Global Search

Set Current Location

Select a Category

All

Accomodations

Restaurants & Cafes

Attractions

Nightlife

Shopping

Tours

Join
Sign Out
user image
My Profile
Sign Out

Must Visit Attractions in Albany

, 8 Options Found

The USS Slater is a World War II destroyer docked on the Hudson River in Albany. It was used during World War II to fight Nazi U-Boats in the North Atlantic and is the only one of these destroyer escorts still on the water in the United States. Following a 15-year restoration, the boat has been completely restored to its original glory, so much so that one can see where the sailors lived and carried out their daily exercises and operations. The Deck-by-Deck tour is particularly popular and offers an interactive experience that's sure to thrill all ages. Besides guided tours, the museum also offers a unique overnight camping activity where tourists get to live like a navy sailor.

Enshrouded in the contemporary cacophony of downtown Albany, the Empire State Plaza is a striking ensemble of glorious government buildings. A string of stirring artworks, collectively called the Empire State Art Collection, further augments the sheer historic appeal of this place. Deeply entrenched in a long-standing history, the plaza was built over a period of 17 years between 1959 and 1976, around the New York State Capitol building, which predates the plaza. Strewn across the plaza's expanse is a tapestry of noteworthy edifices like the Wadsworth Center, the Egg, the Legislative Office Building, the Corning Tower and the capitol itself. In addition, the plaza also shelters a tapestry of memorials, paying homage to civilians, fighters, and victims the country lost to various wars. The observation deck at Corning Tower provides astounding views of Albany's dynamic cityscape, whereas the New York State Museum lends stirring insights into the state's historical and cultural legacy. Sheltering emblematic buildings bathed in the finer nuances of Brutalist, Modernist and International architecture, the Empire State Plaza solidifies the progressive and political tenor of New York.

Drawing its inspiration from Paris' Hôtel-de-Ville, the New York State Capitol Building is a marvel of late 19th-century architecture. Lying nestled with numerous stately buildings of the Empire State Plaza, this capitol building was duly designated a National Historic Landmark in 1979. Awash in fine semblances of Romanesque and Neo-renaissance architectural styles, this capitol is like a striking palatial edifice sitting amid rolling green lawns and well-pruned gardens. With its French-style exterior of white marble imported from Maine, it was more expensive to build than the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. One of the highlights here is the 'Million Dollar' Staircase in the main lobby, which is lavishly adorned with a tapestry of carved stone sculptures. The capitol grounds shelter a teal-hued statue of George Washington, while its ornate insides house the majestic New York State Assembly chamber. The crowned jewel of Albany, the courtly New York State Capitol is an unmatched architectural wonder.

The tomb of Chester A, Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, is a sculpted masterpiece in one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the country. The tomb is located inside of the Albany Rural Cemetery, just north of downtown Albany towards the town of Troy. Sculptor Ephraim Keyser designed the massive winged angel alongside the exposed casket and its exact location is Lot 8 Section 24. The cemetery itself is a marvel and it makes a great side-stop if you're near Troy.

The Van Rensselaer family from the Netherlands had a long and varied history in the development of the Albany and its environs. This house was built in 1797 for Elizabeth Van Rensselaer on one of the many landed estates owned by her uncle. It was named Ten Broeck after Elizabeth's husband and it remained in this line until the Olcott family purchased it 50 years later. Over the next 100 years, generations of Olcotts stayed in the house until it was sold to the Albany County Historical Association in 1948. Since then it has functioned as a museum and historical repository that exhibits artifacts and furnishings from the last two centuries. Visitors can tour the home and gardens upon the hillside as well as embark upon a journey back to the Federal-Colonial era inside the estate. The mansion also holds events throughout the year like jazz music or live theater, and if you're interested into renting out the home, that is also available.

In arguably Albany's hippest residential and commercial neighborhood, Lark Street is home to most of the city's independent restaurants, bookstores, clubs, pubs and more. Many describe it as the city's Greenwich Village with the eclectic variety of businesses on the streets. Center Square and Hudson/Park, comprise the neighborhood and today it's the home of many festivals. Some include LarkFEST in Autumn, Champagne on the Park, and Winter WonderLARK.

The Erastus Corning Tower is the tallest building in New York State outside of New York City. It is a massive government building that has 42-floors of offices, but the real attraction for visitors is the observation deck. A high-speed elevator propels you up in 30 seconds and then you are entirely enclosed on the top floor, where the views of the Adirondacks and Vermont's Green Mountains are phenomenal. From the deck you can also see the entire city of Albany and the Mighty Hudson.

The Urger is the epitome of the 'little tugboat that could.' Built in 1901, it has been pushing people and boats around the Midwest and Northeast waterways for over a hundred years. Moreover, it is definitely one of the oldest working vessels in the country today and it still charters people around the scenic towns along the Hudson River. The crew ferries people on the river during the Summer and Fall seasons only.

8 0 5 must-visit-attractions_TA6 1
best