I have logged many-a-mile on this trail over the years; most often between Kiwanis and Aqueduct…read moreParks. I especially enjoy starting near Schenectady Community College - an easy-to-spot local landmark with lots of room to park for group run meet-ups, a small track space perfect for timing splits and speedwork, and plenty of benches and grasses spaces for stretching and chatting before/after a walk, run, bike, or blade. The path varies in flatness, tree cover, nature-views, and frequency of traffic crossing, offering a nice variety for any activity. I've spotted loads of unthreatening wildlife while on the path, including turtles, deer, snakes, ground hogs, beavers, and many different birds, squirrels, and enjoy being near the water and especially stopping at the locks to stretch, rest, or fuel mid-long run, too. [extra garbage cans, tables/benches, and proximity to other humans makes it feel like a safer space to slow, perhaps?] I am hopeful that the Color the Canal project will return for the third year in 2021, which creates visual and sculptural art to welcome the CEC cyclists riding from Buffalo to Albany each July.

My wife and I walked the portion between Watervliet and Albany recently and it was a pretty nice…read moretrail. Much of it was in the woods along an old railroad right-of-way, so there were plenty of trees providing shade. A couple of clearings allowed for sightlines of the expressway but it wasn't too noisy. One area had a bench, picnic table, and informational display about the location of the old Troy Iron Works. A few areas had cutaways in the trees for sightlines to the river. I wish there was more to see or do along the trail, and it would have been appreciated to have some more benches or tables or whatnot to rest on. But, the area in Watervliet where the parking lot is had a couple of tables.

Historical district was everything that I hoped, for I was on an Ancestry hunt of my ancestors and…read morefound out so much information about my native American Heritage. The stockade historical district society was a big help in my search for my Native American roots. The historical society staff were warm and friendly and so very gracious. I felt like the TV show who do you think you are?

Better than Dallas we must say. Great to walk the town and feel western. Great little shops as well…read morewith all types of cool trinkets. Kids enjoyed the maze, got to see a rodeo it was an awesome time!

A lovingly restored and maintained historic home, with a one-room school house, a large barn, and…read morelots of history to explore and learn.

Cute little historic complex, which I'll describe in detail below, that pays its way for the Town…read moreof Colonie as a reception hall specializing in weddings. I can't comment on the weddings but it looks like a very good value for a small wedding and a charming, spacious setting. The historic complex has three main "attractions". The first is the Pruyn House itself, an odd combination of a federal brick and greek revival mansion, built in the first third of the 19th century for Casparus Pruyn and family. Pruyn was the agent/collector for Stephen van Rensselaer III, the last Patroon of Rensselaerswyck, the feudal remnant of the Dutch empire in the US that lasted in its odd legal form until the middle of the 19th century. It is not the main site of business, but it does speak a bit to the social history around the Patroonship system. There are interpretive placards in each room, including one on the Anti-Rent Wars that broke up the Patroon system finally. Most of the rooms have period furnishings in them, although not a full restoration, and as such it's a nice illustration of 19th century elite living but not exactly a full recreation. The upper floors have rooms that double as offices for the curators, so there are also modernized touches around. Even so, it's a moderately interesting look. There's not a lot of interpretation but enough to figure things out. Outside the main house is a lovely flower garden, and two more buildings. One is the Buhrmaster Barn, an early 19th century barn that was moved from a position close to the Mohawk River, and the old Verdoy school, which was moved from its location near Route 7 in 1995. The barn is used for receptions and programs, and has some very interesting intact woodwork but is, well, you know, a barn used for wedding receptions. It's nicer than a real barn but not as interesting. The Verdoy school house, though, is one of the best intact one-room school houses in the area, and they have a few desks and some props (I can't call them artifacts) left out, which I am guessing are used for school groups to come in, with some modern seating. It's worth a peek inside - the kids enjoyed playing school for a few minutes - but it's not a complete re-creation either. It's all free (donations accepted) and despite the relative lack of interpretation it should be of interest to those interested in local history, old houses, or just a pleasant walk around some grounds. There are picnic tables and a big open space in the rear, and I don't know if they care if you come and use it as a picnic spot, but I would recommend it as such if you're looking for one in the area and want to spice up your stop with a little history.

