The New York State Museum is part of the Empire State Plaza. It has 3.5 acres of exhibition space documenting the state’s natural and human heritage. The Albany Institute of History and Art is one of the oldest museums in America and it, too, provides another look at the region’s past.

Albany’s location in between New York, Montreal, Buffalo, and Boston makes it a convenient stop for nationally touring artists and acts. The Palace Theater and the Egg provide mid-sized theaters for musical concerts, operas, ballet, movies, comedians, and other entertainment events. The Times Union Center is the city’s largest venue for concerts. During the summer, you can also take advantage of the nearby Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and Tanglewood, both of which provide opportunities for rock and folk concerts, ballet (New York City Ballet), and performances of symphony orchestras (Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra).

There are several notable events held in Albany throughout the year. On Mother’s Day Weekend, the Tulip Festival is held in Washington Park as a tribute to Albany’s Dutch heritage. It includes craft vendors, food stands, fine art displays, and musical entertainment. Throughout the summer, Washington Park hosts free musical theater shows with the “Live at the Lakehouse” series. In addition, every Thursday evening during the summer, there is a free concert at Albany’s Riverfront Park at Corning Preserve as part of the Alive at Five concert series. In September it’s the Larkfest, which is the Capital Region’s largest street festival. This includes painters, photographers, jewelers, sculptors, glass artists, and live shows. 

The Times Union Center is also home to the minor league River Rats Hockey Team, the Albany Conquest Arena Football Team, and the Siena Saints Division I college basketball team. The University at Albany’s Division I basketball team play uptown at the on-campus SEFCU arena. Crowds also make their way to SUNY Albany during the summer to watch the training camp held by the NFL’s New York Giants.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, there are many options in the Capital Region. Whether it’s summer or winter, outdoor sporting activities are very popular in this area. Of course, the proximity of Albany to the Catskill Mountains, the Adirondack Mountains, the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts, and the Green Mountains in Vermont means that good skiing is close by. In fact, just about every major ski area in the Northeast is within 2 hours of Albany with several of the Berkshire ski resorts less than an hour from the city. Ice-Skating at Empire State Plaza is also a fun winter activity as is a trip to Lake Placid to try out many of the Olympic sports. As the weather gets warmer, there are many lakes and rivers in the Adirondacks which offer white-water rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and other water activities. Hiking in the Adirondacks and the region’s many golf courses also provide activities that people enjoy. 

The city of Saratoga Springs is located about 40 miles north of Albany. Saratoga is home to Saratoga Race Course, which is the country’s oldest thoroughbred racetrack, and the place to be for horse racing throughout the summer. A few miles north of Saratoga is Lake George, a nationally recognized resort town. Located just south of Lake George in Queensbury, is the Six Flags Great Escape Amusement Park.