ALBANY, N.Y. --
The state capital is not only a hub for government, education and
business, but Albany is also home to several historical sites that
are year-round tourist draws and to special attractions and
activities geared to specific seasons.
Fall
fun
One of the newest
activities is offered by Albany Aqua Ducks, which debuted in 2004.
From May through October, the company provides amphibious,
75-minute guided tours through the streets of downtown Albany and
the waters of the Hudson River.
The price is $20
for adults and $10 for children. Tours depart between 10:30 a.m.
and 2:45 p.m. from the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center. For
more information, call (518) 462-DUCK or visit www.albanyaquaducks.com.
An old-fashioned
way to tour the city center is offered by Albany Carriage Service,
with narrated, horse-drawn tours passing most of the major
landmarks.
And for golfers,
theres the 18-hole Orchard Creek Golf Club, named one of the top
public golf courses in Golf Digests Best Places to Play
2004-2005.
Winter
getaway
Clients
interested in a winter getaway will find several options for
outdoor activities.
They can go
ice-skating at the Empire State Plaza, the futuristic, marble
government complex in the heart of downtown.
Skaters can warm
up on the 42nd-floor observation deck in the plazas Corning Tower,
which allows impressive views of the city, the river and the
mountains just beyond.
Albany Carriage
Service offers horse-drawn sleigh rides through an open field
(minimum eight people). The price for both activities is $10 for
adults, $6 for children age 10 and younger.
The company also
offers carriage rides through the Capital Holiday Lights exhibit in
Washington Park, the citys largest downtown park, from the end of
November until New Years Day, at 6 p.m.
For more
information, call (518) 465-5973 or visit www.albanycarriageservice.com.
Year-round attractions
Many of Albanys
attractions are good year-round choices, including the Empire State
Plaza, which has an outdoor area marked by modern sculptures and
reflecting pools, making for pleasant strolls during warmer
weather.
Another major
attraction at the plaza is the New York State Museum, which has a
permanent exhibit of 9/11 artifacts as well as a walk-through
Iroquois longhouse.
The Egg, a
sculpture in its own right, is a round theater that hosts a variety
of performances year-round. Performances also are held at the
Palace Theater, a renovated 1931 facility. Admission and schedule
vary by show at both facilities, as shows change.
For information
about the Egg, call (518) 473-1845 or visit www.theegg.org. For
information about the Palace Theatre, call (518) 465-3334 or visit
www.palacealbany.com.
At one end of the
plaza is the New York State Capitol, an elegantly ornate National
Historic Landmark built between 1867 and 1899. Nearby is the
Executive Mansion, which is home to New Yorks governor.
Historical
attractions offer a glimpse into Albanys role as a port on the
Hudson River. Other noteworthy attractions include the Schuyler
Mansion, the 18th-century home of Revolutionary War hero Philip
Schuyler, and the Ten Broeck Mansion, a 1798 Federal-style home
built by General Abraham Ten Broeck. Both homes feature authentic
furnishings and are open for tours.
The Schuyler
Mansion is open from mid-April through October (Wednesdays to
Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; tours begin on the hour), and there is
an admission charge. For more information, call (518)
434-0834.
Tours are offered
at the Ten Broeck Mansion from May 2 until Dec. 31 (Thursdays and
Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m.),
and from Jan. 1 through May 1, tours are by appointment. There is a
charge for admission. For more information, call (518)
436-9826.
The Albany
Institute of History & Art is touting a $10 million renovation.
Permanent exhibits range from ancient Egypt to 19th-century
American sculpture.
The institute is
open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. For admission prices and other
information, call (518) 463-4478 or visit www.albanyinstitute.org.
To contact
reporter Mark Chesnut, send e-mail [email protected].