Been to 2 locations on upper union st. Have visited each eatery multiple times and will continue to…read moredo so into the future. Homestyle caterers has amazing pizza (top 5 all time in my book), delicious rollatini, salads and other items.... they have gelato too!! Gershans delicatessen is also amazing. Beautiful sandwiches, meats, pickles and salads. Both places are extremely clean and have very friendly owners and employees. Bot are family owned also!

From the owner: Traditional shopping districtread more

We visited here twice when we were in Albany this Fall. On our first visit, we toured the grounds,…read morewhich are beautiful, and learned some cool facts from the interpretive signs. On the second visit, we checked out the holiday craft market featuring over 90 vendors including purveyors of mushrooms, coffee, cheeses and tons of hand made table linens and crafts. Some great finds here included mushroom seasoning, ginger jams, and some rare treats from their heavily discounted "attic" section which was super fun to browse. I picked up two cool, old style cookbooks from here for just a couple dollars.

Well despite coming here to Albany for such a short time out of disappointment in regards to my…read morefamily who never told me that they wanted to stay here shortly I had left them alone and went my own way to this Shaker heritage community unfortunately they are closed on Monday and Tuesday and originally I was supposed to go to Cleveland for at least going to the arboretum down there in Cleveland no they want to go over here and stores are closed anyways this looks like a good place to check out I would come back here again but without my family since I like the quaintness of state capital Albany in upstate New York other than that not much I could say I like how they have this rare cow that they raise here that's almost extinct chickens and how they educate you about the Shakers since they don't live a life of producing but rather of the celibate life in Christianity from the days of George Washington and the American revolution. That is what I learned about this place unfortunately I couldn't go to the museum because it was closed on Monday

Local gem! 1 screen so limited on what you can see but the amazing prices on tickets and food make…read moreup for that. It's 2 floors and ornate decor. Definitely check it out!

Best independently owned theater in the Capital region. Great staff, excellent prices, and popcorn…read more you remember from your childhood. It won't cost you a lot of money and you'll be back to enjoy it and the experience of movies like the "old days ".

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.

Visited the planetarium to see James Hood's "Beautifica" on date night, the event itself was a…read morewonderful visual meditative experience! The building itself could definitely use some updating (the bathroom is kind of falling apart). The staff were super friendly! True to brand we showed up late and the show had already started, but staff were kind enough to sneak us into our seats without disrupting everyone else's experience. I look forward to going back here to see the rest of the museum!

A peaceful place to go take a hike with your pet. The path is right down Mohawk river over looking…read morea waterfall. If you want to get your cardio in...the place has an incline so you can run up and down to burn off some excess fat. At the right time, there are a lot of wild raspberries that you can try along the path. A good place to fish and enjoy nature.

I had three great meals at Stella while visiting Schenectady for work! I enjoyed eating in the…read moredining room and at the bar during happy hour, which has some really great deals. The bar has a smaller menu than the dining room, but still has plenty of options. I highly recommend taking advantage of the happy hour deals. The restaurant is located in a sprawling but cozy historic building with many different rooms, and a music club upstairs. In addition to delicious pasta and other Italian dishes, they feature their own beers, which are fantastic. I really enjoyed the arancini as well as the corn fritters for appetizers, and the cavatelli with pesto and shrimp scampi for entrees. The complimentary freshly baked bread is soft and delicious. Don't miss out on a great Italian meal and craft beer at Stella Pasta Bar!

I recently attended two shows at The Van Dyke on a Friday and Saturday night, and this review…read morecovers both experiences. On both nights, I arrived a bit early to grab a drink and some food at the downstairs bar before heading upstairs for the show. The bar area was busy but not packed, and I was able to find a seat at the bar without too much trouble. The first night, I ordered a drink and the arancini. The food and drink were excellent, but service was understandably slow. The bartender was juggling a lot--handling orders for the bar, indoor dining room, and outdoor patio--so it took about 15 minutes to get my check. Upstairs, I shared the crab cakes, which I didn't manage to photograph, but they were perfectly crisp with a subtle kick. The bartender and server upstairs were both great--friendly, fast, and managing a full room with ease. On the second night, I again started downstairs nearly an hour before the doors opened upstairs. This time, it took about 30 minutes to get a drink. Given how packed it was and that the same bartender was working solo again, I decided to close out early and wait to order food upstairs. Upstairs, I ordered the gnocchi, and the service was smooth and prompt despite another full house. I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu--just maybe not on a show night, when the staff is stretched between two levels.