Albany, New York (Updated 2024)
Albany
Albany brings history to life and is a great place for exploring off the beaten path.
With so many important sites and museums, New York City, which is the state capital, is a great place for history buffs to visit. People who love the popular Broadway show “Hamilton” can see the story come to life at interesting places in the city. Albany is also a great place for people who want to have fun outside, as there are lots of parks and nature preserves to discover. Do not miss the chance to enjoy a wide range of memorable dining experiences as well as a booming craft beverage scene.
Get Close to History
Get to the New York State Museum to learn about the state’s natural history and important events in its past. One of the oldest museums in the country is the Albany Institute of History and Art, which opened in 1791. It has a lot of artifacts and displays that explain the past of Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley. The New York State Capitol building has Romanesque Revival and neo-Renaissance styles. You can learn about these styles on a free guided walk. Take a self-guided tour of places that were important to Alexander Hamilton, the famous “Hamilton” musical character. You can visit the Ten Broeck Mansion, which was built for a close friend of Hamilton’s father-in-law, the Fort Orange Club, which used to be a boarding house where Aaron Burr is thought to have stayed, and the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, where Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler were married in 1780.
Explore the great outdoors around Albany.
John Boyd Thacher State Park in Albany is one of the fossil-richest areas in the world. It has beautiful views of the Adirondack and Green Mountains as well as the rivers in the area. The Indian Ladder Trail in the park is famous for its steep rocks and waterfall, and you can go on a guided tour of it. The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a huge natural area that is known for having an important cultural and geological past. The Karner Blue Butterfly, which is on the verge of extinction, lives in the park with other rare plants and animals. Take a ride down the Hudson River on the Dutch Apple II to see the beautiful scenery (and fall colors in the fall) and learn about how the city is connected to the waterway. Albany also has a bike-share program called CDPHP Cycle! that lets people ride bikes to the best sights in the city.
Enjoy food and drinks from the area
Start your food journey with the Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour, which gives you the chance to try dishes and drinks from local restaurants on a guided walking tour. The historic Quackenbush House is the second-oldest in Albany. It serves food with a side of history. The building was built in the 1730s and is now the Old English Pub. Follow the Capital Craft Beverage Trail in Albany to try small-batch drinks from more than two dozen breweries, cideries, and wineries.