This place is incredible and extremely child friendly! The volunteers who run the operation are…read morebeyond spectacular and are extremely helpful. I have two under three who were extremely excited for the entirety of this museum. It was a perfect day. We ended up buying a membership and very much look forward to our returns in the future! Be sure to check out their virtual airplane ride it's actually really fun and was one of the highlights for my little guys!

Somewhere hidden inside the Empire State Aerosciences Museum is a great museum trying to get out of…read morethe shell of a tired old one. The collection here isn't the issue per se. The outdoor air park has an enormous number of post-War jet planes and one helicopter, and while they're peeling in the sun and the displays need quite a bit of freshening up, it's an impressive collection of real aircraft, some of which you can peer into the cockpit. They have mostly American, one British, and several Soviet-era aircraft, almost all war planes and mostly fighters. The interior exhibits look like a hodge podge of things amateur enthusiasts have collected over the years, made, and shoved together into a vaguely coherent timeline from the dawn of flight to the early rocket age. It's not good. There are many individually interesting things but they're just too random, and many are quite old, dated, and some broken. Some of it looks like your Grandpa's model plane project after it's been sitting in the attic for 25 years. There is NO sense of curation here, as the displays, interpretation, and artifacts are random; again, it shows the marks of many volunteers and enthusiastic amateurs but without the guidance of professional curation. The collection is divided up into two buildings, one of which is the old GE hangar (a lovely building, somewhat ruined by having had a building within a building constructed on one side) with dusty interior exhibits in the minibuilding and some very random real plane exhibits alongside a bunch of obvious works-in-progress restorations that looks very much like an aviation junk yard. The second building leads out to the airpark, which is fenced in and can only be reached through the second building. What really would make a great museum is if they cut out about 90% of the artifacts, and focused on the local stories -- not even New York aviation as a whole, but starting with the story of the original use of the place, as the GE Aviation Testing Center in 1946, and working their way up to much, much more on the story of the 109th Airlift Wing at the adjacent Stratton Air National Guard base. If the collection focused on that -- even if it meant jettisoning the air park -- there could be a really cool and much more coherent story with both local interest and international importance. There are so many odd and undercurated GE-related historical museums and exhibits around here -- from the Edison in downtown, to MiSci, to the Schenectady County Historical Museum, to this place -- that are scattered about and thus tell an incoherent story about GE's presence in town -- one kind of wishes in the abstract GE would sponsor some kind of master museum just about the history of the place (like the Heinz Center in Pittsburgh, PA) and cleaved off the science museum part. An example of what I consider to be the kind of problem a place like this continues to have: they are currently trying to get money together to get a half-sized model of the SST. What? Whatever for? It's not like it's a real SST, and a half-sized model is just another maintenance headache that I doubt very much will be either a big attraction or key to understanding the story of aviation in New York. Yeah, the SST took off from a New York airport. I'm sure that's the hook. But it's not really the kind of direction this place needs to head. For now, this is a little sad and depressing but for the ardent history buff there's still things to dig out of it, and if you have an aviation-enthused youngster (but not one not already interested, I don't think) they will enjoy it. The front desk staff are pleasant and the small shop, while having not a whole lot of unique local-interest items, is reasonably priced for souvenirs. (I have suggested to them they at least add some models of the C-130s used by the 109th.) No food or drink (an outside cafe with a viewing area to watch the planes take off, with interpretive plaques, would be a big money maker) and extremely rudimentary bathroom facilities (in the second buliding).

The staff here were pleasant, kind and helpful. We came for a Saturday night light show in the…read moreplanetarium. About 45 minutes long, a good time you can't beat it. A few jokes from the ticket-taker as well. Tip: try and grab the seats toward the back, to keep your neck more comfortable. We arrived ~15 minutes before start time and were able to peruse around the different displays and interactive exhibits. A place for all ages. This was a nice indoor activity to get out of the house and not be in the frigid cold.

Amazing hands-on activities, fun and engaging displays. Such an amazing museum and kids will love…read moreit.

