The Capitol & Empire State Plaza
Start with the New York State Capitol, then explore the Plaza's striking architecture and public art. Check the visitor site for tours before you go.
The Staghorn local guide
Stay curious.
Explore Upstate.
Albany, Troy, the Mohawk Valley, and the Upper Hudson Valley. Historic streets, good food, woodland trails, and adventures above and below ground.
Choose a neighborhood afternoon or a day on the road. Your Staghorn stay is the beginning.
01 / EXPLORE
Albany
History. Culture. Neighborhood character.
Grand architecture, leafy park paths, and streets made for a long lunch. New York's capital rewards a little wandering.
Washington Park
Take the scenic route around the lake, past the lakehouse, and through the park's green spaces. Bring a coffee and leave room for an unhurried walk.
Lark Street & Center Square
Make an afternoon of independent businesses, neighborhood dining, and Albany's distinctive streetscapes. Lark Street is a natural starting point.
Albany Institute of History & Art
See Hudson River School paintings and exhibitions that connect the region's art, history, and people. An easy way to give your Albany visit a little more depth.
Make a day of it: Capitol and Plaza, an afternoon at the Institute, then dinner around Lark Street and Center Square.
02 / EXPLORE
Troy
Market mornings. Music nights.
A creative city on the Hudson, full of independent shops, beautiful old buildings, and reasons to linger. Come hungry and see where the day takes you.
Troy Waterfront Farmers Market
Browse local produce, baked goods, and maker finds at this year-round Saturday market. Its indoor and outdoor locations change with the season.
Downtown & River Street
Explore Troy's walkable historic downtown for boutiques, galleries, coffee, and a meal. Give yourself time to follow an interesting storefront.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Build a night around a performance in this historic concert hall. Browse the current calendar and book a show that makes the trip your own.
Peebles Island State Park
Trade city streets for wooded paths and river views where the Hudson and Mohawk meet. A nearby nature stop to pair with your time in Troy.
Make a day of it: a Saturday market breakfast, downtown browsing, and a Music Hall performance when the calendar lines up.
03 / EXPLORE
Upper Hudson Valley
River towns. Art. A little open space.
Follow the Hudson beyond Albany and Troy. Head south for Hudson and the countryside around Kinderhook, or north toward Stillwater and Schuylerville for river walks and Revolutionary history.
Hudson & Olana
Browse Hudson's galleries and shops, then explore Frederic Church's designed landscape at Olana. Reserve ahead if a house tour is part of your day.
Art Omi
Wander among sculpture and architecture in an open-air landscape. Register ahead and check the current visiting days before setting out.
Saratoga National Historical Park
Explore the landscape of the 1777 Battles of Saratoga. Start at the visitor center, then choose a trail or the self-guided tour road when it is open.
Hudson Crossing Park
Follow nature trails beside the Hudson River and Champlain Canal, stop for a picnic, or explore the play garden with the family.
Pick a direction: Hudson and Olana pair naturally for an art-filled day; the battlefield and Hudson Crossing Park make a northern outing.
04 / EXPLORE
Mohawk Valley
Below ground. Above the trees. Out on the trails.
Make Moonrise Meadows your starting point for the eastern Mohawk Valley. Explore the woods around Rotterdam and Duanesburg, take to the treetops near Schenectady, or head into neighboring Schoharie County for Howe Caverns.
Howe Caverns
Follow limestone passages on a guided cave tour, including a boat ride below ground. Book your tour online and bring a layer: the cave stays around 52°F. Wear closed-toe shoes and expect stairs.
NYzipline Aerial Adventure Park
Climb through high-ropes challenges and zip between the trees at this adventure park near Schenectady. Choose a treetop or zipline pass, and check seasonal availability and the age and height requirements before booking.
Hikes & walks near Moonrise Meadows
Plotter Kill Preserve
Wooded trails wind around a gorge with three waterfalls. Choose your route using the preserve map; steep slopes and ledges make this a more demanding outing. Stay on marked trails.
Featherstonhaugh State Forest
Explore 3.7 miles of designated trails through a quiet state forest near Featherstonhaugh Lake. A local choice for a woodland wander, with several trail access points along Lake Road.
Wolf Hollow Nature Trail
Follow a nearly mile-long wooded route along the old Wolf Hollow Road, beside a striking gorge. A shorter outing across the Mohawk River, with plenty of geology to take in along the way.
Mohawk–Hudson Bike–Hike Trail
Choose an easy-paced out-and-back along the Empire State Trail through Rotterdam. Follow the Mohawk River corridor and traces of the old Erie Canal, making your walk as short or long as you like.
Staying at Moonrise Meadows? Pick a local trail for a morning outdoors, or make Howe Caverns or the aerial park your main adventure for the day. Check the route from your stay and current visitor details before heading out.
05 / SAVOR
Restaurants & bars.
Good food. Better company.
20 places to savor
Morning coffee, a table for two, or one more story over drinks. Find your next stop in Albany and Troy, along the Hudson, or on a detour to Schenectady and Saratoga Springs.
Albany
From a morning coffee to a night on Dove Street.
Center Square, Albany
Dove + Deer
Neighborhood bar & kitchen
Pub favorites, house cocktails, and weekend brunch in a historic Dove Street brownstone. Settle in after a walk through Center Square.
Menu & details for Dove + Deer (opens in a new tab)Albany
Mr. Bumbles Café
Coffee, breakfast & lunch
Start the day with coffee, a smoothie, or a made-to-order breakfast. A relaxed lunch stop, with locations on New Scotland Avenue and Broadway.
