Summertime often means summer travel and while your travel plans may be different this year we've put together a list of 15 different places to go and things to do in the Capital Region to keep you and your family busy all summer long! Please be sure to stay safe and adhere to all health and safety guidelines outlined on each site's website!
#1. Peebles Island State Park
1 Delaware Avenue North, Cohoes, New York, 12047 Peebles Island State Park is a 190-acre state park situated between the Hudson and Mohawk rivers. The park offers miles of trails for visitors to explore through the wooded landscape with some spectacular river and rapid views! You can even visit during the winter months to cross-country ski, hike, and snowshoe! While trails are open, the visitors center is closed. For more information about NYS parks and their measures to keep you and your family safe during Covid click here or call (518) 268-2188.
#2. Dutch Apple Cruises
1 Quay Street, Albany, New York, 12202 Take in the scenic views along the Hudson River with Dutch Apple Cruises and uncover Albany's historic connection to the waterway! The sightseeing cruise is narrated by a Hudson River Historian who tells the tales of the city of Albany's historic connection to the waterway and and points out landmarks along the river as you cruise by! Dutch Apple Cruises is currently operating at 50% capacity and the crew routinely sanitizes frequently touched surfaces. Admission is sold on a per table basis to maintain social distancing. Click here to learn more about the measures Dutch Apple Cruises have implemented to keep guests and staff safe. [caption id="attachment_866" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
#3. Brown's Beach
511 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866 Swim and relax at Brown's Beach on Saratoga Lake! The beach is open now through Labor Day weekend from 10:00AM to 7:00PM. The popular beach features a sandy shoreline, a swimming area and a large pavilion that can be reserved. Enjoy the water with activities such as swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking and canoeing! In an effort to do their part and help combat the spread of COVID-19, Brown's Beach has limited their capacity to 250 patrons on weekdays and 300 on weekends. They have also posted rules on-site for beach goers to review and follow. Click here for more information regarding Brown's Beach or call (518) 466-0678.
$4. Washington Park
State and Willet Streets, Albany, New York, 12210 Washington Park is located in the heart of Albany and is visited by many every year. This Capital Region hot spot for outdoor activities, events, entertainment and more! A few notable park features include:
- Washington Park Lake
- Stone Footbridge
- Statues and Monuments
- Lakehouse and Amphitheater
- Albany Benches
The park is also home to a children's playground, tennis and basketball courts, a skateboard park, and open spaces for other games! Created during the 1870s-80s, the 81-acre park was designed by Calvert Vaux and Fredrick Olmsted, who is famous for his design for New York City's Central Park! Washington Park is also home to more than 100 species of trees as well as a 5.2-acre lake located in the southwest corner. [caption id="attachment_868" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
#4. Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
Rail Trail, 722 S Pearl St, Albany, New York, 12202 Get out and get some fresh air with the Albany County Rail Trail! The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail is a 9-mile trail that stretches across the communities of Voorheesville, New Scotland, Bethlehem and Albany. This shared bike and pedestrian friendly connection provides the opportunity for recreation, exercise and fitness among the natural scenery. Following a stretch of 9-miles you can hop on the trail wherever's convenient for you! For more information on the Rail Trail click here.
#6. Indian Ladder Farms
342 Altamont Road, Altamont, New York, 12009 Spend a day at the farm! Enjoy their seasonal pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and apples open Tuesday through Friday, 9AM to 1PM and Saturday Through Sunday, 9AM to 4PM! The Yellow Rock Cafe is also still open for takeout, orders may be placed at the window, bakery counter or online. [caption id="attachment_870" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
#7. Jericho Drive-In
21 Jericho Road, Glenmont, New York, 12077 The Jericho Drive-In is still a great place to bring your family and friends during this unprecedented time. Rain or shine you can catch a movie and still experience the drive-in. Check out their concert cinema series in collaboration with Proctors! Each Wednesday in July (with possibility into August) there will be a live band corresponding with a movie! The drive-in is also showing 2 different movies every weekend! To view the changes and rules set in place by the Jericho Drive-In to maintain social distancing click here.
#8. Saratoga Automobile Museum
110 Ave of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866 Weekly Wednesday car shows are back and gearing to go! Car Shows will run from mid-July to late August on Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm and are held behind the City Convention Center in the Maple Avenue parking lot. These weekly shows are a major source of funding for the museum's various exhibits and educational programs and their aim is to engage the general public and auto enthusiasts of all ages. Each Wednesday there's a special theme of vehicles for each individual show however, vehicles of all makes and models are welcome to register! For display vehicles, pre-registration is $10 and day or registration is $15. All registered vehicles for display will also receive two spectator tickets for this year's fourth annual Saratoga Motorcar Auction which takes place at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th. For questions on the Saratoga Automobile Museum's reopening policies and safety procedures click here. [caption id="attachment_877" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
#9. Thacher State Park
830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville, New York, 12186 Thacher State Park is situated along the Helderberg Escarpment with spectacular views overlooking the Hudson-Mohawk valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. There are over 25 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, winter cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Other fun activities to enjoy at the park include volleyball courts, playgrounds, ball fields and numerous picnic areas with nine reservable shelters. Trails are open to the public however the visitor center is temporarily closed. New this year, the Indian Ladder Trail will be one-way. The entrance to the trail is located La Grange while the exit is located at the visitors center. Hand sanitizer is provided at both the entrance and exit of the trail. The overlook parking area is also now only one-way traffic. For more information regarding NYS parks and COVID 19 please click here or call (518) 872-1237.
#10. Empire State Plaza Art Collection
100 S Mall Arterial, Albany, New York, 12242 The Empire State Plaza Art Collection is a collection of art works located in the concourse, buildings and outdoor areas of the Empire State Plaza. Today there are 92 collections that have been purchased between the 1960s to 1970s which include paintings, statues, and tapestries by artists who lived in the state. While tours may be temporarily suspended the Art Collection is still open for visitors to walk around and explore on their own! Open to the public, viewing hours are Monday through Friday 7:00AM to 6:00PM. The Empire State Plaza Art Collection Click here to view more information on the Empire State Plaza Art Collection.
