We spent yesterday afternoon at the Troy Farmers Market and were walking over to have a late lunch…read moreat Dinosaur Barbecue when we saw this. It's a very powerful memorial dedicated to those who served and died in the Vietnam War. It's centerpiece is a trio of statues- one soldier gravely wounded and sitting on the ground. An Afro-American soldier is kneeling at his buddy's shoulder. He has a strong left hand on his fallen colleague's back while he clasps his hand with his right. A third soldier is standing guard over both, his rifle at the ready. The statues are incredible, and I love the way they show the bonds between the three soldiers. They were crafted by an artist named Eileen Barry, and she titled it " The Vietnam Experience - Courage - Compassion - Pain " . The statue is in a raised landscaped platform a few feet from a bricked stone wall of plaques. Some of the plaques read: HONOR THE WARRIORS NOT THE WAR 1959 - 1975 VIETNAM MEMORIAL RENSSELAER COUNTY POW * MIA WE SHALL BE REMEMBERED: AS CHILDREN WE PLAYED, AS MEN WE FOUGHT, AS BROTHERS WE WILL ALWAYS BE TOGETHER. AS YOU GAZE UPON THIS SILENT WALL, MAY YOU FEEL THE LOVE WE SHARED, FOR THIS IS OUR LEGACY.

Such a cute bridge across the Hudson River connecting Albany and Rensselaer. It's official name is…read morePrivate Parker F. Dunn Memorial Bridge. It carries Route 9 and Route 20. The Hudson is narrow this north. Parker F Dunn was a World War I hero. You can find Rensselaer's Riverfront Park on the east. It's a place where people view Peregrine falcons. You don't have to pay a toll, and it's just so calm and peaceful, no traffic.

Great bridge, if you can't stand the quick access of crossing the Hudson River via the Interstate…read more90, or if you need to cross it to get to the Train Station via points to it's east. Great signage to points on the east. It seems I always cross this bridge when coming from the NY-32 and 9/20 corner, even though 9 and 20 come from overhead in Albany. Rarely ever head over this bridge west-bound, but it does happen too from time-to-time for me. Never really much problem; though watch out for the I-787 (near the I-90 interchange) confusion - especially going westbound, as Route 9/20 zig-zags nearby.

Although I've been crossing this bridge many times over my life when I go up to Albany (or further…read moreinto Saratoga, Lake George or further) (having come from Dutchess Co.), this bridge seems a bit outdated to me. It's no wonder when you search for the bridge, the DOT is saying they have a rehab project going on for this bridge. I cross it not because I don't like the bridge crossing Route 9, but because I'm forced to if I'm trying to take the fast route on Interstate 90, or need to get to-from Interstate 787 (or am trying to get back to Rensselaer County just on it's other side). It's great that it can carry many cars at once, and I do like that it has multiple (2) lanes from either side, but it's many a problem when it comes to joining up with I-787 at the edge of the bridge's one exit nearby which has caused multiple problems for many folks (but not me, being the more-local)! I don't like that you can't cross over to 9 very well (or to the train station very well from this bridge or interstate) and that there are no plans to bring people to the train station from either side of this bridge. There are no signs leading you towards the train station from either side, but it only get's the job done when needed - get people across the Hudson River.

This equestrian statue of General Philip Sheridan is on the grounds of the New York State Capitol…read more After reading some of the history, I'm sort of surprised this statue is still here. On the plus side, in March 1867, under Reconstruction, he was appointed Military Governor of Texas and Louisiana. He limited voter registration to former confederates and ruled that only registered voters could serve on juries. He dismissed a bunch of Texas and Louisiana politicians who were hindrances to Reconstruction. In 1867, General Ulysses S. Grant appointed Sheridan to head the Department of the Missouri where he attacked Indian tribes, taking their supplies and killing those who resisted. He is attributed the phrase, "The only good Indian is a dead Indian." So there's good and bad. Take it as you will. [Review 11512 overall, 1292 of 2019.]