Menu & details for Mr. Bumbles Café (opens in a new tab)Warehouse District, Albany
The Copper Crow
Global flavors & craft cocktails
An inventive menu and craft cocktails inside a former brewery building. Make it a dinner destination while exploring Albany's Warehouse District.
Menu & details for The Copper Crow (opens in a new tab)Center Square, Albany
Rosanna’s
Italian-inspired dining
Seasonal takes on Italian cooking, shareable plates, and cocktails in a restored historic space on Dove Street. A lovely setting for a date night.
Menu & details for Rosanna’s (opens in a new tab)Downtown Albany
677 Prime
Steakhouse & wine
A downtown steakhouse with a chef-driven menu and an extensive wine program. Save it for a celebration or an evening that deserves a little dressing up.
Menu & details for 677 Prime (opens in a new tab)Troy & Cohoes
Historic pubs, local beer, and a little play.
Cohoes
Smiths Public House
Historic pub & comfort food
A storied Remsen Street tavern with a long bar and a generous menu of burgers, wings, pasta, and pub classics. Pair it with an evening in Cohoes.
Menu & details for Smiths Public House (opens in a new tab)Downtown Troy
Nighthawks
Seasonal dining & cocktails
A neighborhood restaurant built around regional farms and seasonal ingredients. Stop in for a meal and a cocktail while exploring downtown Troy.
Menu & details for Nighthawks (opens in a new tab)Troy
The Ruck
Craft beer & pub fare
Wings, burgers, and a broad craft-beer selection at the original Troy location. An easy choice for a casual meal with friends.
Menu & details for The Ruck (opens in a new tab)Troy Taproom
Brown’s Brewing Company
Brewery & tavern
Head to the River Street taproom for Brown's beers and tavern food. A natural stop after browsing Troy's downtown shops.
Menu & details for Brown’s Brewing Company (opens in a new tab)Downtown Troy
Bard & Baker
Board game café & bar
Choose a board game, order a sandwich on house-baked bread, and linger over tea or a cocktail. A playful way to spend an afternoon or evening.
Menu & details for Bard & Baker (opens in a new tab)Schenectady
Downtown dinners and drinks by Mohawk Harbor.
Downtown Schenectady
Milas Restaurant & Bar
Mediterranean & shared plates
Mediterranean-inspired cooking, shared plates, and craft cocktails on State Street. Gather a few friends and make a meal of trying something together.
Menu & details for Milas Restaurant & Bar (opens in a new tab)Mohawk Harbor, Schenectady
The Shaker & Vine
Wine bar & cocktail lounge · 21+
Explore self-serve wines or settle in with a craft cocktail at Mohawk Harbor. An adults-only spot for a relaxed evening out.
Menu & details for The Shaker & Vine (opens in a new tab)Downtown Schenectady
The Nest
Southern comfort food
Southern-inspired favorites, from shrimp and grits to crispy chicken and biscuits. Come hungry for comfort food or a leisurely brunch.
Menu & details for The Nest (opens in a new tab)Mohawk Harbor, Schenectady
Druthers Brewing Company
Brewpub & beer garden
House-brewed beer and a full food menu beside the harbor. When the weather cooperates, head for the outdoor beer garden overlooking the waterfront.
Menu & details for Druthers Brewing Company (opens in a new tab)Saratoga Springs
Make dinner part of your day up north.
Downtown Saratoga Springs
Hamlet & Ghost
New American & craft cocktails
Creative New American cooking and a cocktail-focused bar on Caroline Street. Plan an evening around dinner and a thoughtfully made drink.
Menu & details for Hamlet & Ghost (opens in a new tab)Downtown Saratoga Springs
15 Church
Fine dining & seafood
Seafood, prime beef, and an elegant dining room in a restored historic building. A destination for a special dinner in Saratoga.
Menu & details for 15 Church (opens in a new tab)Downtown Saratoga Springs
Boca Bistro
Spanish tapas & paella
Build your meal around Spanish small plates and paella in a rustic Broadway setting. Ideal for sharing a few dishes and taking your time.
Menu & details for Boca Bistro (opens in a new tab)Downtown Saratoga Springs
Max London’s
Restaurant, brunch & bar
A Broadway restaurant and bar for cocktails, dinner, or a weekend brunch with pizzas, salads, and breakfast favorites.
Menu & details for Max London’s (opens in a new tab)Hudson
A table worth adding to your river-town outing.
Hudson
Wm. Farmer & Sons
Seasonal dining & barroom
A welcoming Front Street barroom with craft cocktails and a seasonal menu inspired by Hudson Valley farms. Add dinner to an afternoon of galleries and shops.
Menu & details for Wm. Farmer & Sons (opens in a new tab)Hudson
Feast & Floret
Italian-inspired dining
Italian-inspired cooking with a seasonal approach on South 3rd Street. Round out a Hudson day trip with a long lunch or dinner.
Menu & details for Feast & Floret (opens in a new tab)Planning a meal around your day? Follow each restaurant's link for current menus, hours, and reservation details.
Go out. Come home to something special.
Find your home base.
Jesse Buel House and ABBA House put you in Albany. Moonrise Meadows offers a countryside retreat in Rotterdam Junction. Choose your stay, then plan your route from there.
Explore the Staghorn homesA little planning goes a long way.
Use each destination's visitor link for current hours, tickets, seasonal access, and event calendars. Drive times depend on your home base and the day's route.
Photography: Albany — Matt H. Wade (CC BY-SA 3.0; resized and cropped for display) · Troy — Quintin Soloviev (CC BY 4.0; resized and cropped for display) · Upper Hudson Valley — Mark Rosengarten (CC BY-SA 4.0; resized and cropped for display) · Howe Caverns — jpitha (CC BY-SA 2.0; resized and cropped for display)