New York Day Trips: Columbia County. There are many things to do in Columbia County with kids. There are also plenty of pet-friendly activities if you want to take your dog with you on a day trip to Columbia County. Columbia County is approximately 2.5 hours from NYC and only 30 minutes from Albany. It…
Category: New York’s Capital Region
Albany is New York State’s Capital and the Region around it is known as the Capital Region or Capitol District. This includes Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Green Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington Counties.
The Capital Region is an affordable getaway a short 3-hour drive from NYC. The area is full of history and surrounded by many opportunities to enjoy Farms, Nature, and Hiking. The city is very walkable in the downtown area.
The Capital Region has the best Apple Picking in New York State.
Upper Hudson Valley
Albany and Rensselaer County are Also part of the Hudson Valley. Along with some of the best hikes in the area. There are also wonderful farms, restaurants, and wineries a short drive away in the Hudson Valley.
The city of Albany is also a great city to explore and learn about the History of NYS and its architecture.
The DEC runs an environmental education center in Albany County that is fantastic for hiking and participating in educational programs.
Come visit some great parks in Albany Country including Thatcher State Park, Thompkins Lake State Park, and Lawson Lake County Park. Henry Hudson Town Park in the town of Bethlehem is also a great park especially for a family-friendly kayak to a waterfall. If you love waterfalls Hannacroix Creek Preserve is a great waterfall with a swimming hole.
Rensselaer, NY
Rensselaer has a great science museum the CMOST. It’s small but offers enough variety to keep kids entertained for hours. It’s also part of the ASTC Museum Reciprocity program. If your looking for hiking check out the Bloomingdale Brook Waterfalls Hike. Rensselaer County is also as Grafton Lakes State Park which is a wonderful park that has a beach, hiking trails, and several ponds to kayak.
Schenectady, NY
Schenectady is home to our favorite children’s museum the MISCI Schenectady. Proctor’s Theater is a beautiful theater that hosts Broadway Plays and nearby is the Rivers Casino which is great for some adult entertainment.
Christman’s Sanctuary is a great hike to a waterfall in Schenectady County.
Saratoga, NY
Saratoga Springs, NY is a beautiful town. Walk down Broadway, Saratoga’s main street filled with small shops and cafes. Home to the Saratoga Race Track and Harness Track, the third oldest race track in the nation. Head to Congress Park and enjoy the carousel. Saratoga is only 45minutes from Lake George and the start of the Adirondack Mountains.
Capital Region New York State Parks near Albany and Saratoga
The Capital Region New York State Parks near Albany and Saratoga provide a variety of family fun outdoors. These State Parks are an easy day trip from the Capital Region. Many of these parks provide a cheap family vacation including camping, access to kayaking and paddleboarding launches, sand beaches, and kid-friendly hiking trails. Most offer…
Spring New York Weekend Getaways for Families
Check out these fun Spring New York Weekend Getaways for Families that are affordable family vacations and a lot of fun. Whether you are looking for a weekend getaway from NYC or Upstate New York, these are great options for a northeast family vacation. New York Maple Weekend can be experienced from any of these…
50 Things to Do At Legoland New York
There are so many fun things to do at Legoland New York. See how many things on this Legoland New York Bucket list you can complete during your visit. This Legoland NY rides and attractions list includes the top experiences at Legoland New York so you don’t miss out on them during your visit. After…
Day Trips with Dad from the Capital Region New York
Day Trips with Dad from the Capital Region New York is a wonderful way to spend the day as a family. New York’s Capital Region is a great place to visit any time of year. Upstate New York has a lot to offer. Check out these great options. 1. Take a Hike A hike is…
Budget Travel to Cooperstown with Kids 1 Day Itinerary
Budget Cooperstown with Kids 1 Day Itinerary is the perfect Day trip from The Capital Region or even an NYC weekend trip. There’s plenty to do indoor and outside that it’s great to visit any time of year.
Great Places to Spend Mother’s Day in Capital Region
These Great Places to Spend Mother’s Day in Capital Region in New York are a nice way to treat Mom. Whether she’s looking for an active family experience, a nice meal, or some relaxation there’s plenty of things to do to make the day specials. New York’s Capital Region is a great place to visit…
Capital Region Waterfall Family Hikes
Spring and Summer are a great time to head outdoor to these great Capital Region waterfall family hikes. The Capital Region in New York State has so much to offer and is a great place to visit on a northeast family vacation. I love the Northeast USA in the spring and summer and New York…
The Best Northeast Family Resorts in Winter
The Best Northeast Family Resorts in Winter (New England, New York, and Pennsylvania), are sure to help get rid of the winter doldrums. These winter resorts offer, skiing, snow tubing, indoor water parks, ice-skating, and more. Many activities are included in the cost of your stay at these Winter Resorts for a weekend getaway from…
The Best Cheap Outdoor Winter Activities for Kids
Here are some of the best cheap outdoor winter activities for kids. We survived all summer through various levels of lockdown and closures. It’s pretty easy to enjoy the outdoors and stay active in the summer. As the temperatures drop here in the northeast and other parts of the country, we can easily fall back…
