Attractions Nearby Albany, Day Trips and Excursions

(Albany, New York - NY, USA)

If you are prepared to travel a little outside of New York's state capital, then you will soon realise that the Albany metropolitan area has plenty more attractions for you to enjoy as part of a day trip or excursion. These include nearby towns and cities, golf courses and state parks.

Lying directly to the west of Albany, the John Boyd Thacher State Park is roughly a 25-minute drive away and features a number of hiking trails, which boast superb views of both the Hudson Valley and the Green Mountains, and pass behind a couple of small waterfalls.

Similar attractions in this direction, although a little further afield, include the Burnt-Rossman Hills State Forest (55 miles / 89 km), the Partridge Run State Forest at Middleburgh (31 miles / 50 km) and the Max V. Shaul State Park at Fulton (45 miles / 72 km). The latter of these stands within the attractive Schoharie Valley and offers camping sites, a playing field and access to the swimming pool at the neighboring Mine Kill State Park.

General Information

The attractions within the city of Troy are just a short drive from Albany, to the northeast, and come in the form of characterful 19th-century buildings, which are often used as a backdrop for filmmakers. Day trippers paying a visit to Troy may like to check out the Burden Iron Works Museum, take a stroll along the Poestenkill Gorge, enjoy a bite to eat at one of the many downtown restaurants, or spend the afternoon shopping for antiques along River Street. The Troy Farmer's Market each Saturday is worth looking out for on River Street.

From Albany, if you head along Interstate I-90 (New York State Thruway) in a northwesterly direction for roughly 30 minutes (joining Interstate I-890), you will reach the small city of Schenectady. Those enjoying an excursion here should take a stroll around the historic Stockade district, where roughly 40 buildings originate from the Revolutionary War period or before. The Schenectady Museum is a popular attraction for families and is where you will find the Suits-Bueche Planetarium.

To the north of Albany and reached in roughly 45 minutes by taking Interstate I-87 (Adirondack Northway), Saratoga Springs is a small town founded in the 1770s. The town's History Museum, Children's Museum and Automobile Museum are all worthy attractions, as is the nearby Saratoga Spa State Park.

For something more nature-themed, the Cohoes Falls attraction is situated roughly 30 minutes to the north of Albany and serves as the second-biggest waterfall in the entire state of New York. Based on Mohawk River, in between the towns of Cohoes and Waterford, this giant waterfall is of epic proportions and measures in at roughly 1,000 feet / 305 metres in width by some 27 meters / 90 feet in height.

During the winter months, skiing becomes a possibility on some of the snowiest mountains nearby Albany. Skiing trips are often available, transporting tourists to resorts around both the Adirondack Mountains and the Catskill Mountains.