The staff here were pleasant, kind and helpful. We came for a Saturday night light show in the…read moreplanetarium. About 45 minutes long, a good time you can't beat it. A few jokes from the ticket-taker as well. Tip: try and grab the seats toward the back, to keep your neck more comfortable. We arrived ~15 minutes before start time and were able to peruse around the different displays and interactive exhibits. A place for all ages. This was a nice indoor activity to get out of the house and not be in the frigid cold.

Amazing hands-on activities, fun and engaging displays. Such an amazing museum and kids will love…read moreit.

The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area extends from North of New York City (the White…read morePlains, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow area) to North of Albany (the Saratoga Battlefield). It is filled with historic sites from the Revolutionary War and, indeed, from the colonial period before the war. It is also filled with mansions, most of them built after the Civil War, during America's first gilded age, by the super-rich. All of these attractions are interesting, some are fascinating and a few are stunning. Visit the website, www.hudsonrivervalley.com, for pull-down menus of must-see, recommended and special interest tourist attractions, including most of the historic sites and mansions and, in addition, some museums, art galleries and the like. Clicking on an attraction will lead to a detailed description. Although we often disagree with the website ratings (and you may disagree with the website ratings and our reviews as well), the site is both user-friendly and highly useful. That said, our disagreements with the website sometimes extend beyond its ratings to its selections. As examples, we would throw out Dia Beacon as an appalling waste of time and money and add the Rhinebeck Aerodrome as a fascinating and fun place to visit on weekends from early June through late October, for its airshows of antique aircraft. We'd also add the new walkway over the Hudson River at Poughkeepsie. On a sunny day, it's a great experience, and it's also great because it's free. Most attractions are not free. Indeed, tourism may be the Hudson River Valley's largest industry. Someone has their hand out at almost all these attractions -- and on the toll roads and bridges that connect them. In addition, most of them have museum shops attached. Even where a visit is free, as at the United States Military Academy at West Point and the FDR Library & Museum in Hyde Park, a guided tour will cost you. The only exception we found is the tour of the New York State Capitol: like the walkway, it's free. Nevertheless, most of the attractions are well worth your time and money, with this caveat regarding the old mansions: after you've seen more than three, as we did, you may balk -- again, as we did -- at expending any more time and money to repeat, once again, an experience that may be intellectually interesting but definitely is emotionally similar. The exception is the Rockefeller mansion, which is stunning. Touring it will cost you two to five times as much as other mansions, but if you have time and money for only one rich bastard's home, it's the one to see. See also our reviews of attractions and businesses within the National Heritage Area: Adams Fairacre Farms, Poughkeepsie, NY Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany, NY Arlington Wine & Liquor Store, Poughkeepsie, NY Aroi Thai, Rhinebeck, NY Dia Beacon, Beacon, NY FDR Presidential Library & Museum, Hyde Park, NY General Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, NY Gino's Pizza & Restaurant, Poughkeepsie, NY Hampton Inn & Suites, Poughkeepsie, NY Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate, Sleepy Hollow, NY Locust Grove, the Samuel F.B. Morse estate, Poughkeepsie, NY Morton's Steakhouse, White Plains, NY New York Capitol, Albany, NY New York State Museum, Albany, NY Olana, the Frederic Church estate, Hudson, NY Price Chopper, Poughkeepsie, NY Rhinebeck Aerodrome, Rhinebeck, NY Rossi Rosticceria Deli, Poughkeepsie, NY Schade's Deli Restaurant, Highland Falls, NY Terrapin Restaurant, Rhinebeck, NY Union Church of Pocantico Hills, Sleepy Hollow, NY United States Military Academy, West Point, NY Vanderbilt Mansion, Hyde Park, NY Walkway Over The Hudson, Poughkeepsie, NY

What better way to spend a rainy afternoon with out-of-town guests then to meander through a vast…read morespace with a very cool lineup of cars on display? I've been living in Saratoga County for so many years, and there are still countless treasures right in my backyard. The automobile Museum is certainly one of those treasures. I happened to visit during the Corvette show....and while I don't know much about cars (beyond basic driving skills), it was extremely cool. The entry fee was $20. I would definitely check it out again in the future.

