Summer is slipping away, and we are determined to squeeze every drop out of these days. After all, every minute of this season is rare and precious. So we've outlined a plan for savoring every moment of summer, A to Z.


Let's take it from the top.

 

Summer in Albany from A to Z

A

All aboard! Take a cruise on the Hudson River with Dutch Apple Cruises and feel the wind in your hair.

B

Borrow a fishing rod at any public library and drop a line in any body of water.

C

Catch a Tri-City Valley Cats baseball game at the Joe Bruno Stadium. 

D

Dance your work-week away at the weekly Alive@Five concert. 

E

Eat your way through county berry patches - starting with strawberries and finishing up with blueberries. 

F

Find your way around Albany's public arts scene, one mural at a time. Selfies are a must. 

G

Gather your friends together and hit the Albany Craft Beverage Trail, one amazing producer at a time. 

H

Hike the Helderbergs. John Boyd Thacher State Park has 25 miles of hiking trails; finish it up with a picnic at one of the picnic areas or dip your toes in one of the streams. 

 

 

summer in Albany continues

 

I 

Ice cream! Need we say more? Find your flavor at any Mom and Pop stand or ice cream parlor in Albany County. 

J

Jump into a lake! Cool off at Thompson Lake. With its sandy beaches, picnic area, boat rentals, this lake is THE summer spot. 

K

Kick off your shoes. Period.

L

Lose yourself in a play at Capital Rep or the Palace's Washington Park Lakehouse. A Night with Janis Joplin, Chicago, Seussical, and more! 

M

Meet the Hudson River School at the Albany Institute of History & Art. Discover the painters who chronicled this landscape and gain a new appreciation of this beautiful area. 

N

Need a break from the heat? Go underground with the Empire State Plaza Art Collection, and see the largest collection of modern art ever amassed for the public. 

 

 O

Open your mind, by opening your mouth. Try a new food and you could discover your new favorite summer food. Sushi? Poutine? Calamari? Yours to discover. 

P

Plan to rock! Purchase tickets ZZ Top, Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, and Gregg Alman at the Times Union Center and you'll have something to look forward to this fall.

Things to do in Albany this summer - A to Z

Q

Quality time with your family - 15 stories below the earth's surface. Howe Caverns is an underground adventure. Explore this historic network of caves on foot and by boat.

R

Run for history. Each week, during the month of July, the Albany Public Library is organizing the Albany History Running Tour, where joggers will run a route with a historian, who will offer a mini-history lesson about many of the locations they pass, giving new meaning to learning as you go. 

S

Soak up the sun at one of Albany's hidden gardens or pocket parks. Bring a book and a picnic blanket. 

T

Take a walk! Albany Pine Bush boasts 18 miles of trails through one of the few inland pine barrens in the world -- there's only 20 in the entire world, and one is right here! 

U

Uncover Hamilton's connections to Albany. Broadway may be a ways off, but you can still get your dose of Hamilton with ‘Hamilton in Albany,' which is comprised of a guided tour, exhibit and walking tour. 

V

Vibe with one of the many great acts hitting the Palace stage this summer--Chris Cornell, Lindsey Stirling, The Australian Pink Floyd Show, Celtic Thunder, and other great performers. 

W

Work your wallet. There's just too many great shops to shop in! Whether you like to browse unique shops like those on Lark Street, or find big name department stores like those at Colonie Center, Crossgates Mall, and Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany is rich in retailers. 

X

X-marks the spot. Treasure seekers rejoice--we've got tons of undiscovered riches in Albany. History happy hours, hike-bike trails along the Erie Canal, a larger than life Nipper dog perched atop a downtown building, a skate park, fun outdoor sculptures, a cafe just for children, and more! Ask any of the people who live here; Albany is a VERY cool city. 

Y

Young at heart? Check out Huck Finn Playland, a 60s-era amusement park that was relocated to Albany from nearby Latham last year. This park has undergone a complete restoration, but the original charm has been preserved. Ride the Caterpillar, the Paratrooper or the Scrambler, and you're sure to remember your own childhood summers.  

 

Z

Zap, zip, and zoom your way through an afternoon at one of our local entertainment centers. Lucky Strike Social has a great arcade, and a rocking bowling center, and Dave and Buster'sboasts a game floor with huge TV screens so you can watch the game while you game.