Hotels in Capital-Saratoga
No matter the type, people flock to the lively Capital Region of New York for a reason. Featuring festivals, outdoor recreation, and cultural sites galore, the beautiful, the festive, the historic Capital District is the ideal trip.
Museum hoppers and history buffs may visit the Albany Institute of History and Art, built in 1791, or the famed New York State Museum – the nation’s largest and oldest state museum.
Don’t miss tours of historic homes like Ten Broeck Mansion, or spend hours strolling the stunning New York State Capitol building. More theaters, art museums, and historic sites are found throughout Albany, and the rest of the Capital Region.
Feeling festive? The Capital District has a celebration for you. Whether it's heritage or holiday parties you seek, cities like Albany, Troy, and Saratoga Springs feature packed event calendars for residents and visitors alike. Don’t miss TulipFest in Albany’s Washington Park, or Troy’s Flag Day Parade – the biggest parade of its kind.
Upstate New York is known for its stark beauty and, more importantly, a never-ending list of outdoor activities. From public parks to road trips to Adirondack Park or Catskill Park, the Capital Region has more than enough to do for fans of the outdoors. Albany makes it easy for its visitors to use their outdoor voice with tons of city parks, while the Capital Region features an abundance of state parks ideal for hiking, fishing, biking, and winter sports – plus soaks in the famed Saratoga Spa State Park.
Hop a flight to the Albany International Airport, or take a road trip through beautiful upstate New York, and enjoy the possibilities of New York’s Capital Region.
New York State Capitol in Albany, NY
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Events in Albany
New York’s Capital Region is a festive one. Throughout the year, holiday and heritage celebrations are held in parks and plazas across the district.
The capital city of Albany yields celebrations of music and art, national holidays, and culture year 'round. The largest of which is the annual Tulip Festival, or TulipFest, held in Washington Park each spring. Commemorating Albany's official flower, TulipFest is joined by Pinksterfest, the Mother of the Year award, and the crowning of the Tulip Queen.
Capital City heritage festivals include Albany LatinFest at the Corning Preserve and American Family Day Arts Festival at the Empire State Plaza – both in August – plus Colonie’s PolishFest.
Summer visitors need visit the Empire State Plaza during Price Chopper Fabulous Fourth & Fireworks Festival, while spring travelers may join the Freihofer's Run for Women. Other Albany events include the end-of-summer Albany Jazz Festival at the Corning Preserve, and the Lark Fest art and music celebration come fall.
For more heritage and holiday celebrations in the Capital District, catch the Guyanese Family Fun Day in Schenectady’s Central Park, and June’s Flag Day Parade in Troy – the largest Flag Day parade in the country. For those looking to ring in the New Year in the Capital District, don’t miss First Night in Saratoga Springs.
Museums, Historic Sites, Theater & More
The cultural sites of the Capital District range from museums spanning art and quirk, to stunning theaters, historic sites, and mansion tours.
The staple of New York’s Capital Region, Albany features a multitude of museums, art galleries, and performing arts centers – most of which are historic sites in their own right.
The country’s oldest and largest state museum, the New York State Museum is a must-see, while the Albany Institute of History and Art, established in 1791, is one of the oldest museums in the nation. Both feature some of Albany’s best art collections, along with the Empire State Plaza Art Collection.
Historic sites are aplenty in Albany as well. Enjoy a tour of the gorgeous New York State Capitol, or check out historic homes like Ten Broeck Mansion and Schuyler Mansion, or stroll through downtown’s Irish American Heritage Museum. For theater fans, check event calendars at the Times Union Center, Palace Theatre, and The Egg – a uniquely designed venue at the Empire State Plaza.
Saratoga Springs features its fair share of cultural sites as well. Enjoy quirky museums like the National Museum of Dance & Hall of Fame and the Saratoga Automobile Museum, while theater enthusiasts may relish in a night at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. History buffs, make the short trip to Saratoga National Historical Park for preserved Battles of Saratoga sites, plus the Masonic Saratoga Monument, and General Philip Schuyler House.
More historic sites, theaters, and art museums are located throughout the Capital District of upstate New York. Don’t miss the Nott Memorial in Schenectady, and Troy attractions like the Hart-Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center, and the Hart-Cluett Mansion. Art addicts, make certain to see the Hyde Collection in Glen Falls – just south of Lake George.
Central New York’s Public & State Parks
Albany is home to Washington Park – an 81-acre U.S. Historic district listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The park features the 5.2-acre Washington Park Lake, and is the site for annual events like TulipFest, Pinksterfest, and Freihofer's Run for Women.
Outdoor types may look forward to walking and biking trails, plus courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, handball, and boccie. During your bike or stroll, keep an eye out for Washington Park monuments like the Marinus Willett Memorial, Robert Burns Statue, and the stunning King Memorial Fountain.
More than 60 parks are found throughout Albany outside of Washington Park. During the summer, head to Lincoln Park for the swimming pool, or visit Buckingham Lake Park for picnic sites and playgrounds. Try biking and boating at the Corning Preserve – where you can check out a summer concert at the Albany Riverfront Park amphitheater – or swing by New Course at Albany, a municipal golf course built in 1929.
Set in Sarasota Springs, the famed Saratoga Spa State Park offers outdoor activities like golf, tennis, hiking, and fishing – all accompanied by a relaxing soak in the springs.
State parks are also abundant in the Capital District. Enjoy softball fields and playgrounds at Max V. Shaul State Park, or sunbathing, fishing, and boating at Grafton Lakes State Park. Mine Kill State Park features snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing for winter visitors, while the Schodack Island State Park offers fishing and nature trails right on the Hudson River.
Summer travelers may hunt and hike at Hudson River Islands State Park, or swim at Moreau Lake State Park. Hikers, visit John Boyd Thacher State Park for over 12 miles of trail, while other sites like Thompson's Lake State Park and Cherry Plain State Park feature everything from hiking and biking to winter sports and picnic spots.
