Good 1/2 day pit stop in the Albany area?

[MichelleinMaine]

We're going to be driving home from Niagara Falls and looking to break the trip up. Albany looks about 1/2 way (though we could stop a little before/after that too.) Any recommendations for a good place to spend the night, as well as a little excursion just to get the kids (DD8, DS13) out of the car for a bit?

It may be a Sunday morning (option is Saturday afternoon), which I imagine will be a damper some commercial things. We're thinking do "something" in the morning, eat a little late lunch and hop back in the car.

Thanks!

 

[emer95]

We drove through Albany on our way home from Boston. We didn't stay overnight, but we stopped at the New York State museum. I figured it would be a good place for the kids to blow off steam before getting back in the car, and you couldn't beat the price (FREE) but I wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong!

We ended up having a wonderful time and we spent hours there. It is a beautiful museum, huge and very well done. There is a superb memorial and timeline to 9/11 and we spent a lot of time explaining that to our kids. There is a great children's floor, and even a free carousel on the top floor. We were really impressed.

You'd probably have to alter your plans a little to make sure it's open but we went on a Saturday. It was a great stop for us!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

That does look like a great possiblity, thanks! They open 930 every day, so that is totally doable on the Sunday, too!

 

[mtemm]

when are you going?

saratoga springs is about 20 minutes away on the northway and is a fun town to spend some time in. really pretty, great park, good restaurants, or even a place to pick up stuff to picnic at congress park with. there are a few intersting museums, and if you are going in august you can stop at saratoga race track, which is really nice and family friendly.

 

[adkkev]

if you're looking for a place for kids to blow off some steam ... try these:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=125

Saratoga during racing season is nuts! It can difficult to get around the town, especially if there's a big race going on that day.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We just did this drive last month. We stopped at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for a few hours. (My DD enjoyed it, too.)

 

[luvmy3]

Depending on where you stay, like downtown just remember that its sandwiched in between two not so nice areas. Also Monday morning will be hectic due to everyone coming into work.
The museum is nice and the Capital building is beautiful but I honestly can't think of anything worth staying overnight for. I'd skip it and go somewhere nicer, but I grew up there so maybe I'm missing all its worth

What about a drive to Howe Caverns?

http://www.howecaverns.com/

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We drove through Albany on our way home from Boston. We didn't stay overnight, but we stopped at the New York State museum. I figured it would be a good place for the kids to blow off steam before getting back in the car, and you couldn't beat the price (FREE) but I wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong!

We ended up having a wonderful time and we spent hours there. It is a beautiful museum, huge and very well done. There is a superb memorial and timeline to 9/11 and we spent a lot of time explaining that to our kids. There is a great children's floor, and even a free carousel on the top floor. We were really impressed.

You'd probably have to alter your plans a little to make sure it's open but we went on a Saturday. It was a great stop for us!

Agreed, and you can walk over to the capitol building from there. It is one of the nicest state capitols in America.

When I go, I stay at the Desmond, but it is pricey...

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Thanks all for the ideas!

Cooperstown was another we thought of, though neither of my kids aer huge bball fans. (Ok, we're headed to Fenway tomorrow, lol, but they know very little of the world of baseball beyond the Red Sox, lol.) I guess there are some fine Sox in the HoF, though...

Will let them decide which they'd like to do. I'm ok with any, just don't want to drive the 10 hours straight home!

 

[Imzadi]

saratoga springs is about 20 minutes away on the northway

Depending on traffic, it can be closer to an hour.

 

[pooh_bear.614]

I used to live downtown a couple blocks from the museum I'm sure glad I saw it before moving so I also say you should go there. The kids might enjoy getting out and walking around by the egg too, it's really big and cool to look at. There is a nice water area and mini park that is really nice in the summer to walk around for a little while.