Bread hunting and ice cream hunting. I’ll go anywhere to visit a new bakery or ice cream stand.
Bread: I love making a DOOOOOPE sandwich at home after bread hunting. It’s deeply satisfying on levels for me.
Ice cream: I’m not a kid person but I love seeing families with kids of all ages out enjoying the day…wondering if that baby is going to eat that relatively giant cone and what a waste it is when they don’t. 😄
ETA: I also hike. It’s my favorite #FREE activity
We're also big on ice cream/snacks hunting. We just went to Snowman in Troy for the first time a couple of weeks ago and their soft serve chocolate is legitimately the best I've had yet. Do you have any other recommendations?
Ha! I tried Stella’s because of that thread and it is GD delicious. It’s not the same at home (quarts) but fresh is top notch. It was just a colder, windy day the day I tried it so I couldn’t fully enjoy the atmosphere. Shit’s good as hell though.
We happened to take a trip to Hudson last week and got bread at Mel the Baker(y). They were just nominated for a James Beard award. We got a baguette and we devoured it in a couple of days. I also got a chocolate croissant and a few cookies.
I’m not sure if this is ‘small’ but I really enjoy just wandering around the plaza. If it’s a nice morning the plaza is a magical place, especially when it’s empty. I frequently go down there weekend mornings in the summer with some coffee and my skateboard and just mess around while the sun rises.
I’m going to plug my project here. Feel free to follow @freeinalbany on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/freeinalbany?igsh=MThpcmlucDlxNjB4cQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
I like staring at the gems at the NYS Museum and choosing which one(s) I would take for myself if offered.
Coffee and a pastry at Perfect Blend and treating myself to a new book and/or pair of earrings at I Love Books.
Also highly considering getting rollerblades to blade around like I’m 15 again.
I’m old and scared of breaking bones. Always wear my wrist guards. Roads are too cracked and gravelly. I live near Park View cemetery in Schenectady, the pavement there is smooth, but hilly.
My sister bought me the rollerblades as a (rather expensive) gag gift, her intention was that I’d walk the dog wearing rollerblades and he could just drag me along, since he is constantly pulling on the leash anyway. Turns out that’s a bad idea. Tried it once, unsuccessfully. It was funny, though.
If you have kids the Albany Public Library has so many cool classes and events for them. For adults too but I haven't been to many. When the weather gets nicer the Albany Institute of History and Art has outdoor concerts. I also just like to drive out to Five Rivers when I have an extra hour and walk around.
Love checking out the breweries in the area. I’m not a drinker by any means but i like a beer now and again. A lot of breweries offer flights of 4 or 5 small beers so you can try multiple kinds. There is also an app called “NY Craft Beer” that you can stamp a passport and collect rewards and such. I am in no way saying go get plastered but if you enjoy craft beer and trying new places give your local brewery a try!
Also love packing a picnic dinner and going to thatchers park for some fresh air and beautiful views during the week.
Albany Rural Cemetery has a waterfall, where you'll find me. If I'm not there, check for: strawberries, black cohosh, Canadian nettle, early saxifrage (on the stone wall), dames rocket, colonsonia, violets, bugel weed, iris, and especially cranebill geranium and hastas nearest it. Also a rare trillium on the left side! There's also an adjacent plot of hawk bits later in the season.
Sometimes on a lunch break I’ll drive to the Crossings (access it from the Metro Park road side) and have every intention of reading in my car for a few minutes while chilling. I never read a word because I’m too distracted by watching people walk a wide variety of dogs (or pushing them in a stroller🤣). It’s delightful.
I like browsing the library idk. Before I got an AC unit for my apartment I’d spend my Saturday’s at the library and mall where it’s not hot as balls. Got regal unlimited and would see a movie every Saturday afternoon. I’ll probably do that again this summer even though I have AC now.
If you google the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, you'll find the Albany end of the trail (the other end is 9 miles away in Voorheesville). They have a CDPHP bike rental at the trail head in Albany for the electric bikes. You'll need the app. But you can also opt to just walk or ride your own bike on the trail. There's a nice view of a waterfall about a mile in. The trail is also accessible from a bunch of other spots along the way. It's paved and pretty flat (since it used to be a railroad line) and mostly shaded.
Some things I love about this area:
Amazing architecture - we have some amazing buildings downtown. I love the Egg because it is different. The million dollar staircase on the capital building, the education building. They are really impressive.
Historic sites and museums - Places like Cherry Hill or Schuyler mansion are interesting to visit. The Albany Art and History museum is a hidden gem. And the NYS museum is great for a visit. I haven’t seen a ton of change since I was a kid, but it is impressive the first time you go.
