Albany NY

I have a spare day in Albany NY.

Is there anything fun to do? Or local food worth eating?
I was thinking about the state capitol, otherwise I am coming up blank!

No offense to Albany folks, but based on multiple business trips over the past 30 years, there's little to do/see there. Just my opinion though.

That part of NY does have decent Italian food, but nothing comes to mind in a 'not-to-be-missed category.

Others may have a different opinion.

No offense to Albany folks, but based on multiple business trips over the past 30 years, there's little to do/see there. Just my opinion though.

That part of NY does have decent Italian food, but nothing comes to mind in a 'not-to-be-missed category.

Others may have a different opinion.

That has pretty much been my googled opinion, but thought that maybe someone here might now something different. Blimey, this will be a fun week.

How mobile are you?  Any chance you could get to the Finger Lakes?  That's a beautiful area, and you could go wine tasting. 

I've only been to Albany once,  but I did like the beer sampler at the Albany Pump Station, which is a local brewery.  I remember having decently good food there, too.  I think my friend said they also do tours, but I can't seem to find this information on their website.

I live real close to Albany and its a nice city!
If you are going to be downtown, the whole day can be spent there, you can go to the State Museum and do the tour of the Capital Building and go to the Top of Corning Towers, (I took my son and nephew on the tour a few years back, I quite liked it, lots of history and a good tour! Go up to Lark Street for a wander round, there are a lot of funky little shops/bars/restaurants .....  Thats probably your best bet, if you just have the one day, spend it downtown  
Or
 If you want to spend the day shopping there is Crossgates Mall (big indoor shopping center)
or Colonie Center (medium sized indoor shopping center)
Or
I don't know if you have a car, but you can head up to Saratoga and treat yourself to a spa at the Roosevelt Baths in Saratoga Springs and do lunch at the Gideon Putnam Hotel next door (went up there in December for a little mini break, ohhhh it was nice)!!!! and shopping in downtown Saratoga, lots of nice shops on Main Street, go the casino, Saratoga is straight up the Northway from Albany, not a far drive at all, so thats a nice way to spend the day too!

You've just made me want to visit Albany! 

You've just made me want to visit Albany!

Haha! Poor old Albany gets a bad rap, but it is a nice little city with a lot of history!

Also the Albany Pump Station is within walking distance from the Capital Area
I've never been, but I've heard its nice.... 

Saratoga is a different world, and worth a visit even if you aren't into horses and harness racing. Malls are malls....

Everyone did a really good job of selling Albany to me But, in the end the hotel the client picked was in the middle of nowhere and I don't drive, therefore I decided to fly in via NYC and AMtrak across to Albany for my meeting, so I only have to spend one night there, and get to spend the weekend in NYC before flying back

We are going to go to the pump house on the night we're there though! Saratoga sounded really cool actually, wish I could drive Maybe next time!

Thanks everyone, wish me luck I've never taken a train in the US before (can't be worse than 1st capitol connect though, right?)

The east coast Amtrak trains are pretty nice.  Not so much the ones out west.  I have done Chicago-LA round trip twice

I've never been to Albany, but Saratoga is fantastic.  I had the best creme brulee ever at a restaurant there.  Definitely get there sometime if you can

The east coast Amtrak trains are pretty nice.  Not so much the ones out west.  I have done Chicago-LA round trip twice

I've never been to Albany, but Saratoga is fantastic.  I had the best creme brulee ever at a restaurant there.  Definitely get there sometime if you can

I would really like to do more exploring, unless for work, I probably wouldn't get to go somewhere like Saratoga, but no one on this particular trip can drive and it would be weirdly awkward, hopefully we'll get another trip out.

I have NYC, Vegas and SF this month, so I'm going to be busy in March!

Everyone did a really good job of selling Albany to me But, in the end the hotel the client picked was in the middle of nowhere and I don't drive, therefore I decided to fly in via NYC and AMtrak across to Albany for my meeting, so I only have to spend one night there, and get to spend the weekend in NYC before flying back

We are going to go to the pump house on the night we're there though! Saratoga sounded really cool actually, wish I could drive Maybe next time!

Thanks everyone, wish me luck I've never taken a train in the US before (can't be worse than 1st capitol connect though, right?)

I recently took Amtrak for the first time between NYC and Boston and it was awesome! Seriously, much better than I expected it to be. I'm not sure if the trains will be the same on the Albany route but there's certainly hope (and theoretically free wifi but it kind of sucks). The seats were really comfy with lots of elbow and leg room.

Ahhhh well, you will get to see a little bit of Albany at least!
Sounds like you will be crazy busy hopping around the USA, hopefully you will end up getting some downtime and will be able to do a bit of exploring for yourself 

Thanks everyone, wish me luck I've never taken a train in the US before (can't be worse than 1st capitol connect though, right?)

I felt the same way before going to Albany, but Amtrak from NYC Penn Station to Albany is fine.  From what I remember, I was one of few people on the train (I did go mid-afternoon, though), and the journey was really pretty-- you travel along the Hudson River for most of the trip.  Much better than being squished into a FCC vestibule during London's peak times.