Albany Tourism - Travel to Albany

Albany, in New York State, is an often overlooked city, and rarely considered much of a tourist attraction. However it has quite a vibrant history that would give Chicago a run for its money! Today, Albany is quite frankly depressing. Many state workers leave in droves after 4:30pm, leaving the urban poor left behind. Nevertheless, Albany can offer some unique historical perspectives, if a traveller is willing to look. As the start of the Erie canal, and as the location of the historically famous Fort Orange, Albany was important in early American history. During the Prohibition era, Albany was a center for the smuggling of alcohol from Canada. Pulitzer Prize winner William Kennedy wrote a series of novels about Albany that brings it to life, and will make the visit of any casual traveller far more engaging.

Table of contents

1 Get in

2 Get around

3 See

4 Do

5 Buy

6 Eat

7 Drink

8 Safety

9 Get out

10 External links

Get into Albany

Albany International Airport is hardly international, except for a few flights from Canada. Getting from the airport to the city is best done by pickup from a friend or by taxi.

Bus - The greyhound station is located underneath I-787, near the waterfront. It is thoroughly seedy. Use a taxi or friend to get to your hotel.

Car - I-90, the strip of highway the crosses the upper United States, cuts right through the side of Albany. There are many exits into Albany from I-90, although most should avoid the Arbor Hill exit.

Get around in Albany

Albany has a poor regional transit bus system. Rental car is your best bet.

See Albany

The Empire State Plaza is something to behold. It lies between the New York State Capitol building and the New York State Museum. Architecturally intimidating, it can be quite beautiful. Free concerts are often held on the plaza during the summer, ranging from Blues Festivals to Rock concerts.

State Street is the main street that runs to the Albany Waterfront. Although much of it is decayed and empty, it retains a regal air and is well worth a visit. Nearby lies Pearl Street, which has recently undergone a renewal, and which caters to the 20-something bar and club scene. During the summer, the Alive at 5 concert series is an open festival on Broadway near the base of State Street. It draws quite a large crowd, and is generally a fun time for all. Bring your own beer, but not in bottles!

Washington Park is a delightful, and for the most part safe, park located in the Center Square region of Albany. In the park's center is the Park Playhouse, which offers free, good musicals and plays throughout the summer.

Lark Street is tagged as Albany's equivalent of NYC's East Village. Lark Street is the hub of Albany youth culture, and it can be a nice visit. Lark Street is between Washington Park and the Empire State Plaza, and the region between the plaza and park is attractive and reminiscent of Albany's better days.

Do Albany

During the summer Albany is overrun with public festivals, ranging from the early summer 'Tulip Festival', to many free public concerts at the plaza and in the park, to the free plays at the Park Playhouse.

Buy

Crossgates Mall offers the usual assault of American consumer goods, should you have the desire to obliterate hours in a Gap or Abercrombie store.

Eat - Travel to Albany

Bomber's Burrito Bar is one of Albany's gems. Downstairs, fantastic 'bomblike' burritos are made! One will cost about 5 bucks, and it will satiate you for hours. The Red-Stripe Pork is positively divine. In addition, the upstairs has a comfortable and friendly bar, with a wide-ranging, sophisticated selection of beers, which are available for 2 bucks a pint during happy hour, which stretches from 11am - 8pm Every Day.

Jack's Oyster Bar is an Albany classic, and its walls are adorned with misty photos of Albany's interesting past. The quality and prestige of Jack's has gone down in recent years, but it still will empty any man's wallet pretty quick.

Drink

See Bomber's Burrito Bar

Safety

Albany has large areas of urban poor and a persistent drug and crime problem. It is not recommended to walk around in areas north of Central Avenue at any time. To stay safe, keep the walking to the Center Square area (around Washington Park and the Plaza), and do everything else via car.