This is a pretty nice dog park. It is located with a whole park complex that includes several paved…read morewalking trails, a pool area, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and fields. We have only explored the dog park area, which consists of two fenced in areas (one for "large" dogs, the other for "small" dogs) to run around in. A gazebo which provides some shelter from the sun is located in between both of the areas, and the fence runs through it. Like all dog parks, as the season wears on the grass slowly gets worn away and the gazebo gets dirtier. The cleanliness of the grass itself is entirely on the responsibility of the dog owners to pick up after their pets. I haven't had too much trouble here in that regard. Water is available for the dogs to drink, but bring a bowl (though some are usually here).

Colonie sometimes gets a bad rap…read more Perhaps because the most obvious symbol of the town is Wolf Road where it seems like all the national chain restaurants open shop to the detriment of our regional culture. Traffic gets snarled up on this arterial too, which makes it a place that some people avoid like the plague. But some of my favorite things in the region are in Colonie. Yes, there's Trader Joe's, which I am still ever thankful decided to open up an outpost in Albany. But Parivar on Central Avenue with its back-of-store kitchen is an amazing place to get delicious Indian street-food served without pretense while catching up on a bit of Bollywood and picking up some dried lentils and spice blends for home cooking projects. And it's not just the exotic ethnic places in Colonie either. Because this town is the home of Ralph's Tavern which has been feeding families wings, pizza, and mozzarella with melba for generations. In the summer there is Scoups ice cream, which is just about adjacent to The Crossings. The latter is probably the single best outdoor playground for young kids in the area, even though I wish it had more shade. And during the growing season, The Crossings plays host to a farmers market. For a suburb of Albany, this town has a lot going on.

The Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, NY is one of those places that quietly draws you in with how much…read morehistory it holds. At first glance, it looks like a simple old church, but once you step inside, you realize you're standing somewhere that has witnessed more than 200 years of stories. Built in the 1770s as a German Reformed Church, it was later fortified and turned into a defensive stronghold during the Revolutionary War. You can still spot a cannonball hole in the wall a little visual reminder of how real that history was. The museum complex is spread out beautifully, with several old buildings and scenic grounds that make it easy to wander around at your own pace. Each building feels like a glimpse into a different part of Schoharie's past from farming and school life to vintage machinery and military history. The volunteers here really add to the experience they're kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the history they're sharing. It's the kind of museum that doesn't feel overly polished, but that's exactly what makes it charming. You can sense the age of the wood floors and the craftsmanship in every display. It's quiet, peaceful, and even a little haunting in the best way, especially if you walk through the small cemetery nearby. If you enjoy exploring local history or hidden gems off the main tourist path, the Old Stone Fort is definitely worth a visit. It doesn't take long to go through, but you'll likely leave thinking about how much life and resilience are preserved in those old stone walls.

Wow, what a huge historical museum and tribute to our nations history. Definitely stop and spend…read moretime in this town. The whole story of the troops holding off the British soldiers from that place is amazing. The cemetery is amazing too. You can almost feel the soldiers running up and down the stairs and outside. Loved the cannon balls and to see the hole is pretty neat. I loved the whole area and town has historical homes all along the roadside. Nice shops too!

Russell was our guide for the tour. My wife and I are avid Ghost Tourists and try to do one in…read moreeach city we stop through. The tour takes you in a sort of quad up through the grand old state and government buildings, filling you in on the reported ghost sightings in each place along the way. The tour is scripted- as every one we've been to is- and Russell did a great job with his performance. What I like about this tour is how they make a point to let you know that if you have any stories to share about the places they're visiting they will incorporate that into future tours- a great idea to encourage people to interact. Our group was just my wife and myself and as such it was a fun time, informative and gave us a look at Albany we never would have known. Great job and wishing them all the best. Go!

My wife and I took this walking ghost tour on Friday, October 7, 2016. The tour started at the…read moreAlbany Hilton Hotel. The guide, who was VERY knowledgeable and friendly, took us up and around the capitol stopping along the way to tell the group stories of the past of supernatural encounters people have had, seen, and been a part of. The stories were full of detail and were extremely interesting, I highly recommend this tour.

The fact that this is free should encourage everyone to come here! I have easily paid 20 bucks for…read moreviews like this in other cities! I graduated in the Egg structure and it was neat to see it from this high up. The mountains in the distance are so gorgeous and made me remember why I chose to go to college here. A lovely experience that I would say is a must do if you are ever in downtown Albany!

My wife and I brought our Chinese exchange friend here for the view of Albany. We were the only…read moreones up there for much of the time, and it was quiet and peaceful. While it was a gloomy February day, the views were still pretty good. Since I am familiar with the area, it was fun to look around and spot areas I know from the higher vantage point. For those who don't know Albany, they had nice picture boards pointing out the major sites in the area. However, since they were only in English (and not Chinese) they were of limited value to our friend. We did our best to help her out. One downside is that to gain access from the indoor concourse level you either need to take an elevator to the plaza level, or take an escalator. Because we had a baby stroller they helped us with the first elevator ride up. On the way down, though, they not only acknowledged that we had a stroller but instead asked us to "deal with the escalator." I believe they were short-staffed at the desk, but this was really annoying. Thankfully, a we made it down without incident (or lawsuit). At least it is free.

Finding this beauty made my entire weekend. Ah, just to sit and breathe it in. Thank you, Yelp…read morefriends, for pointing the way. If you are near Troy definitely worth finding.