Martin Van Buren's residence, Lindenwald, is tucked away in the peaceful town of Kinderhook, New…read moreYork. It's a unique window into the life of America's 8th president. I had visited the site years ago when there was a larger visitor center and an introductory video that gave a broader overview of Van Buren's presidency and personal story. Today, the visitor's center has been scaled back to a trailer, and unfortunately, there's very little introductory context provided for those less familiar with Van Buren's role in American history. One of the main displays now focuses on the history of slavery in America. While this is an important topic, its placement here felt somewhat disconnected, as Van Buren neither owned enslaved people nor lived in a slaveholding state during his time at Lindenwald. Given the limited space available, I found myself wishing more of it had been used to explore Van Buren's own political career, personal life, and legacy. They only have a few tour times a day, and the guide cited budget cuts with a roll of her eyes. We waited around a bit for the next tour, but the audio tour around the property wasn't very informative. Once our group tour began, it opened in the empty basement, where much of the discussion centered on the broader legacy of slavery and Sojourner Truth. While those subjects are historically valuable, their connection to Lindenwald itself felt tenuous and overshadowed the site's direct link to Van Buren. It appeared the tour guide had a greater interest in that topic than on the actual topic. Upstairs, the rooms were far more engaging. The main hall was particularly impressive, featuring original design elements and beautiful wallpaper. The guide shared some insight into Van Buren's later life, though key biographical details--such as the early death of his wife--were only briefly mentioned at the end. The tour concluded at a small gift shop with a nice selection of books and keepsakes. Overall, having prior knowledge of Van Buren helped me piece things together, but for first-time visitors, the lack of focus on his presidential legacy may leave them wanting more. I couldn't help but think that some of the funding loss was due to the staff losing sight of the park's primary purpose. Lindenwald remains a special site with strong potential. I hope future interpretive efforts rebalance the content to better highlight Van Buren's contributions and the historical significance of the home itself.

An interesting historical tidbit. This historic site includes Van Buren's "gentleman's farm" and…read moreestate called Lindenwald. He bought the estate later in his life in 1839. Washington Irving (the famous author) was a notable long-term guest at Lindenwald. Fee: Free Tip: if you want to tour the historic house, budget at least 2 hours because you might show up while a tour is in progress and need to wait for the next tour.

With a historic Dutch-style building facade, the Capital Region Welcome Center represents the…read moregateway into the Capital Region for northbound travelers and promotes the region's local tourism industry, rich history, food, and beverages. This I Love NY sign- is a symbol of New York State Welcome Centers and it has 11 welcome centers across NY state. I am just listing this down because now I am interested in exploring it all. * Adirondacks Welcome Center * Capital Region Welcome Center * Central NY Welcome Center * Finger Lakes Welcome Center * Hudson Valley | Catskills Welcome Center * Long Island Welcome Center * Mohawk Valley Welcome Center * New York State Welcome Center * North Country Welcome Center * Southern Tier Welcome Center * Western NY Welcome Center These are all newly constructed and not your usual rest stop. Food options are limited here, not a single chain or separate kiosk. Approximately 15 miles south of Albany, the Capital Region Welcome Center is located across from the New York State Thruway Authority's New Baltimore Service Area on the Thruway (I-87) it features regionally specific elements linked to the history and natural beauty of the Hudson River Valley, including attractions such as the New York State Capitol, the historic Saratoga Racecourse, and the Lake George region. Other features include: Taste NY Market showcases locally grown and sourced products from across the capital region and the state. Taste NY Market Menu PDF Artifact wall I LOVE NY interactive kiosks. Area for farmers' markets Music-themed children's playground High-speed Electric Vehicle charging stations.

Cool rest stop with a few fast food choices like chick fil a shake shack and panera. The place is…read morerather clean . We stopped here on a trip down and back from Vermont to NYC. The panera didn't have most of the soups on their menu and the chicken at the chick fil A tasted oddly chewy like a hard/raw chewy. Other than that the facilities is conventional and clean so that's what my rating is based off

Finding this beauty made my entire weekend. Ah, just to sit and breathe it in. Thank you, Yelp…read morefriends, for pointing the way. If you are near Troy definitely worth finding.

