Area & Things To Do
Situated on the banks of the Hudson River, Albany was first settled by the Dutch in 1624 and was given its charter in 1686 by Governor Thomas Dongan. It became the capital of New York State in 1797.
Within walking distance of the Holiday Inn Express, 1442 Western Ave, Albany:
Stuyvesant Plaza
http://www.stuyvesantplaza.com/
25 mi NW at the intersection of Fuller Road and Western Avenue
Hours: Monday-Friday 10 am-9 pm, Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm.
Unique shops and eateries.
Crossgates Mall
http://www.shopcrossgates.com/
1 mi. NW, past Stuyvesant Plaza, just past the New York State Thruway [I-90]
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-9:30 pm, Sunday 11 am-6 pm.
Hundreds of shops, eateries, and the Regal Cinema 18 Megaplex theater http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?exid=hre&house_id=8430
Within walking distance of the Cultural Education Center (State Archives and State Library):
Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site
http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/sites/info.asp?siteID=27,
32 Catherine Street, Albany.
Admission: $4 adults.
Hours. Wednesday-Sunday 11 am-5 pm .
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
http://www.cathedralic.com
Intersection of Madison Avenue and Eagle Street.
Albany Institute of History and Art
http:// www.albanyinstitute.org
125 Washington Ave, Albany.
Admission: Adults $10, seniors $8.
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm.
On display in September 2009: “Life Along the Hudson” photography by Joseph Squillante.
Lark Street
http://www.albany.com/HotSpot_Lark-Street.cfm
Home to many of the city’s finest restaurants, galleries, and night clubs.
Washington Park
http://www.albany.com/HotSpot_Washington-Park.cfm
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
On the waterfront:
USS Slater
http://www.ussslater.org
141 Broadway, Albany.
Admission:
Adults $7, Seniors, $6.
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10 am-4 pm.
Albany Aqua Duck & Trolley Tours
http://www.albanyaquaducks.com/
Broadway & Clinton, Albany, 518-462-DUCK (518-462-3825.
60-90 minute tours.
Rates: $13 [on-off historic trolley tour] to $26 [Aqua Duck land/water historic tour].
Dutch Apple Cruises
http://dutchapplecruises.com/
139 Broadway, Albany, NY 12202, 518-463-0220.
A sampling of Hudson River cruise tours follows:
- 2 hour sight seeing tour = $17.95 + tax per person
- 3 hour sight seeing tour = $23.95 + tax per person
- 3 hour tour + dinner = $52 per person, includes tax; cash bar available but extra
- 3 hour tour + hors d’oeuvres = $39 per person includes tax; cash bar available but extra
For additional cruises please check out their Web site.
Getting around town:
CDTA, the Capital District Transit Authority
http:// www.cdta.org
Weekday schedule for Route 10, Western Ave., which stops adjacent to the hotel, runs from Crossgates Mall into downtown Albany and the waterfront from 5:30 am until 11:45 pm, and back from 5:40 am until 11:47 pm. During peak hours, buses run at roughly 8-minute intervals. Fare is $1.50 each way. You can also purchase a 3-day pass; call CDTA at 518-482-8822 for more information.
Taxi service in Albany is provided by several companies. Fares between the hotel and the downtown area average $8.00 each way, exclusive of tip.