Albany and Central New York
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Albany and Central New York - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza
The ¼-mi-long, 98-acre concourse includes modern art and sculpture, the New York State Museum, the State Library, the elliptical performing-arts center, and the New York...
The ¼-mi-long, 98-acre concourse includes modern art and sculpture, the New York State Museum, the State Library, the elliptical performing-arts center, and the New York State Vietnam Memorial. At the center of the plaza is a rectangular reflecting pool. The capitol crowns the plaza's north end. On weekdays in July and August you can take a free hour-long tour, which examines the plaza's history, architecture, monuments, and artworks. Tours start at 11 and 1 at the concourse-level visitor center.
279 Madison Ave., Albany, New York, 12242, USA518-474--2418Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, July and Aug., tours weekdays 11 and 1 -
2. Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute
The institute is made up of a museum, an art school, and a performing-arts center. Its Museum of Art occupies two distinctly different buildings. The...
The institute is made up of a museum, an art school, and a performing-arts center. Its Museum of Art occupies two distinctly different buildings. The 1850 Italianate mansion, called Fountain Elms, has rooms of Victorian-era furnishings. The main gallery spaces are in the 1960 Philip Johnson structure, a rather austere building clad in polished granite. The holdings include 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century American paintings, sculptures, and photographs; 19th- and 20th-century European paintings; Asian prints; and pre-Columbian artifacts. A highlight here is the collection of Hudson River School paintings, which include the four-part "Voyage of Life" series by Thomas Cole as well as works by Asher B. Durand and Frederic Church.
310 Genesee St., Utica, New York, 13502, USA315-797--0000Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Mon., Tues.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. 1–5 -
3. National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The ball that Babe Ruth hit for his 500th home run and Shoeless Joe Jackson's shoes are among the memorabilia that help to make this...
The ball that Babe Ruth hit for his 500th home run and Shoeless Joe Jackson's shoes are among the memorabilia that help to make this shrine to America's favorite pastime so beloved. Plaques bearing the pictures and biographies of major-league notables line the walls in the actual hall of fame. The museum also has multimedia displays, exhibits geared to children, and a research library with photos, documents, and videos. New hall members are inducted during a ceremony held on the grounds of Clark's Sports Center. The event, which may be scheduled for any weekend between June and August, is free.
25 Main St., Cooperstown, New York, 13326, USA607-547--7200Sight Details
Rate Includes: $23, Labor Day–Memorial Day, daily 9–9; rest of yr daily 9–5 -
4. New York State Capitol
It took more than 30 years to complete this grand building (1867–99), which incorporates elaborate carvings, interesting architectural elements, and eclectic styles. The 45-minute guided...
It took more than 30 years to complete this grand building (1867–99), which incorporates elaborate carvings, interesting architectural elements, and eclectic styles. The 45-minute guided tour highlights the ornate Great Western Staircase (aka the Million Dollar Staircase)—which took 13 years and 600 stone carvers to complete—and, right over it, a 3,000-square-foot skylight that had been covered from World War II until 2002. Amid the carved faces adorning the staircase pillars are several famous visages. You can visit the legislative chambers and, when open, the governor's ceremonial offices. Tours begin at the visitor center on the concourse level of Empire State Plaza.
State St. and Washington Ave., Albany, New York, 12224, USA518-474--2418Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends -
5. Ace of Diamonds Mine
Bring your own sledgehammers and pry bars or rent them from the gift shop, stake a "claim," and begin your search for quarry. No matter...
Bring your own sledgehammers and pry bars or rent them from the gift shop, stake a "claim," and begin your search for quarry. No matter where you prospect, you're not likely to be disappointed. Many open pits are an easy walk to the right or left of the visitor center, where you can see beads, stones, an extensive book section, and other rock-related items. You might venture up the steep hillside in hope of finding a pocket containing hundreds of "diamonds"—really quartz crystals with diamondlike facets. The views of the wooded valley and the Mohawk River are a find in themselves.
84 Herkimer St., Middleville, New York, 13406, USA315-891--3855Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10, Closed Nov.--March., Apr.–Oct., daily 9–5 -
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6. Adirondack Scenic Railroad
From Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day, a 1950s-era locomotive chugs and whistles from Utica's historic Union Station on day trips into the Adirondack Wilderness...
From Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day, a 1950s-era locomotive chugs and whistles from Utica's historic Union Station on day trips into the Adirondack Wilderness via the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.
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7. Albany Aqua Ducks
From April through October, you can tour the city in a land-and-water vehicle. The 75-minute tour starts on dry ground, cruising the streets of Albany...
From April through October, you can tour the city in a land-and-water vehicle. The 75-minute tour starts on dry ground, cruising the streets of Albany to historic sites. The U.S. Coast Guard–certified vessel then plunges into the Hudson River to give you another perspective of the city skyline. Tours start at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center and depart in the morning and early afternoon.
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8. Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center
The center's museum gallery is a good place for an orientation. Displays trace the city's history and define its neighborhoods; some include cultural artifacts. The...
The center's museum gallery is a good place for an orientation. Displays trace the city's history and define its neighborhoods; some include cultural artifacts. The center, downtown, has basic visitor information and often serves as a starting point for guided tours.
25 Quackenbush Sq., Albany, New York, 12207, USA518-434--0405Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
9. Albany Institute of History and Art
The 1791 museum, the state's oldest, has annual rotating exhibits and an impressive permanent collection that includes Hudson River School paintings and an Egyptian mummy...