You learn about the Falls in junior high if you grew up in Troy, Watervliet, Cohoes, Lansingburgh…read moreaka 'the burgh'...or in other words are a local. Its a nice bit of 'wilderness' in the city. I guess the police/rescue squad get about 5-10 calls every spring-early fall to get some idiot that overestimated their free climbing prowess, got in a hairy spot, and (best case) froze and needed help back down. Worst case they fall, get injured and need to be carried out. Back in the day when I was still a young woman I did enjoy hiking in with some friends and finding a quiet spot near the falls to enjoy the natural vibes with the help of some good quality bud. , Haven't been up to the falls in years but I imagine not much has changed. Note/another reviewer questioned why the city doesn't keep it up better as it is a nice spot. I think the land is privately owned not city property.

The Scotia Library is easy to spot as you pass by Collins Park on Mohawk Avenue. (Especially in the…read morespring and summer when the flower garden is a popping!) Housed in the Abraham Glen House, which was built in the 1730s and a part of the National Register of Historic Places, this local gem went through a restoration in recent years. Schenectady County made sure historic renovation standards were met during design and execution of the renovation, which included a new addition providing space for community programs and events, as well as restroom, sidewalk and curb updates improving accessibility for visitors. The staff of the Scotia branch of the SCPL system is wonderful! The librarians are always incredibly kind - a truly warm and welcoming bunch. In my visits over the years, I have witness dozens of exchanges with patrons and community members and have been impressed with the interactions I've seen - full of knowledge sharing, question answering, resource finding, and all with a heavy dose of genuine human connection. I often find something new to appreciate during my visits to the Scotia library. Most recently, I enjoyed walking through local students' art that was on display and taking a stop at the jigsaw puzzle table, fit with a sign explaining the benefits of puzzling and encouraging patrons to take a break to put some pieces together during their visit. Though this is a smaller branch, it has a decent collection of reading materials to choose from the shelves. (If you ask me, though, the magic of any county library system is the ability to request from other branches and have them delivered to your local library for future pick-up.) The bulletin boards and announcement flyers are always displaying upcoming events in the library system and the community as a whole.

This review for the Scotia branch. This very tiny and cute branch library sits in an historic…read morebuilding, which was a private home from the early 18th century until the early 20th. It may be, as far as we can tell, the oldest library building in the state (dating to 1707 - the sign in front saying 1730 is inaccurate) - possibly the whole country. When it was converted into the Scotia Library in the 1920s, the librarian's family lived upstairs for decades, until it was converted into a small community/reading room after being absorbed into the Schenectady County system; it is now inaccessible because of safety and capacity concerns. Unfortunately the medieval basement, with its many odd additions and nooks and crannies, is also not open to the public, but if you ever get a chance for a tour, seize it. Because it's an old house dating back practically to the Dutch period that has had numerous alterations and renovations (there was once an attached small dairy barn), the layout is idiosyncratic. There's a reading nook opposite the circulation desk, and to get to the children's room in the back you have to meander through four different rooms. It lacks a bit of lounge space, and has only two computers for public access to both the catalog and internet resources. That said, there's a comfy and cozy vibe to the place the library patron may well find pleasing on uncrowded days, and the tiny collection does try to address general readership. The branch has suffered from funding issues, although it's still open five days a week (closed Wednesdays and Sundays), most days are only part-time. Check out the Schenectady County Public Library website (scpl.org) for current hours. You can still get interlibrary loan from any branch and return items from other branches here. I will add there's a huge advantage to patronizing this library for families: it's adjacent to Collins Park, with its large fields, lake (although the swim beach seems to be permanently closed for undisclosed reasons), and playground equipment and sports courts, and across the street from that is Jumpin' Jacks Drivein, for your summer gross fast food eating pleasure. Right now they're tearing up the roadbed on one of the Freeman's Road bridge spans across the Mohawk for replacement, so there's a whole string of cheap entertainment for the younger set right now. There's also a Dunkin Donuts right across the road from the library, although it requires navigating a somewhat weird crosswalk setup to get there, it can be done without reparking the car.