Last month we talked about a historic village out in Monroe County that’s full of history and restored buildings from all around Western New York. Well, this month we’re here to ask you an important question. Have you ever visited the oldest place in New York State? Now known as the capital of our state, discover why the city of Albany is a historic gem that’s worth uncovering.
Originally settled back in 1614, the city of Albany is featured on the west bank of the Hudson River.
Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza/Facebook Most people may know Albany as being the Capital of New York since 1797, but something that’s also worth keeping in mind is that it’s one of the oldest places you can explore in our country! Officially named Albany by the English in 1664, today the city has roughly 100,000 residents.
Today, all over the city you can find plenty of great places to learn about the area’s history.
Sharon_zz/TripAdvisor
A great place to start when you’re looking to dive into history, you can make your first stop the Albany Heritage Area Visitor’s Center just off of 787 at 25 Quackenbush Square to see all sorts of exhibits and to check out the gift shop.
Albany Visitors Center/TripAdvisor
Lined with some of the oldest buildings in Albany, Lark Street is a must-see when visiting the oldest place in New York.
Wikimedia Commons
Inside these historic buildings, you’ll now find an incredible variety of places to shop around in like restaurants, coffee shops, jewelry stores, taverns, a flower shop and so much more.
Travis R/TripAdvisor
After you’re done checking out all there is to see on Lark Street you can stroll on over to Washington Park, where this year on May 12th & 13th you’ll be able to experience the 70th Annual Albany Tulip Festival.
andrew/Flickr
The park comes to life during the summer with festivals and performances put on by the Washington Park Playhouse - where you can bring your own blankets and chairs to set up in the amphitheater and enjoy plays amongst the fresh air.
Park Playhouse/Facebook
Next, you can head to the Empire State Plaza to explore another corner of Albany that has so much to offer.
Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza/Facebook
Monday through Friday visitors of Albany can check out the free Weekday Walk-In Tours that take you through the Capitol and teach you about the building and city’s history, or choose to simply enjoy a Self-Guided Tour and look around on their own.
Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza/Facebook
Towards the other end of the plaza near the water, you’ll find the eye-catching building that’s known as The Egg.
jjctraveler/TripAdvisor
Not just a unique looking structure, The Egg is actually a venue where you go to see concerts, dances, performances, and other local events.
Bob Keefer/Flickr
But The Egg isn’t the only place that will provide you with entertainment, places like the Palace Theatre that was built back in 1931 is a historic venue to catch a show as well.
Geoff Livingston/Flickr
But back to the Empire Plaza! One more stop you’ll need to make is to the largest state museum in America - the New York State Museum!
neilepi/TripAdvisor
From riding a historic carousel and learning about the Adirondacks, to viewing the 9/11 exhibit and seeing the Cohoes Mastodon that was once walked through the area and was discovered in 1866, you’ll be amazed by all the different displays and things that you can learn about here.
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
If your family still has the energy to pack more fun into their day, after exploring the Empire Plaza you can drive to Huck Finn’s Playland. An amusement park that was created in Albany back in 2015, made up of many rides that came from the old Hoffman’s Playland in Latham.
Huck Finn’s Playland/Facebook
Something that may surprise you, New York’s oldest place also is home to one of the largest pine barrens in the world - Albany Pine Bush Preserve that features over 18-miles of trails.
Albany Pine Bush/Facebook
Sending you off with one final day-trip suggestion, if you happen to visit Albany during the summer, one of the best ways to get out on the water is to go for a ride with Dutch Apple Cruises.
Dutch Apple Cruises/Facebook To be clear, this article covers just a slice of what Albany has to offer. If you truly want to see what New York’s Capital is made of, you’ll want to explore it for yourself. Full of history, amazing people and unique attractions and festivals, you won’t want to put off planning a trip to this historic gem.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re in Albany? To discover more one-of-a-kind places around our state, read about how There’s No Other McDonald’s In The World Quite Like This One!
Visit the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza/Facebook
Most people may know Albany as being the Capital of New York since 1797, but something that’s also worth keeping in mind is that it’s one of the oldest places you can explore in our country! Officially named Albany by the English in 1664, today the city has roughly 100,000 residents.
Sharon_zz/TripAdvisor
Albany Visitors Center/TripAdvisor
Wikimedia Commons
Travis R/TripAdvisor
andrew/Flickr
Park Playhouse/Facebook
jjctraveler/TripAdvisor
Bob Keefer/Flickr
Geoff Livingston/Flickr
neilepi/TripAdvisor
Lea Monroe/Only In Your State
Huck Finn’s Playland/Facebook
Albany Pine Bush/Facebook
Dutch Apple Cruises/Facebook
To be clear, this article covers just a slice of what Albany has to offer. If you truly want to see what New York’s Capital is made of, you’ll want to explore it for yourself. Full of history, amazing people and unique attractions and festivals, you won’t want to put off planning a trip to this historic gem.
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