The 1791 museum, the state's oldest, has annual rotating exhibits and an impressive permanent collection that includes Hudson River School paintings and an Egyptian mummy exhibit. Silver, furniture, and contemporary-art collections cover regional history dating from the 1500s. The building, which combines a modern expansion with the original 18th-century space, is interesting architecturally.
125 Washington Ave., Albany, New York, 12201, USA518-463--4478Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10, Closed Mon.--Tues. -
10. Arkell Museum at Canajoharie
The collection of paintings, largely by American artists, includes works by such well-known painters as Winslow Homer, Gilbert Stuart, Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Mary...
The collection of paintings, largely by American artists, includes works by such well-known painters as Winslow Homer, Gilbert Stuart, Edward Hopper, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, Charles Burchfield, and Thomas Eakins. Twenty-one Homer paintings are lent out regularly to museums around the world.
2 Erie Blvd., Canajoharie, New York, 13317, USA518-673--2314Sight Details
Rate Includes: $9, Closed Mon., and Jan.--Feb. -
11. Arts Center of the Capital Region
Two gallery spaces display contemporary and folk pieces by local and regional artists. One- and two-day classes are offered in art, photography, writing, culinary arts,...
Two gallery spaces display contemporary and folk pieces by local and regional artists. One- and two-day classes are offered in art, photography, writing, culinary arts, and crafts.
265 River St., Troy, New York, 12180, USA518-273--0552Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
12. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The country's oldest neo-Gothic cathedral, finished in 1852, has an imposing redbrick exterior with tall twin spires. Inside you find a high vaulted ceiling, stained-glass...
The country's oldest neo-Gothic cathedral, finished in 1852, has an imposing redbrick exterior with tall twin spires. Inside you find a high vaulted ceiling, stained-glass windows, and statues.
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13. Caverns Creek Grist Mill
At this restored 1816 mill you can take a self-guided tour and watch the 12-foot-round waterwheel power the 1,400-pound millstone....
At this restored 1816 mill you can take a self-guided tour and watch the 12-foot-round waterwheel power the 1,400-pound millstone.
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14. Children's Museum for Science and Technology
Kids can learn about Mohican life or bees and pollination through the interactive exhibits here, which cover science, history, and art....
Kids can learn about Mohican life or bees and pollination through the interactive exhibits here, which cover science, history, and art.
250 Jordan Rd., Troy, New York, 12180, USA518-235--2120Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Closed Mon.--Tues., Thurs. –Sun. 10–5 -
15. Children's Museum of Saratoga
At this museum with hands-on exhibits geared for kids three to ninash in a model diner....
At this museum with hands-on exhibits geared for kids three to ninash in a model diner.
69 Caroline St., Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866, USA518-584--5540Sight Details
Rate Includes: $8, Closed Mon. Sept.--Jun. -
16. City Hall
American architect Henry Hobson Richardson, who also developed the state's capitol, designed this 1881 Romanesque revival–style structure. A 49-bell carillon, one of about 200 in...
American architect Henry Hobson Richardson, who also developed the state's capitol, designed this 1881 Romanesque revival–style structure. A 49-bell carillon, one of about 200 in the country, was added in 1927.
24 Eagle St., Albany, New York, 12207, USA518-434--5075Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends -
17. Congress Park
Italian gardens, ponds, fountains, and statuary punctuate wide lawns at this park in the heart of the city. Fifty cents buys you a ride on...
Italian gardens, ponds, fountains, and statuary punctuate wide lawns at this park in the heart of the city. Fifty cents buys you a ride on a carousel with 28 horses that were carved and painted about a century ago.
Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866, USASight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
18. Corning Preserve
The Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge leads to this expansive green space along the Hudson River. A 5.3-mi trail, which can be used for biking...
The Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge leads to this expansive green space along the Hudson River. A 5.3-mi trail, which can be used for biking and hiking, snakes through the preserve. At the north end are a public boat launch and a restaurant on a barge. June through August, the 800-seat amphitheater hosts musicians.
Albany, New York, 12207, USANo phone -
19. Corning Tower
An elevator whisks you up 589 feet to the 42nd-floor observation deck of this building, the tallest structure in the state outside New York City....
An elevator whisks you up 589 feet to the 42nd-floor observation deck of this building, the tallest structure in the state outside New York City. The views on a clear day include the Berkshire, Catskill, and Adirondack mountains. To get to the deck, you first must present a photo ID at the plaza-level security desk.
5 Empire State Plz., Albany, New York, 12223, USA518-474--2418Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed weekends -
20. Cottage Lawn
The 1849 Gothic Revival cottage, headquarters of the Madison County Historical Society, was designed by noted architect Alexander Jackson Davis. The group runs tours of...
The 1849 Gothic Revival cottage, headquarters of the Madison County Historical Society, was designed by noted architect Alexander Jackson Davis. The group runs tours of the cottage, which contains seven rooms decked in period furnishings. Glassware from Canastota Glass and portraits of City of Oneida founder Sands Higinbotham and prominent abolitionist Garrett Smith are among the displays here. The building, which once belonged to Higinbotham's son Niles, includes a research library. Out back is the Hops Barn, where exhibits explain that the region was once the center of hops production for England. The annual summer Hops Festival celebrates this heritage.
435 Main St., Oneida, New York, 13421, USA315-363--4136Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Closed weekends, Weekdays 9–4
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