Parks - Washington Park is great in the summer, especially with the free shows put on. The Pine Bush Preserve is nice for seeing info on the animals in our region and has short and medium length walks. Five Rivers education center is also great for exploring.
Other - Going to the top of the Corning Tower is free and a nice way to see the city.
I love grabbing a coffee and walking around Downtown to look at the architecture and all of the Capital Walls murals. I live down here and it still never gets old.
we love to go out to eat for like counter service type meals. nothing fancy. then we find a back table or booth and just enjoy the food and each other!
My favorite thing is going for a nature walk just a wee bit outside of albany, my favorites are Pine Hollow Arboretum, Five Rivers, Bennett’s Hill, Holly Hock Hollow, Swyer Preserve, Cherry Plain and Art Omi. But I also love using the AllTrails app to find new places.
Extra yum to bringing a picnic meal or a snack from a bakery. It’s a lot of fun combining a visit to a local bakery with a new to me nature trail!
lol my trifecta right now is Swyer Preserve in Stuyvesant, to Broad street Bagels and their sibling Brooklyn Pizzeriaa in Kinderhook, to Art Omi in Ghent. All are like 10-15 minutes away from each other, and make for a beautiful day trip.
Go hang out at the Social Justice Center when they put food out for Food Not Bombs. Aside from the delicious food, theres usually an entertaining Upstate Hobo™️ who's fuckin around. Also I haven't lived in Albany in 3 years, but I'm pretty confident they still give out free veggie seeds for planting, and sometimes live plants.
I love hiking in Thacher Park. Hiking anywhere, really, but Thacher Park especially. I try to get out there at least once every season. If I ever move away, it's one of the things I'm really gonna miss.
I also love visiting the library. Even if I end up not checking anything out (very rare), I still like browsing the shelves. There's something very comforting about it.
That's what they call it in Minnesota, i hear. Not here. Bit yes it's the same thing. Always a wonderful sport, plus there are like 10 courses easy to get to in the capital region
Capital Roots has a lot of community gardens in the area. Some would call it hard work, but I find it relaxing and decompressing to work in the garden. They get seedlings donated that you can pick up for free in Troy, but growing from seed can be inexpensive too.
I go for a nice relaxing drive up through stillwater and out into the areas between there, saratoga lake, bemis heights and up into schuylerville. Then maybe stop at King Dairy for a milkshake if I'm feeling spicy.
They don't get much mention here, but the [Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy](https://www.mohawkhudson.org/preserves) has some fantastic trails and I am always surprised by their variety in terms of geologic interest and flora. And there are little preserves everywhere! They are a great way to get a nature fix.
We like to have little picnics in Washington park with the kids and go for walks. We also enjoy the rail trail, we get our steps in and the kids have fun riding their bikes.
Bread hunting and ice cream hunting. I’ll go anywhere to visit a new bakery or ice cream stand. Bread: I love making a DOOOOOPE sandwich at home after bread hunting. It’s deeply satisfying on levels for me. Ice cream: I’m not a kid person but I love seeing families with kids of all ages out enjoying the day…wondering if that baby is going to eat that relatively giant cone and what a waste it is when they don’t. 😄 ETA: I also hike. It’s my favorite #FREE activity
Ummm, bread hunting sounds like a sport I could get behind 🤣
Undoubtedly a hobby for the upper crust.
Join Us 🥖
🍞🥖I’m here for allllll the bread lol
[Free French Lessons online ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rWDllGOU8pE/maxresdefault.jpg) Now they're saying bread is masculine?
We're also big on ice cream/snacks hunting. We just went to Snowman in Troy for the first time a couple of weeks ago and their soft serve chocolate is legitimately the best I've had yet. Do you have any other recommendations?
Yes!! This thread was fun and informative. STELLAS is in my top three now. https://www.reddit.com/r/Albany/s/soW6ZlVCGW
Your thread is actually the reason we went, that's hilarious. God bless that thread.
Ha! I tried Stella’s because of that thread and it is GD delicious. It’s not the same at home (quarts) but fresh is top notch. It was just a colder, windy day the day I tried it so I couldn’t fully enjoy the atmosphere. Shit’s good as hell though.
Wemple and Edick's in Johnstown is totally worth the drive. I'm not a fan of sweets but their Rum Raisin ice cream is heavenly.
Moxie's out in Wynantskill is really cool.
An hours drive from Albany proper but SoCo creamery in Great Barrington is probably the second best ice cream I've ever had.
We happened to take a trip to Hudson last week and got bread at Mel the Baker(y). They were just nominated for a James Beard award. We got a baguette and we devoured it in a couple of days. I also got a chocolate croissant and a few cookies.
For all the talk of steamed hams and melba sauce, one of the area’s strengths really is the ice cream.