What a great way to spend the afternoon! I went with my wife and Australian shepherd and we had a…read moreblast! This place is dog friendly which you rarely find in these types of places. The castle was so cool and has so many unique and rare antiques. The tour guides were so knowledgeable about the history, building techniques, and all of the antiques and art work in the castle. The castle has a beautiful marble deck outside over looking the green mountains and it was a perfect way to end out the tour. I would highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

Wilson Castle is awesome. It's one of my favorite places to bring visitors to Vermont. I've…read moreprobably visited a dozen times and I look forward to my next visit.

A friend and I traveled to Canajoharie specifically to visit the Arkell Museum. The first seven…read moreyears of my life were spent one town over and I remember my Mother had worked at Beechnut before I was born. The Arkell family was very good to their employees and built the library and a studio that became the Arkell Museum for the residents of Canajoharie. Its permanent collection includes 7 Winslow Homer paintings in addition to other American artists' works. The gallery of art representing the local communities is interesting and informative. I especially liked the map of the region painted on the floor of this gallery. There are three special exhibits:To be seen representations of women in The Arkell Museum Collection, Kevin Kuhne's Bygone Framework--watercolors of buildings and places in Albany that no longer remain as they once were and Happy Little Beech-nuts, advertising artwork of children enjoying Beech-nut foods. We spent approximately 3 hours at the museum and library as we enjoyed learning about the Arkell family and the garden that was created in memory for Mr. Arkell's second wife. In my opinion, The Arkell Museum and library is their legacy, to a community and its people they genuinely cared about. It is well worth visiting.

Despite being a small town upstater, I've been to some incredible museums this year from the…read moreGuggenheim to MOMA to the Met to the "more intimate" Seattle and Portland art museums. Still, I liked this little museum a great deal. Let me put it this way. What's more boring than a drive along the New York State Thruway? How about a fun, educational break from the cross-state driving? Just 3 or 4 blocks from the Canajoharie toll booth and you're at the museum. Stretch your legs, see a lovely little collection of interesting art, and barely interrupt your drive. I was most impressed by the beautiful bronze in the garden and the American Art Collection. I could care less about the high quality reproduction of the Night Watch; I've seen the real thing and I've even seen it done in tiles in the Delft factory - oddly interesting. My only regret - I missed the recent Homer and Wyeth shows. The current specials (infrared shots of American ruins and a room of paintings arranged by seasons) didn't ring my bell although my wife was agog over some of the winter scenes. If you have time, head south just a block or two to the Church & Main Restaurant. Or, along the way there is an old fashioned small town cafe/diner. Regardless, take a tiny detour, get out of the car, and have fun!

This place is a lot of fun! It's a large museum where you can learn just about everything there is…read moreto know about New York State. We didn't expect to spend much time there, but we ended up staying for well over an hour because there was so much to explore. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated. If you're driving, keep in mind that the museum doesn't have its own parking lot, so you'll need to find street parking. Fortunately, it wasn't difficult to find a spot when we visited on a Sunday afternoon. Highly recommended!

Hubby and I loved this museum. The layout could be better as it was like a maze but overall we…read morethink they did an excellent job with it. It is free to visit but they take donations. We spent about three hours in the area. They're certainly worth a visit.

Wow, the bottle museum is such a hidden gem! Their collection is vast, informational and…read moreinteresting within just a small space. Through a self-led tour, we had the opportunity to learn all about glass, from things people find in their yards, to how production has changed over time, color glass bottles and what they indicate, and we saw special collections including a significant bottle from each state! There are a few interactive exhibits. We didn't have the chance to view the upstairs since there was an installation of an art exhibit happening, but we'd love to come back the next time we're in town to do so.

Really amazing little niche museum. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable- I made a…read morespecific trip her and spent about an hour. They stayed open a good 20+ minutes for me, since I arrived only half an hour before closing time, so kind of them! Bottles from the size smaller than a meatball, to as big as a beachball. A neat uranium glass section of glowing glass under UV light. Thousands and thousands of shaped bottles in all sizes and beautiful colors. Little "gift shop" has t shirts, mugs, stickers, hats, and of course bottles for sale. Glad to support the museum and take home some souvenirs. You can even "adopt" a bottle, for $5- a mystery wrapped bottle, whatever calls your name. I got 2 and was glad I did. Can't wait to come back, highly recommend you visit!

The Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, NY is one of those places that quietly draws you in with how much…read morehistory it holds. At first glance, it looks like a simple old church, but once you step inside, you realize you're standing somewhere that has witnessed more than 200 years of stories. Built in the 1770s as a German Reformed Church, it was later fortified and turned into a defensive stronghold during the Revolutionary War. You can still spot a cannonball hole in the wall a little visual reminder of how real that history was. The museum complex is spread out beautifully, with several old buildings and scenic grounds that make it easy to wander around at your own pace. Each building feels like a glimpse into a different part of Schoharie's past from farming and school life to vintage machinery and military history. The volunteers here really add to the experience they're kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the history they're sharing. It's the kind of museum that doesn't feel overly polished, but that's exactly what makes it charming. You can sense the age of the wood floors and the craftsmanship in every display. It's quiet, peaceful, and even a little haunting in the best way, especially if you walk through the small cemetery nearby. If you enjoy exploring local history or hidden gems off the main tourist path, the Old Stone Fort is definitely worth a visit. It doesn't take long to go through, but you'll likely leave thinking about how much life and resilience are preserved in those old stone walls.

Wow, what a huge historical museum and tribute to our nations history. Definitely stop and spend…read moretime in this town. The whole story of the troops holding off the British soldiers from that place is amazing. The cemetery is amazing too. You can almost feel the soldiers running up and down the stairs and outside. Loved the cannon balls and to see the hole is pretty neat. I loved the whole area and town has historical homes all along the roadside. Nice shops too!

What better way to spend a rainy afternoon with out-of-town guests then to meander through a vast…read morespace with a very cool lineup of cars on display? I've been living in Saratoga County for so many years, and there are still countless treasures right in my backyard. The automobile Museum is certainly one of those treasures. I happened to visit during the Corvette show....and while I don't know much about cars (beyond basic driving skills), it was extremely cool. The entry fee was $20. I would definitely check it out again in the future.

Pontiac: The Dawn of Muscle…read more The Pontiac GTO is currently featured at a local automobile museum in Saratoga, NY. The first new car my husband ever owned was a 1970 GTO, so this exhibit interests us. It runs from November 5 - April 26, 2025, and the museum is open Wednesday to Sunday. Members: FREE Adults: $20.00 Children 11-18: $15.00 Children 10 & Under: FREE Students 17+ (with ID): $15.00 Senior Adults 65+: $15.00 Veterans/Active Military: $15.00 Special Guided Tours are available, and they are free with admission to the Museum on Wednesdays at 2pm. Showcasing 16 landmark Pontiacs, the museum explores the power and style that turned Pontiac into a legend. On exhibit-- * The Original GTO: The 1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO that defined the muscle car genre. * The Monkeemobile: A 1966 Pontiac GTO customized for The Monkees TV show, considered one of the most recognizable and beloved custom cars. * Firebirds and Trans Ams * GTO Judges- multiple examples This Museum is well curated and appeals to car lovers of all ages.

Our family are huge fans of horse racing which goes back generations. We've always wanted to check…read moreout this museum and glad we finally got to. Though we know a lot about its history, it was still good to see all the memorabilia and displays. I am giving them 4 stars just because I felt like they could have done a better job with the displays. Something seems to be missing. Still cool to visit.

If you enjoy horse racing even a little bit or are interested in it, you should go here. Lots of…read morehistory and all the trophies are to be seen and read about here. This museum showcases horses, trainers, jockeys and events! Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and I believe there is a discount for military. It's a very open and airy museum that has a flow but you can wander in and out of the rooms at your own pace and direction. They have a couple rooms that are "feature" (temporary) exhibits so if you've been in the past... chances are those rooms are different now. There is a short (30 minutes I think) movie that they show throughout the day. They will make an announcement and gather folks up and take you to the "theater room". There are benches along the walls to sit so you don't have to stand the whole time. There are stairs up and down ... but if you have mobility issues, they have lifts that you can use.