New York’s Capital Region has enticed visitors for over 400 years with our historic sites, fabulous attractions, fun family-friendly amenities, and entertaining events. World-class museums, including the New York State Museum, unique art galleries, stunning architecture, gourmet and eclectic restaurants, and warm, welcoming accommodations ensure your Albany experience is legendary

Albany, or the Capital District as it is referred to by the locals, has over 400 years worth of history for you to explore.

Activities include great historic site, family friendly attractions, world class entertainment venues, and quality museums. We also have eclectic restaurants, and historic art galleries.

Here are some of the popular attractions out of town guests may enjoy.

Washington Park

Washington Park is an 84 acre wonderland where visitors can find anything from natural beauty to entertainment. Located in downtown Albany, Washington Park is a family friendly park where you can spend your time participating in outdoor activities such as picnicking, fishing, jogging, tossing a frisbee, bird watching, site seeing and so much more. The park offers a number of courts which visitors can utilize for tennis, basketball, and handball. Washington Park also hosts a number of events throughout the year including; The Tulip Festival, Lobster Fest, The Summer Concert Series, Live Music Theater, and even a Holiday Lights in the Park Display.

Washington Park’s main event each year is the Tulip Festival which takes place on Mother’s Day Weekend. During the Tulip Festival Washington Park transforms into a sea of over 200,000 tulips as a way of paying tribute to Albany’s Dutch heritage. A number of arts and crafts exhibits, children’s activities, food vendors, and multiple entertainers are just the beginning of what the Tulip Festival has to offer.

For More Information please visit; www.albanyevents.org and click on the Tulip Festival link.

Empire State Plaza

Located in the heart of downtown Albany you will find the Empire State Plaza, an excellent starting choice for a tour of Historic Albany. The Empire State Plaza is home to a number of buildings, one of them being a Performing Arts Center called the Egg, where you can find a number of performances and events year round. The Plaza is also home to the Mayor Eratus Corning Tower, the tallest building in the Plaza and an excellent photo opporutnity for panoramic views of Albany and the Historic Hudson River. While visiting the Empire State Plaza you can also pay tribute to those who have given their lives in the name of service as the Plaza is home to the World War II Memorial, The New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the State of New York Police Officers Memorial. Also, while walking around the Empire State Plaza, plan extra time to stop and admire the sculpters surrounding the reflecting pools.

For More Information please visit; http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/ESP/

USS Slater DE 766

The USS Slater is one of the 565 Cannon Class Destroyer Escorts built during World War II. It is the last Destroyer Escort Warship that can still be seen in World War II configuration. The USS Slater is also the only one that remains afloat in the United States. The USS Slater can be found docked on the historic Hudson River off of Broadway and Madison Avenue in the heart of Downtown Albany. Tours of the USS Slater give visitors the opportunity to see how crew members lived and carried out missions during the days of World War II. Tours take place April to November Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

For More Information please visit; www.ussslater.org

Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs New York is located less than an hours drive from the city of Albany and is home to a large number of attractions. Visitors to Saratoga can find numerous boutique shops and excellent eateries along with an array of day and nightime activities such as the historic Saratoga Race Course; home of the best thoroughbred horse racing in the United States or the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway where you can spend time sitting at one of the 1,700 gaming machines or place bets on those competing at the harness track conveintly located directly behind the Gaming and Raceway. Saratoga Gaming and Raceway is also home to a popular Vegas-style nightclub called Vapor.

For those who are looking for a more natural atmosphere there is Saratoga Spa State Park. Saratoga Spa State Park is home to anyone who loves the outdoors. Hours of fun can be had wether you spend your time taking a scenic tour of the gyzers, which create our very own Saratoga bottled water, taking a dip in the public swimming pool, picnicking or fishing with your family, or just laying on a blanket soaking up the sun.

For the car entusiasts in the family make sure to visit the Saratoga Automobile Museum which is located adjacent to Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) where you can see a wide array of concerts and ballets.

For more information visit www.saratoga.org

Lake George

Located just an hour north of the Albany area you can find town of Lake George, New York. Lake George is an excellent town for outdoor fun no matter what your looking for. Lake George is home to the Six Flags Great Escape theme park where you can spend the day enjoying anything from roller coasters to the lazy river. Visitors can also spend the day loungiLocated just an hour and half from Albany you will find the quaint area of Cooperstown. Cooperstown is home to the Baseball Hall of Fame where you can learn all about the history of Baseball. Afterwards you could pop over to the Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum and take your picture with America’s most loved players. Also located in the town you will find one of the nation’s finest art institutions, The Fenimore Art Museum which houses an excellent collection of American folk art and American Indian art. While spending the day in Cooperstown you will also want to make time for a visit to the Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard, where you can taste over forty homemade specialty items from fudge to cheddar cheese. Cooperstown is truly fun for the whole family.

For more information visit: www.thisiscooperstown.com

Howe Caverns

Howe Caverns is located just forty five minutes from the Albany area and is a day trip you simply can’t miss. Howe Caverns is an underground extravaganza of stalagmites and stalactites 156 feet under the ground. Howe Caverns offers daily guided tours through their underground cave where you can experience life underground. The tour winds through corridors made of limestone and ends at an underground lake as still as glass. Howe Caverns is an educational experience and fun for all ages. The traditional tour is offered daily and includes an 80 minute tour including an exciting boat ride. Reservations are not required. Howe Caverns also offers more customize tours and group tours.

For more information visit: www.howecaverns.com