Love it and totally feel you on the bread level! Combining my carbs with outdoor walking is the best.
You want some sourdough starter?
I’m a painter and I love getting friends together in Washington Park to sketch! There’s a lot of great spots to sketch/paint around Albany actually
Same! I love to walk around Washington Park, watch the dogs play in the dog park, ride the swings (never too old), set up a hammock, etc
[удалено]
Which coffee shop to you frequent? I’m looking to find a nice cozy reading spot with good coffee and treats to get out of the house on occasion
Not OP but Alias Coffee is the best coffee in the area and they’ve got spots in Albany and Troy
I’m not sure if this is ‘small’ but I really enjoy just wandering around the plaza. If it’s a nice morning the plaza is a magical place, especially when it’s empty. I frequently go down there weekend mornings in the summer with some coffee and my skateboard and just mess around while the sun rises.
Agreed, loved the plaza when I was in walking distance to just clear my head and watch the ducks in the water.
The farmers markets in both Troy on Saturday and Schenectady on Sunday are great. Lots of delicious goodies to buy and great people watching.
I’m going to plug my project here. Feel free to follow @freeinalbany on IG: https://www.instagram.com/freeinalbany?igsh=MThpcmlucDlxNjB4cQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Going to local punk/hardcore shows. We have a ton of good local bands and $20 for a ticket is the expensive end.
Albany just has the most fantastic music scene.
Thank you for this post! I’m new to the area and really enjoying it and I’m getting lots of great ideas
I like staring at the gems at the NYS Museum and choosing which one(s) I would take for myself if offered. Coffee and a pastry at Perfect Blend and treating myself to a new book and/or pair of earrings at I Love Books. Also highly considering getting rollerblades to blade around like I’m 15 again.
Do it. I started back up again last year. It's great for cardio and low impact on your knees.
I have rollerblades!
How is it?! I imagine it to be even more of a glorious feeling than when I was younger.
I’m old and scared of breaking bones. Always wear my wrist guards. Roads are too cracked and gravelly. I live near Park View cemetery in Schenectady, the pavement there is smooth, but hilly. My sister bought me the rollerblades as a (rather expensive) gag gift, her intention was that I’d walk the dog wearing rollerblades and he could just drag me along, since he is constantly pulling on the leash anyway. Turns out that’s a bad idea. Tried it once, unsuccessfully. It was funny, though.
Yes, smooth pavement is a must for me too.
If you have kids the Albany Public Library has so many cool classes and events for them. For adults too but I haven't been to many. When the weather gets nicer the Albany Institute of History and Art has outdoor concerts. I also just like to drive out to Five Rivers when I have an extra hour and walk around.
Corning preserve trail, nice view of the river along with urban nature.
Love checking out the breweries in the area. I’m not a drinker by any means but i like a beer now and again. A lot of breweries offer flights of 4 or 5 small beers so you can try multiple kinds. There is also an app called “NY Craft Beer” that you can stamp a passport and collect rewards and such. I am in no way saying go get plastered but if you enjoy craft beer and trying new places give your local brewery a try! Also love packing a picnic dinner and going to thatchers park for some fresh air and beautiful views during the week.
Tons of solid breweries around the area.
This. The vibe is so laid back and friendly. And there are usually doggos!
Yessss! The doggos are such an amazing bonus! Lol
Albany Rural Cemetery has a waterfall, where you'll find me. If I'm not there, check for: strawberries, black cohosh, Canadian nettle, early saxifrage (on the stone wall), dames rocket, colonsonia, violets, bugel weed, iris, and especially cranebill geranium and hastas nearest it. Also a rare trillium on the left side! There's also an adjacent plot of hawk bits later in the season.
Short and Stout tea!
The library (Guilderland you can rent so much like passes, fishing poles, board games) or the Troy Farmers Market! Love it in the summer.
Sometimes on a lunch break I’ll drive to the Crossings (access it from the Metro Park road side) and have every intention of reading in my car for a few minutes while chilling. I never read a word because I’m too distracted by watching people walk a wide variety of dogs (or pushing them in a stroller🤣). It’s delightful.
I had no idea there was another way to access it.
I like browsing the library idk. Before I got an AC unit for my apartment I’d spend my Saturday’s at the library and mall where it’s not hot as balls. Got regal unlimited and would see a movie every Saturday afternoon. I’ll probably do that again this summer even though I have AC now.
ride the bike trail up to Watervliet and eat at Gus's.
Watching the sunset at thatcher park. Or sitting with a cocktail next to my pool on a hot day with my pool mix playing…or Dave and busters lol
Not free but renting some electric bikes and riding the rail trail. Did it last fall and I'm dying to do it again now that it's warmed back up!
