Albany

Albany City Hall

Designed by renowned architect H.H. Richardson in the Romanesque style he popularized.

Albany Pine Bush Preserve

Western edge of the city. It's a 3,000-acre inland pine barren maintained by controlled fires (which clear out invasive plant species and cause the native pine cones to release their seeds). Trails through the preserve are open to non-motorized uses year-round (except during burns, of course

Cafe Cappriccio

An upscale NYC-Style restaurant. Wonderful staff, beautiful live jazz. Dress accordingly, you won't be disappointed.

Cafe Madison

This is a wonderful restaurant that serves a brunch that is unparalleled in the capital region. Enjoyable patio dining is available during the warm months. Try their breakfast cocktails (their bloody mary is unmatched.) Part of the menu is on a weekly rotation which features creative takes on eggs benedict.

Colonie Center

Remodelled in an effort to combat its former reputation as a ghost town mall. CC has a new Regal Cinemas complex with 13 stadium-seating theaters. Major stores include Macy's, FYE as well as Boscov's, LL Bean, Barnes & Noble and Christmas Tree Shops. Eat at PF Chang's or the Cheesecake Factory, which are conveniently adjacent to one another between Sears and LL Bean. Colonie Center draws a more suburban crowd than Crossgates due to Crossgates' better accessibility by public transportation.

Common Roots Albany Outpost

Dine with a few beers. The building itself is the old Albany Pump Station, which used to pump the water from the Hudson River up to the reservoir, so the building has a ton of atmosphere and history. A local favorite - no trip to Albany is complete without a visit here.

Corning City Preserve

Trails for biking, skating, jogging and walking in the 5-mile long park along the Hudson River, with picnic areas and a boat launch.

Corning Tower Observation Deck

The view from the 42nd floor Corning Tower Observation Deck encompasses not only the city of Albany but the foothills of the Adirondacks, the Catskills, and the Berkshires of western Massachusetts. Check-in at the security desk in the concourse under the Corning Tower, photo ID required. Plaza information office.

daily 10AM-4PM, closed on holidays·Free

Crossgates Commons

An overflow of chain stores located across Washington Ave Extension from Crossgates Mall. Here you'll find the largest Walmart in the US, which looks unremarkable until you realize there is an entire underground level devoted to groceries and toiletries. Worth a visit if you've never seen a shopping cart escalator.

Crossgates Mall

Otherwise referred to as "the mall," it's the biggest shopping center in the region and at one point was among the top ten largest shopping malls in the United States. The best spot to park is by Best Buy, which is in the center of the mall. Flagship stores include Macy's, JC Penney, a Forever 21 superstore, Best Buy, H&M, Borders and the Apple store. Crossgates has a Regal Cinemas complex with 17 standard stadium-seating theaters and one IMAX Experience theater. Because local hooligans, after 4PM on Friday and Saturday you must be 18 or older to enter the mall unsupervised, with the exception of the movies.

El Loco

A good Mexican restaurant, loved by locals. The food can sometimes be a bit expensive for what's being offered.

El Mariachi

Authentic Mexican cooking. It's not expensive, and the food is exquisite. Recommended!

Empire State Plaza

The Empire State Plaza is something to behold. It lies between the New York State Capitol building and the New York State Museum. While many critics have found that the Plaza is architecturally intimidating, at best, it can be quite beautiful. Free concerts are often held on the plaza during the summer, ranging from Blues Festivals to Rock concerts. And the Fourth of July fireworks are spectacular.

Fresh N' Pressed

Superb for healthful, super tasty and interesting sandwiches and wraps. Beautiful desserts to tempt you if you have room after their generous salads and sandwiches. Highly recommended, an outstanding value.

Mon-Fri 8AM-4PM, Sat 8AM-3PM

Gandhi

Indian restaurant boasts the best weekday lunch buffet in the area.

Hollywood Tavern

Attracts an average looking and refreshingly unpretentious crowd. It's more "meet your friends" than "see and be seen." Albany's largest patio in the summer and a large upstairs for the winter.

Honest Weight Food Co-op

For health food shopping, has a variety of health-minded dishes and baked goods made daily. Grab a "meal deal" for under $5. Check out the amazing cheese selection.

Jack's Oyster House

An Albany classic, its walls are adorned with misty photos of Albany's interesting past. The quality and prestige of Jack's has gone down, though it still may be the best place to get fresh seafood at a place that has defined downtown for almost one hundred years. Don't dress like a slob.

Junior's

A good bar and restaurant. Many will argue their wings (as opposed to Wings Over) are the best in the city. Great burgers and grilled sandwiches.

Karavalli Restaurant

For spicy south India cuisine, this is a nice place to visit. Many will say the atmosphere is lacking but the food will keep you coming back.

Koto Japanese Steak House

A hibachi (teppan-style cooking) and sushi restaurant located right by Albany Airport, and is probably the most popular of its kind in the area.

Lark Street

A center of Albany youth culture and an interesting place to visit. Lark Street is between Washington Park and the Empire State Plaza and is the main drag for a vibrant residential neighborhood. In September, Lark Street hosts one of Albany's most treasured events, "Larkfest", a popular street fair.

Latham Farms Shopping Center

Retail part includes Wal-Mart, Dick's sporting goods, Home Depot and restaurant chains.

Mamoun's

A wonderful Middle Eastern restaurant. The dim lighting and brick walls gives this place a unique classy atmosphere. Food is healthy and reasonably priced.

McGeary's

Often has bands playing Celtic folk and/or bagpipe rock and they have an outdoor area for eating, drinking and listening to live bands during the summer.

Mohawk Hudson-River Bikeway

A 86-mile-long trail for biking, walking, jogging or skating which starts in the Corning Preserve in downtown Albany, right along the Hudson River, and stretches out to Rotterdam Junction in Schenectady County.

New York State Capitol

Free guided tours, M-F 10AM, noon, 2PM, and 3PM; Sa & Su 11AM, 1PM, and 3PM. Free self-guided audio tours M-F, 9AM-3PM (driver license or passport must be left as collateral for audio player). Plaza Visitor Center, Rm. 106 Concourse, Empire State Plaza. Security screening will confiscate pocket knives and other sharp objects.

New York State Museum

The largest state museum in all the 50 states, has some really nice collections.

Daily from 9:30AM-5PM, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day·Admission is free; donations are welcome

Oh Bar

A popular gay and lesbian bar that is friendly and has a nice happy hour. Check out Karaoke night on Thursdays.

Peaches Cafe

A local favorite, reasonably priced and has excellent breakfast food. Try their Irish Eggs Benedict. Careful, this place can be very busy around lunchtime or weekend mornings, although weekdays aren't too crazy.