Pontiac: The Dawn of Muscle…read more The Pontiac GTO is currently featured at a local automobile museum in Saratoga, NY. The first new car my husband ever owned was a 1970 GTO, so this exhibit interests us. It runs from November 5 - April 26, 2025, and the museum is open Wednesday to Sunday. Members: FREE Adults: $20.00 Children 11-18: $15.00 Children 10 & Under: FREE Students 17+ (with ID): $15.00 Senior Adults 65+: $15.00 Veterans/Active Military: $15.00 Special Guided Tours are available, and they are free with admission to the Museum on Wednesdays at 2pm. Showcasing 16 landmark Pontiacs, the museum explores the power and style that turned Pontiac into a legend. On exhibit-- * The Original GTO: The 1964 Pontiac Tempest GTO that defined the muscle car genre. * The Monkeemobile: A 1966 Pontiac GTO customized for The Monkees TV show, considered one of the most recognizable and beloved custom cars. * Firebirds and Trans Ams * GTO Judges- multiple examples This Museum is well curated and appeals to car lovers of all ages.

This little college museum is a great place to check out some small art collections. This place is…read morenot a huge museum, but it is nice for a quick stroll on a Tuesday night! I saw Tuesday because that is the night they are open the latest. I enjoyed my time here, I just wish that they had more to offer.

Ralf was our guide and it was very pleasurable he was very knowledgeable very upbeat and cheerful…read more He kept the tour moving and he answered all our questions intelligently. I was very pleased with the tour and I'm an ex Navy guy so that's saying something !

Only one remains afloat in America [Albany NY]…read more We learned so much from our docent, Caroline.. this is a guided tour inside the World War II destroyer escort. General admission was $10 each and lasted about an hour. There were 563 built during WWII and the USS Slater is the only destroyer escort left in the US. It has been restored to its original 1945 configuration. We were fortunate to learn about this national historic landmark. The first thing we learned was the history behind the name of the USS Slater (DE 766). The destroyer escort was named after Seaman Frank O. Slater. He was assigned to the USS San Francisco at Pearl Harbor and was killed when a Japanese torpedo bomber he had shot down crashed into his gun position. Instead of leaving his gun and trying to find a safe place for cover he stayed at his position continuously firing until the plane crashed his gun mount. The tour took us to the galley, officers and enlisted mess halls (btw, the officer mess hall doubled up as the operating room, there is a medicine cabinet by the wall), we viewed the chart room and the sonar room, captain's cabin, ship's office, signal bridge... we mounted ladders to get up and down between decks. These are steeper than stairs so it could be challenging for some. Overall, a very educational tour and I enjoyed it. A Destroyer Escort's main job is to defend naval task forces from Japanese submarines and Kamikaze air attacks in the Pacific. Review #3014

The curator of this museum is named Joe now let me tell you something about Joe. His passion about…read morethe history that are stored in these walls is amazing. As an 2nd generation Italian American, I learned so much about not only my culture but other languages and regions in Italy. This museum is covered with pictures and information. All items have been donated from families all over the country this is how they sustain the existence of the museum. In total there are 10 rooms plus an upstairs, that's an event center. Everyone that works here is a volunteer and this includes the thrift shop and bridal boutique that are connected to it financially. Overall my experience was amazing!

I love a show! I…read morehaven't been to the Palace a ton, and my experiences have been mixed, but over all I enjoy this theatre. As a plus sized woman, I find the seats to be very roomy and comfortable. The seats were very cushy and supportive and there was a ton of leg room. I'll go to more shows based on this alone. I think my issue is comparing this theatre to Proctors, which is a very different vibe. The Palace offers more lively shows with less of a strict seating policy. People are often up and down in their seats, there is often a lot of chatter in the crowd; and I think this threw me off my first visit, as I am used to being quiet and still in my seat until intermission. Parking is pretty easy with multiple options locally, as well as abundant street parking. Concessions were very pricy. The bathrooms are in the basement if you are on the main level, so that's a bit of a pain. I won't hesitate to book another show here!

was there for D Hough dance performance.Building was beautiful. BUT...worst air circulation and AC…read moreever.People around us had sweat running down faces. If you have a breathing problem...Id think twice about going. The poor performers on stage clothing was ringing wet.SAD!!

The Massry Center is a great little theater right in the heart of Albany. We recently attended a…read moremusical performance in the theater and the acoustics in the venue are great, the common areas are bright and clean, and the ticketing/arrival process was seamless and easy. The Massry has teamed up with Troy Savings Bank Music Hall for their scheduling/ticketing this season and the line-up they are presenting is a wonderful, diverse selection of music. I am looking forward to attending future performances at this venue and seeing what direction they move to with their programming. With a number of bars and restaurants within walking distance, it's easy to make seeing a performance at the Massry into a true evening out.