We live in an area surrounded by history, natural beauty, and boatloads of culture. But when was the last time you did any of the activities tourists come to the 518 to experience?
We’re waiting…Right.
We estimate it’s high time you embarked on a killer vacay right here in the Capital Region. So take a few days off from work, hunker down, and gear up to see your own backyard with a fresh perspective. The best part? You don’t even have to pack.
Get a Lay of the Land
It’s easy to jut off to the Adirondacks or Vermont to experience the natural world in all its autumnal glory. But in less than an hour from pretty much anywhere in the 518, you can be on a foliage-rimmed limestone escarpment—a fancy word for a cliff—looking out over some 2,000 acres of forest. We’re talking about John Boyd Thacher State Park in Voorheesville, home of panoramic views of the Hudson and Mohawk valleys, cascading waterfalls, and more than 25 miles of trails, including the popular-for-good-reason Indian Ladder Trail.
Then What? Indian Ladder Farms, with its apple picking, cider doughnuts, and onsite brewery/cidery, is just 10 minutes away.
If it Floats Your Boat
You may know the lakes of the region fairly well (who doesn’t love a weekend in Lake George?), but how closely acquainted are you with the river that runs through the heart of the 518? Hop aboard an hour-and-a-half Hudson River sightseeing tour with Dutch Apple Cruises, complete with narration, scenic views, music, and onboard food and drinks. In the mood for a history lesson? Docked nearby is the USS SLATER, America’s only remaining floating Destroyer Escort—one of 563 ships that battled Nazi U-boats in the Atlantic and Japanese submarines in the Pacific during WWII—that has since been turned into a museum.
Then What? Both boats are docked right near downtown Albany, so you have plenty of nearby options if you need a post-tour bite to eat. Alternatively, you can pop across the Dunn Memorial Bridge to Rensselaer’s Son of Egg, a fast-casual Korean-American restaurant that serves more than just eggs.
Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down
Think what happens underground is none of your business? Think again. A visit to Howe Caverns will change your perspective on the universe below our feet. Book a guided tour of the Schoharie County cave system and descend 150 feet underground to witness a fascinating world formed millions of years ago. (Pack a jacket! The cave stays a cool 52 degrees all year round.) After a mile-and-a-quarter walk through limestone corridors, cavernous galleries, and massive boulders, you’ll board a boat for a quarter-mile ride on a subterranean river.
Then What? On your way back, make a pitstop at Apple Barrel Store + Café, home to a carefully curated country store and onsite café serving lunch daily and dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
It’s Showtime!
You don’t need to take the Amtrak to NYC to catch a Broadway show. Proctors hosts world-class programming year-round, and the theater’s 100th anniversary season is gearing up to be one of the best yet. The 2026–27 KeyBank Broadway Series kicks off on October 13 with Boop! The Musical followed by The Notebook, Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, The Wiz, Mamma Mia, Just in Time, and, next summer, Phantom of the Opera.
Then What? After a matinee or before a nighttime show, be sure to stop at Milas Restaurant & Bar, located a few doors down on State Street. Order the truffle flatbread, harissa roasted chicken, and the fideo rosa. You’re welcome.
A New York State of Mind
When’s the last time you went to the New York State Museum? Your fourth-grade field trip? Since you’ve been gone, the museum hasn’t stopped showcasing state history dating back to the Ice Age—Expedition Dinosaur: Rise of the Mammals, a family-friendly exhibit featuring life-sized animatronic dinos and immersive experiences, is on view through January 3, 2027, and a 6,500-square-foot Revolutionary New York exhibit explores New York’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. And, of course, the Native American longhouse, Cohoes Mastodon, and vintage carousel you remember are still there, too.
Then What? Once again, you’ll be right downtown in close range of some of Albany’s best eateries. Longtime fave Café Capriccio is a short walk away, as are the Capital City’s newest dining concepts—Izakaya Kinko and The Vault, both located at 60 State Street and operated by the team behind Jack’s Oyster House.
