The topography of this place is undulating but not too challenging, even for someone like me, a…read morecouch potato. A river runs through it. Along the way, there are some waterfalls of differing levels. Obviously, the volume of water is dependent on recent precipitation. The "mood" of the place depends of that flow. On most occasions, I could hear the rush of water before actually seeing it. It's an added bonus to this place, changing on a daily basis. Like a lot of things upstate, you've got to be informed about a place before you know it exists. If a co-worker hadn't told me about this sanctuary, I doubt I would have found it on my own. There is no fee but the parking lot is small; there's space for about eight vehicles. Check it out. It's a neat place. It'll do some good to get some fresh air.

Note to self: September may not be the absolute best time to come here because of the very low…read moreflow. Still, there are plenty of things to like about this...once you find it. The falls seem to be commonly known as Bozenkill Falls but the road sign (pictured) says Christman Sanctuary, and the gravel parking lot isn't massive so it may be easy to miss. The first 100+ metres is mostly boardwalks so it's easy enough to navigate. Then comes rocky, uphill trail, but at least markers are readily visible and aplenty. On our first visit I feel like we barely scratched the surface, so will look forward to another visit. Thank you whoever you are, for helping to preserve and maintain this sanctuary!

Beautiful flowers, great layout and the area was much bigger than I expected. I went in mid June on…read morea Sunday and surprisingly it was quite busy but since everything is spaced out so well, it didn't feel too crowded. A must see!

Oh, so fragrant! If you enjoy gardening, or even if you simply enjoy looking at gardens, this…read morelocation is worth a visit. A beautifully landscaped corner of the park that is easily accessible with street parking at the corner of Wright Street and Central Parkway. All of the rose beds have labels to identify the planted variety and there are a number of benches throughout the garden to simply sit and take in beauty of it all. If you enjoy a hands on experience, it is my understanding that there are volunteers who meet on several mornings each week to remove deadheads from the plants. Ahh, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!

I have logged many-a-mile on this trail over the years; most often between Kiwanis and Aqueduct…read moreParks. I especially enjoy starting near Schenectady Community College - an easy-to-spot local landmark with lots of room to park for group run meet-ups, a small track space perfect for timing splits and speedwork, and plenty of benches and grasses spaces for stretching and chatting before/after a walk, run, bike, or blade. The path varies in flatness, tree cover, nature-views, and frequency of traffic crossing, offering a nice variety for any activity. I've spotted loads of unthreatening wildlife while on the path, including turtles, deer, snakes, ground hogs, beavers, and many different birds, squirrels, and enjoy being near the water and especially stopping at the locks to stretch, rest, or fuel mid-long run, too. [extra garbage cans, tables/benches, and proximity to other humans makes it feel like a safer space to slow, perhaps?] I am hopeful that the Color the Canal project will return for the third year in 2021, which creates visual and sculptural art to welcome the CEC cyclists riding from Buffalo to Albany each July.

My wife and I walked the portion between Watervliet and Albany recently and it was a pretty nice…read moretrail. Much of it was in the woods along an old railroad right-of-way, so there were plenty of trees providing shade. A couple of clearings allowed for sightlines of the expressway but it wasn't too noisy. One area had a bench, picnic table, and informational display about the location of the old Troy Iron Works. A few areas had cutaways in the trees for sightlines to the river. I wish there was more to see or do along the trail, and it would have been appreciated to have some more benches or tables or whatnot to rest on. But, the area in Watervliet where the parking lot is had a couple of tables.

I have been going here since before the present Owner, Dave opened it up…read more Great sandwiches and pizza, with plenty of cold drinks to choose from and it is right next to the lake with a few outside picnic table to sit at and enjoy the view.

Beautiful lake and I like to go fishing on it. The launch side is open to public. There are…read morebeautiful orchids on it also.

Very large campground and lots of trees--the sites all were covered. A TON of mosquitoes but it…read morealso did rain everyday. The bathrooms are a hot mess and dark (at least by campsites 1-30) and the showers are beat as well. Beach is nice, water is great, but the rules posted are not the rules they go by. Case in point, the paperwork said you can have two cars but check in says one, and charged our second car $10. I probably wouldn't return. Also the grate over the grill was too spaced and we couldn't put anything smallish on it and had to buy disposable grates.

I have visited this beach site twice. The view and location is amazing (great for walking around)…read more The beach is so-so. I didn't trust the waters enough to swim in it.

Sunday they had music and they even had free pizza, everyone is happy & enjoying the day with each…read moreother, they have beer, mixed drinks. People arrive by car , motorcycle and boat!!! Staff friendly & welcoming

Wally and Shana are amazing people. This place is a fun atmosphere with great people!read more

Fun but simple mini golf course with a great view. Lots of pine needles though. The course does…read moreseem like it hasn't been upgraded in quite some time.

This was so fun and challenging! The name says it all -- Grandview--. Accessible by boat or road…read more If you never mini golfed, it has it all spelled out on a sign. Very reasonably priced. Picnic tables available and plenty of parking. Definitely worth it.

Great service and knowledgeable staff. Would recommend taking your boat here over anywhere else in…read morethe capital region if you want work done right

This is a downscale marina tucked onto the north side of the river in Alplaus, on the site of a…read moreWorld War II era airstrip (and seaplane base!) The facilities are very basic, with the shop/chandlery seemingly randomly stocked, and the amenities (restrooms, shower) rather grim. The docks are in bad shape and quite rickety, mostly close inshore. That said, the staff have an outstanding reputation for doing the basics of keeping a boat in shape and a boat owner happy. I have heard two different stories of the staff doing rescue-tows and refusing even to be tipped for slip-owners. The boat yard is right next to the slips and the ramp (there is no winch, note) so if you have a small boat, want to go cheap, and convenient, this seems like a good option. The river location is between locks 7 and 8, more or less halfway between Freeman's Bridge and the Rexford Bridge.