store. Crossgates has a Regal Cinemas complex with 17 standard stadium-seating theaters and one IMAX Experience theater. Because local hooligans, after 4PM on Friday and Saturday you must be 18 or older to enter the mall unsupervised, with the exception of the movies.
An overflow of chain stores located across Washington Ave Extension from Crossgates Mall. Here you'll find the largest Walmart in the US, which looks unremarkable until you realize there is an entire underground level devoted to groceries and toiletries. Worth a visit if you've never seen a shopping cart escalator.
Remodelled in an effort to combat its former reputation as a ghost town mall. CC has a new Regal Cinemas complex with 13 stadium-seating theaters. Major stores include Macy's, FYE as well as Boscov's, LL Bean, Barnes & Noble and Christmas Tree Shops. Eat at PF Chang's or the Cheesecake Factory, which are conveniently adjacent to one another between Sears and LL Bean. Colonie Center draws a more suburban crowd than Crossgates due to Crossgates' better accessibility by public transportation.
Retail part includes Wal-Mart, Dick's sporting goods, Home Depot and restaurant chains.
By car
Most residents and visitors get around by car. By the standards of larger cities, traffic is light and traffic jams are rare.
By taxi
Taxi cabs in Albany are not metered and go by a zone fare within the city limits.
By bus (CDTA)
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Albany · International · ALB
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