Albany Visitors Center
If you’re traveling to Albany for the first time, you’ll definitely want to make the Albany Visitors Center one of the first places to visit in Albany NY.
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| Sights to see in upstate NY |
The planetarium (Henry Hudson Planetarium) is worth visiting if you’re traveling with kids as it hosts regular family-friendly events such as star gazing nights and interactive programs on stars and planets.
Albany Aqua Ducks
The Albany Aqua Ducks is also located in Quackenbush Square, and it’s one of the top places to visit in Albany NY for booking tours of the city.
Albany Aqua Ducks offers trolley tours of Albany’s historic areas, as well as boat tours along the Hudson River which will allow you to get great views of Albany’s skyline and landmarks such as the ENCON Building and the USS Slater Ship.
New York State Capitol
The New York State Capitol is located opposite Academy Park and it’s without a doubt, one of the top places to visit in Albany NY.
You can take guided tours of the New York State Capitol and check out the the beautiful murals and the sandstone staircases inside the Assembly Chamber, which have carved-in the faces of notables such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Empire State Plaza
The Empire State Plaza is located not far from the New York State Capitol and it’s another attraction worth adding to your list of places to visit in Albany NY especially if you’re into art.
The Empire State Plaza boasts an interesting art collection on the concourse level which includes painting, sculpture and tapestry works by renowned American artists.
By the way, the Empire State Plaza is also home to cool events such as the Fourth of July fireworks display and the African American Family Day Arts Festival in August.
Albany Institute of History & Art
The Albany Institute of History & Art is one of the biggest attractions in Albany and it’s no doubt one of the most popular places to visit in New York State.
The Albany Institute of History & Art is the oldest museum in the country and it's certainly one of the best art museums in the US as it boasts a collection of paintings from the renowned Hudson River School of Art.
If you’re traveling to Albany with the family this summer, the Albany Institute of History & Art is still worth the visit since the institute offers art workshops for kids between July and August.
New York State Museum
The New York State Museum is located between Capitol Hill and Lincoln Park and it’s another popular cultural attraction that you’d want to add to your list of places to visit in Albany NY.
The New York State Museum is free admission and it’s definitely one of the best places to learn about the natural history of New York and historic events such as the infamous fire in New York State Capitol in early 1900’s.
Besides exhibitions and collections, the museum hosts regular events such as live music on Thursdays and free family programs every second Saturday of the month.
USS Slater Museum Ship
The USS Slater is another must see attraction that you’d want to add to your list of places to visit in Albany NY especially if you’re a history buff.
The USS Slater is a cool WWII destroyer docked at Quay Street which is open to the public and offers narrated guided tours which will allow you access to the deck and interior of the ship to see the radio room, crew's bunks and engine room.
Schuyler Mansion
The Schuyler Mansion is another of the top places to visit in Albany NY if you’re a fan of pre-war architecture.
You’ll be able to take pictures and visit the interior of Schuyler Mansion on a guided tour any day of the week, though on Saturday and Sunday the mansion hosts the heritage Weekend event.
Albany City Parks & Theaters
A visit to Albany wouldn’t be complete without passing by one of Albany’s stunning parks and visiting one of Albany’s renowned theatres.
There are dozens of city parks in Albany but some of the best ones include Washington Park, Lincoln Park, Albany Riverfront Park and Buckingham Lake Park.
Washington Park Lake is where the Tulip Fest is held every year on Mother’s Day; while Lincoln Park is one of the best parks in Albany for enjoying fun recreational activities with the family.
As far as theatres, Palace Theatre and the Egg are two of the best places to visit in Albany NY to catch a live show and Broadway-like music performances.
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