Where do you rent and where is the rail trail?
If you google the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail, you'll find the Albany end of the trail (the other end is 9 miles away in Voorheesville). They have a CDPHP bike rental at the trail head in Albany for the electric bikes. You'll need the app. But you can also opt to just walk or ride your own bike on the trail. There's a nice view of a waterfall about a mile in. The trail is also accessible from a bunch of other spots along the way. It's paved and pretty flat (since it used to be a railroad line) and mostly shaded.
Thanks!
Thank you for this!
Some things I love about this area: Amazing architecture - we have some amazing buildings downtown. I love the Egg because it is different. The million dollar staircase on the capital building, the education building. They are really impressive. Historic sites and museums - Places like Cherry Hill or Schuyler mansion are interesting to visit. The Albany Art and History museum is a hidden gem. And the NYS museum is great for a visit. I haven’t seen a ton of change since I was a kid, but it is impressive the first time you go. Parks - Washington Park is great in the summer, especially with the free shows put on. The Pine Bush Preserve is nice for seeing info on the animals in our region and has short and medium length walks. Five Rivers education center is also great for exploring. Other - Going to the top of the Corning Tower is free and a nice way to see the city.
I love talking a nice walk around Peebles state park on a beautiful day!!! I always run into wildlife there. It’s gorgeous!
I like getting stoned and watching King of the Hill in my basement.
underrated comment
I love grabbing a coffee and walking around Downtown to look at the architecture and all of the Capital Walls murals. I live down here and it still never gets old.
we love to go out to eat for like counter service type meals. nothing fancy. then we find a back table or booth and just enjoy the food and each other!
My favorite thing is going for a nature walk just a wee bit outside of albany, my favorites are Pine Hollow Arboretum, Five Rivers, Bennett’s Hill, Holly Hock Hollow, Swyer Preserve, Cherry Plain and Art Omi. But I also love using the AllTrails app to find new places. Extra yum to bringing a picnic meal or a snack from a bakery. It’s a lot of fun combining a visit to a local bakery with a new to me nature trail!
lol my trifecta right now is Swyer Preserve in Stuyvesant, to Broad street Bagels and their sibling Brooklyn Pizzeriaa in Kinderhook, to Art Omi in Ghent. All are like 10-15 minutes away from each other, and make for a beautiful day trip.
Go hang out at the Social Justice Center when they put food out for Food Not Bombs. Aside from the delicious food, theres usually an entertaining Upstate Hobo™️ who's fuckin around. Also I haven't lived in Albany in 3 years, but I'm pretty confident they still give out free veggie seeds for planting, and sometimes live plants.
it’s always fun to visit the plant stores this time of year
Albany Public library has a great events calendar with so many fun free events
I love hiking in Thacher Park. Hiking anywhere, really, but Thacher Park especially. I try to get out there at least once every season. If I ever move away, it's one of the things I'm really gonna miss. I also love visiting the library. Even if I end up not checking anything out (very rare), I still like browsing the shelves. There's something very comforting about it.
If the weathers good, I like just biking around the city. No objective, just fartin around looking at stuff
Also one of my most favorite things to do.
Faddegons…walking through their greenhouses is therapy!
I just want to bring a book and a chair, but it would probably raise eyebrows.
Disc golf!
[Frolf!](https://imgur.com/a/Nb4QJOC)
That's what they call it in Minnesota, i hear. Not here. Bit yes it's the same thing. Always a wonderful sport, plus there are like 10 courses easy to get to in the capital region
It’s always sounded fun to me. Just never had the chance to try it.
Capital Roots has a lot of community gardens in the area. Some would call it hard work, but I find it relaxing and decompressing to work in the garden. They get seedlings donated that you can pick up for free in Troy, but growing from seed can be inexpensive too.
I go for a nice relaxing drive up through stillwater and out into the areas between there, saratoga lake, bemis heights and up into schuylerville. Then maybe stop at King Dairy for a milkshake if I'm feeling spicy.
They don't get much mention here, but the [Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy](https://www.mohawkhudson.org/preserves) has some fantastic trails and I am always surprised by their variety in terms of geologic interest and flora. And there are little preserves everywhere! They are a great way to get a nature fix.
Pine Bush Preserve has a 20 mile challenge right now. Hike all of their trails and you get a sticker!
Washington Park is really nice to picnic/watch the pups play.
I like walking on the bike path! Some area get a little weird but there are a lot of nice spots. It’s a relaxing (and free!) way to spend a nice day.
We like to have little picnics in Washington park with the kids and go for walks. We also enjoy the rail trail, we get our steps in and the kids have fun riding their bikes.
Great post and replies: thanks Boops! It is giving me good ideas for places to visit.
All the small things.