You learn about the Falls in junior high if you grew up in Troy, Watervliet, Cohoes, Lansingburgh…read moreaka 'the burgh'...or in other words are a local. Its a nice bit of 'wilderness' in the city. I guess the police/rescue squad get about 5-10 calls every spring-early fall to get some idiot that overestimated their free climbing prowess, got in a hairy spot, and (best case) froze and needed help back down. Worst case they fall, get injured and need to be carried out. Back in the day when I was still a young woman I did enjoy hiking in with some friends and finding a quiet spot near the falls to enjoy the natural vibes with the help of some good quality bud. , Haven't been up to the falls in years but I imagine not much has changed. Note/another reviewer questioned why the city doesn't keep it up better as it is a nice spot. I think the land is privately owned not city property.

The Bennington Battlefield isn't actually in Bennington but in Hoosick Falls, NY. It commemorates…read morethe Battle of Bennington in 1777 and was part of what turned the tide in the Revolutionary war. It's a beautiful state historic site with interpretive signs and trails that travel through the woods. Every time I've been there there are only a half dozen people at the site. It's a really peaceful spot to sit and think. It's only open from May through Veterans Day but you can park near the gate and walk up in winter.

Ah, good old Wolf Road, always evolving. I don't get back home too often, but I seem to always see…read morenew businesses popping uphere. Chain burger joints seem to be the new craze on this strip. Luckily some of the oldies like JT Maxie's, Denooyer Chevy and others are still around! Most people don't realize this busy Capital Region road used to all be farmland a mere 60 YEARS ago. My mom grew up in the South Colonie area, it has got to be wild to have experienced how much this has changed. I think there MAY be one private residence left on this road. I was looking through an old book on Wolf Road while I was home in the 518. It's by Naylor, Platt and Platt, I imagine the Colonie Town Library would have a copy. I was skimming the book and found out that a country club once stood where Colonie Center is. I lived in Albany 30+ years and it's amazing how much that mall has evolved, it's now quite nice for this region. I remember the Herman's sporting good store on Wolf Road, that moved to Colonie Center and is now long gone. I miss the days when we had Papa Gino's across from the mall! I remember driving by Jerry's Bike Shop and Cranberry Bog often as a kid, hard to believe these spots are no longer there. Platt's Deli was another popular Wolf Road institution, that was replaced by Bucca di Beppo (if I remember correctly). It's amazing how many businesses have come and gone over even just the last 20 years. 2012 brought us Trader Joe's, which has horrible parking nation wide and even in Smalbany too! I'm not quite sure why they placed this popular store in such a congested area! The traffic on Wolf Road is to be avoided at Xmas, but after living in Los Angeles, I now snicker when my friends complain about this thoroughfare.

People demonize Wolf Road all the time. There are some folks who say that they avoid it all costs…read more Others won't patronize a business if it chooses to open up a spot on this commercial stretch in Colonie. They are missing out. Sure, to the untrained eye it can look like nothing but a parade of chain restaurants. On the south end there's IHOP, PF Chang's and The Cheesecake Factory. On the north end there's Moe's, The Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobster. And there's a lot more in between. And during peak traffic hours, it can come close to resembling a small downstate traffic jam. All joking aside, it can be some of the worst traffic in the region. But Wolf Road has its good sides too. My love for Trader Joe's is well documented, and its convenient back entrance makes the Wolf Road business accessible to anyone clever enough to use it. Then of course there is the Hong Kong Bakery and Bistro. We don't have very many authentic Chinese restaurants in the region, but this is one of them. And I've heard there are good Chinese dishes on the menu at Buffalo Wagon too, although I have yet to try any for myself. Subbers is on Wolf Road too, and if you are a fan of mozzarella sticks, you have to try their take on the form. Ted's Fish Fry outpost also offers delicious fried treats that aren't from a nathional chain. Lemondrop was revealed to have tasty boba tea. I've got to get there and order one half-sweet. And the shop also has some of the tartest tart yogurt around. And lucky for me, that's just how I like it. Off almost everyone's radar is U Mundu E Ca, the Italian market that just hosted a pop up dinner featuring locally famous chefs Brian Bowden and Mark Graham. I'm not sure if it makes up for the evils of Buca di Beppo around the corner, but it certainly comes close Benson's Pet Center is there too, which is another great regional business that has nothing to do with food. Of course there is no getting around that this small strip of activity has two Starbucks. But one of them has a fire place and the other has a drive through. So, in a way, they are totally different. The truth is, that I don't instinctively hate chains or malls either. Some of them are fine. I love great coffee, but I occasionally go for the convenience of Starbucks. The wings at The Ruck are my favorite in the region, but once in a while I'll get a hankering for a breaded wing from Hooters. Honest Weight is a fabulous store, but Whole Foods has my favorite prosciutto and great salami sliced to order. And thanks to Wolf Road and Colonie Center, we even have a Tesla super charging station. I get the problems of businesses leaving the cities and moving to the suburbs. I understand how communities can improve with rich retail areas that encourage walking over driving. And I value those things. I really do. But I'm not so blinded by them that I can't see the good in this far too reviled road.

If you ever need to cross from Albany to Troy and have to come along the turnpike-like NY-7, you've…read moreprobably had the chance to cross the Hudson River via the Collar City Bridge, you've seen nothing yet. I've been crossing several times over the last few months here with such food delivery companies as GrubHub, DoorDash and Uber Eats, only to find problems in most of these crosses (GrubHub's time yesterday was a success, I have to say...) only end in misery. I like the bridge. It ends in a traffic light in Troy's northern reaches, but it get's traffic flowing well (especially between the Northway and 787/9W areas and the upper streets of Troy just north of the Green Island Bridge to where you don't even notice that Green Island is passing underneath you unless you look closely underneath you (but then again, you shouldn't be doing that as you drive). I personally like the Green Island Bridge more, because of it's structure, but if offered, I'll deal with this bridge if and when it comes time to cross it again.