Do you love adventures and are looking for where to experience one? If yes then you are definitely in the right place. Albany being the capital of a state has a low attraction of visitors, unlike other cities, but if you discover its adventure you will definitely not want to leave. That’s why in this article, we have taken our time to provide you with 10 important fun things to do in Albany New York to spice up your stay.
If you backdate to centuries ago, you will find out that Albany has many notable attractions ranging from warships and the governor’s mansion, to historic homesteads and underground railroad stations.
Albany also has other attractions such as underground caves, high-flying zip lines, ghost tours, and much more.
The most beautiful thing about the city is that it will suit any range of travel experiences such as honeymoon, vacation, cooperate retreat, and much more.
Now let’s take a good look at the real action
Fun Things To Do In Albany New York
1. New York State Capitol
This happens to be one of the biggest points of interest in New York city. It is one of the most expensive government buildings in the world.
The New York State Capitol has served as the seat of government since the 1880s.
It looks like a storybook castle, giving you that feel of government adventure.
During its time of construction, it was popularly known as the white elephant.
The beauty of its attraction has been wowing visitors since the 1880s
2. Washington Park
Washington park is located in the heart of Albany New York. It happens to be the city’s premier park and a site for many festival gatherings, such as the theater presented by Park playhouse every summer, the Tulip festival held in the park every May, and so on.
The park is also a site for all kinds of outdoor activities such as jogging, picnicking, fishing, skateboarding, games and team sports, and bird watching.
The park is one of the most beautifully sculpted and well-maintained parks, making it a fun place to visit.
Also, there are many fun things to see in the park such as Washington Park Lake, Stone Footbridge, Statues and Monuments, Lake house and Amphitheater, Knox Street Mall, and Albany Benche.
If you love to know about historic events, then the park is a must-visit for you.
3. Albany Institute of History and Art
The Albany Institute of History and Art is a museum dedicated to collecting and preserving interpreting and promoting interest in the history, culture, and art of Albany.
The Museum provides its viewers with amazing collections, exhibitions, education programs, a library, research projects, publications, and other programs offered to the general public.
The Albany Institute of History and Art museum happens to be the oldest museum in the United States, forming the best collection in the United States documenting the life and culture of the Upper Hudson Valley region from the late seventeenth century to the present day.
The institute is famous for its significant Hudson River school paintings, the broad scope of its collections includes fine arts, furnishings, personal objects, documents, manuscripts, photographs, and personal papers used by people of all ages, social classes, economic conditions, and cultural groups. Long-term exhibitions include: “Ancient Egypt,” “Nineteenth-Century American Sculpture: Erastus Dow Palmer, Launt Thompson, Charles Calverley,” “Sense of Place: Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Paintings and Sculpture,” and “Traders and Culture: Colonial Albany and the Formation of American Identity.”
If you love to know more about Albany’s history, then the institute is a nice place to visit.
4. Thacher State Park
The Thacher state park is a fun place that is definitely worth checking out. It will provide you with gorgeous panoramic views of the Adirondacks, Green Mountains, and Hudson-Mohawk Valleys.
The park is located 115 miles southwest of Albany, preserving six miles of limestone cliffs, rock-strewn slopes, woodlands, and open fields.
The park will also provide you with arenas and different outdoor activities such as volleyball courts, playgrounds, ball fields, and picnic areas. It also contains over 25 additional miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.
If you are a lover of birds then Thacher park is just the right place for you. According to the DEC, approximately 171 species of birds have been identified here, 102 of which are confirmed or probable breeders, including the Sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper’s hawk, Northern goshawk, and the Golden-winged warbler, all of which are labeled as Special Concern species.
So if you are in Albany and you are wondering where you and your kids would love to hang out, then give Thacher park a try
5. The Egg
If you love art performances, then the Egg is a must-visit for you.
The Egg is owned by the State of New York and managed by the not-for-profit Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center Corporation.
The Egg provides its viewers with quality art performances from unique and extraordinary artists from New York State, across the country, and around the globe.
The Egg provides you with different art presentations such as;
- Dance: Dance New York, Dance – The World, Family Dance
- Family: Family Wonders includes music and theater productions
- Music: American Roots & Branches, Rhythm International
- Theater: Occasional offerings of classic and modern drama
- Arts-in-Education: Performing arts events for school groups
- Made in The Shade of The Egg: A free series of outdoor summer performances
When next you feel like winning and dining with someone special while you enjoy beautiful art performances, the Egg is a perfect place for you.
Read Also: 10 Important Fun Things To Do In New York City
6. USS Slater
The USS Slater is a museum ship on the Hudson River in Albany New York, probably the only one of its kind that is afloat in the United States.
The USS Slater happens to be one of the ships that battled the Nazi u-boats on the Atlantic, protecting convoys of men and material during World War II. It also stood in line to defend naval task forces from Japanese submarines and Kamikaze air attacks in the Pacific.
The Museum offers a one-hour guided tour youth group overnight camping, and a historic location to hold naval reunions.
7. Huck Finn’s Playland
If you are looking for a place where you and your kids or siblings can burn off some energy, then Huck Finn’s Playland is the right place for you.
Huck Finn’s Playland is an amusement park located in Albany, New York. It features the rides of the former Hoffman’s Playland.
Your five-year-old will love it here because he/she can be free to release his inner adventure imagination and watch all of them come to reality.
Huck Finn’s Playland is like a summer vacation for kids and adults alike. Many of the attractions are vintage, including an old-fashioned carousel and several teacups and tilt-a-whirls.
Why not give your child this experience, he/she will definitely enjoy it.
8. Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
If you are familiar with Philip J. Schuyler, the renowned Revolutionary War general, US Senator, and business entrepreneur, the Schuyler Mansion was home to him and his wife Catharine Van Rensselaer descended from affluent and powerful Dutch families.
The mansion used to be a site for military strategizing, political hobnobbing, elegant social affairs, and an active family life.
The mansion is now a museum site for visitors to enjoy a tour guide and orientation exhibition focusing on Philip Schuyler’s life.
If you love to know about war history and you are probably a fan of Philip Schuyler, then the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site is a perfect place for you.
9. Lark Street
Lark Street is often known as the the “Greenwich Village” of Albany’s Capital Region.
The street is full of countless restaurants, cafes, art galleries, special events, and much more. It is in fact a major hot spot in Albany.
Lark Street will provide you with a diverse range of shopping such as art stores, antiques, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, vintage clothing, flowers, books, wine, tattoo parlors, and much more.
Lark street is also home to several Albany Major annual events such as Art on Lark which takes place in summer, LarkFest, and much more.
Lark Street will fill your cravings for attractive places, it is in fact among the top 10 booming sites in Albany and you would definitely not want to miss it.
10. New York State Museum
The New York State Museum is a center of art, science, and history dedicated to exploring the human and natural history of the state.
It happens to be the oldest and largest state museum in the country.
The Museum features a variety of history, science, and art exhibitions. Within the main exhibit halls are popular long-standing favorites, including Adirondack Wilderness, Birds of New York, Beneath the City: Albany Archeology, Black Capital: Harlem in the 20s, The Cohoes Mastodon, Fire Engine Hall, Minerals of New York, Native Peoples of New York, and The World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response. There’s also a working full-sized carousel on the 4th floor of the Museum.
If you love to learn about history, then the New York State Museum is a nice place to visit.
Give it a Try
Now you know the top ten fun places to be at, why not give it a try and enjoy all it contains.