Albany, NY is an amazing city located within the beautiful northern part of New York’s countryside. I went to college in Upstate NY and then worked in NYC for another 10 years so I got a chance to explore these wonderful places. There are many places within a day’s drive that will make you want to get in the car and go. Most of the places are close enough to explore two or more per day. Some require most of the day to get through all the awesome events and things to do.
Best Day Trips from Albany:
1. Hudson
Rating: ★★★★★
Hudson, NY, is an amazing town with so much to do for the entire family on your getaway.
The locals describe the city as a place that is “driven by the creative spirit.” I found that to be true.
Kids can create beautiful art at one of the galleries and play at the many parks. Shopping is a unique experience at all the cool galleries, clothing stores, boutiques, antique stores, and more.
Hudson is a place that has so many restaurants and eateries, from farm-to-table to street food, everyone can enjoy their favorite meal.
Take a walking tour with historical experts, explore an old factory now used as a multi-art studio, check out the theater. Hudson is only about a 45-minute drive from Albany.
2. Lenox, MA
Lenox, MA is a multi-cultural town located within The Berkshires in Western Massachusetts.
The entire region has over a hundred cultural locations, and Lenox holds many of them. People come from all over to attend the festivals, restaurants, perfect weather and scenery, unique places to shop, and local businesses are what makes it spectacular.
Lenox is known for the arts and entertaining guests. Galleries, theaters, art shows, and art festivals are abundant.
Outdoor activities are frequent and vary depending on where you go.
The choices for lodging are vast, from staying in secluded cabins to fine hotels that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
A rich American history made Lenox a place known for historical sites and exciting museums to visit. Lenox is only about a 45-minute drive from Albany.
Lenox Chamber of Commerce 4 Housatonic Street, Lenox, MA 01240, Phone: 413-637-3646
3. Rochester’s National Museum of Play
Get the kids out of the house and head to Rochester’s National Museum of Play, The Strong, where the exhibits are interactive and encourage children to learn about their world through play.
The Strong - National Museum of Play is notably one of the biggest history museums in the country and currently holds the world’s largest collection of artifacts related to the history of play. It will take you as long to get through the museum as a small town. Definitely plan on staying the whole day.
The Museum includes the National Toy Hall of Fame, World Video Game Hall of Fame, International Center for the History of Electronic Games, Woodbury School, American Journal of Play, and the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of play.
One Manhattan Square, Rochester, NY, 14607, Phone: 585-263-2700
4. Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs is best known for the Saratoga Race Courses, but the Eastern New York county is also home to exquisite mineral springs, horses, and fine dining. I like to explore hiking trails here in the fall.
Saratoga Springs is only a few minutes from Albany and the perfect place to stay all day and enjoy outdoor recreation like taking a lake cruise, exploring Howe Caverns, enjoying the wineries and gourmet food, or catching a hockey game.
Saratoga is also the host of several major annual festivals including Winter Fest, Frost Faire, Hattie’s Annual Mardis Gras Party, Chowder Fest, Saratoga Tattoo Expo, Saratoga Comic-Con, Brewfest, Saratoga Balloon, and BBQ Fest, Harvest Festivals, and many others.
60 Railroad Place, Suite 301, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, Phone: 855-424-6073
5. Adirondack Park Region
This region is packed full of perfect North American nature and over a hundred communities, both large and small, that welcome all visitors to their beautiful lands.
The Adirondack mountains run through the region, which provides opportunities for hiking, climbing, extreme adventures, skiing, and much more. The Adirondack Park is around 4 hours away from Albany, so there is a bit of a drive and I usually make it a weekend getaway instead of a day trip.
The Adirondack Mountain region explorers love to visit the communities, do some activities like hiking, fishing, or other great things, and still have time to be back just after sunset. You can go back and accomplish even more on your next day trip because there is plenty to do.
Adirondack Park Region, 1704 Lake Ozonia Rd, St. Regis Falls, NY 12980
Romantic Day Trips from Albany:
6. Catskills Scenic Trail
This incredible Catskills Scenic Trail is located within Delaware County and is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes from Albany. The trail runs along the Delaware River and into the countryside that offers breathtaking views that can only be found at the trail. There are several entrances and exit points along the 26 miles of trail.
You can walk your dogs, ride a bicycle, run the paths, and hike the trail into the country.
If you are feeling adventurous, take the horses out on the trail to stretch their legs. Or, in the winter, you can get the cross-country skis out to navigate the trail.
153 E Main St, Stamford, NY 12167
7. Columbia County Tourism
Columbia County is a large area full of amazing adventures, thrilling events, and exciting places to visit.
It is also a place that you can visit to relax and enjoy the wonderful countryside and scenery, the unique dining and lodging, art, and historical places. Columbia County is about 35 minutes from Albany.
The smaller towns are filled with artisan shops, which offer unique paintings, sculptures, and other art from around the world. If you’re thirsty, visit the Artisanal Beverage Trail, where you can experience all kinds of different kinds of drinks while immersing yourself in the gorgeous scenery.
The thrill-seekers can take some time to unwind at the zip lines at the Adventure Park. Farms, orchards, and gardens will keep you fed, and the historical sites will give you knowledge. People of all ages find many things appealing within Columbia County.
401 State Street, Hudson, NY 12534, Phone: 518-828-3375
8. Cooperstown
Cooperstown is widely known for being one of the few places where baseball became a beloved national sport. The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cooperstown.
The town has much more to offer, though. Here, you can find camping and outdoor lodging, outdoor activities and events, and some great fishing in one of the beautiful lakes.
Within the city, there are many fine hotels, dining, and shops that always have a welcoming atmosphere. Naturally, there are a ton of places to watch baseball and have your favorite drink.
But there are also many other places to take the entire family out to enjoy some fun and adventure. Visitors can travel to Cooperstown, NY from Albany in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
20 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, Phone: 607-322-4046
Romantic Day Trips from Albany:
9. Corning Museum of Glass
Glassmaking is a fine art practiced by millions all over the world. This museum is a dedication to the hardworking people who create everything from art to more practical items out of glass.
You can see the experts make glass pieces and learn how the process works. The exhibits feature incredible glass pieces from all over the world that are tiny, large, and even huge.
There is a special kid’s section that has glass pieces that depict famous characters and other child favorites.
The entire museum is filled with the knowledge of glassmaking and how it evolved throughout the world. The Corning Museum of Glass is around 3 hours and 15 minutes away from Albany. Since Corning has so much to offer, consider spending a night.
One Museum Way - Corning, NY 14830, Phone: 800-732-6845 or 607-937-5371
10. Fort Ticonderoga
This battlement was built just before the revolutionary war began so that the American patriots could fend off the British at the strategic location. Fort Ticonderoga sits on over 2000 acres of gorgeous countryside.
Today, volunteers and other citizens have brought the Fort back to life by becoming blue-coat soldiers to actively display what life was like for those brave people of all ages in those times.
Reenactments are very frequent, complete with firing cannons, muskets, and other historically accurate depictions. The Fort has plenty of activities for the whole family, too.
They have boat tours, history tours, activities just for the kids, gardens, battlefield tours, and the Heroic Corn Maze. Fort Ticonderoga is about 2 hours away from Albany.
102 Fort TI Road, Ticonderoga, NY 12883, Phone: 518-585-2821
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