New York City Tourism in a Blink

By: David H. Urmann
Albany is much a state capital. In addition, it is a revitalized business giant that offers a wide variety of performing art venues and colonial architecture. Albany's visual appeal is making waves with numerous vacationers.

Albany is the county seat of Albany County and the capital of New York. It has close ties with Saratoga Springs, Schenectady and Troy, forming a region known as the Capital District. Albany is the 2nd oldest state capital and the 4th oldest city in the US behind Jamestown, Virginia, St. Augustine, Florida and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Albany has a humid continental weather with snowy, cold winters and hot summers.

The CDTA or Capital District Transportation Authority provides transportation services throughout the state and its surrounding areas including Troy and Schenectady. It also provides management facilities for local rail stations. The Albany International Airport is situated close to the Colonie, serving the greater Capital Region and Albany with its air services across the United States as well as to one Canadian destination. The Albany-Rensselaer Armak Station is the 10th busiest station and it is the 2nd busiest in the state, behind New York Penn Station that has riders amounting to more than 733,000 passengers.

Albany is home to significant and large collections of current arts. The popular Empire State Plaza Art Collection that belongs to the community of New York includes the works of Jackson Pollock, Robert Motherwell and Alexander Calder.

There are many recreational areas situated in Albany and one of which is the Washington Park. The Washington Park is known as one of the oldest city parks in New York. The Washington Park was organized in the year 1809. However, the current place of the park is being used as a recreational site for more than 300 years.

Its current layout was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The Lincoln Park was originally called as the Delaware Square and afterwards, the Beaver Park. Nowadays, it has a swimming pool open to the city residents throughout the summer months. Another notable recreational area here is situated along Corning Preserve. The Albany Riverfront Park is an 800-seat amphitheater that hosts several events from spring through fall. This park features a boat launch and bike trails.

There are also many hotels around Albany. One good example is the Hampton Inn and Suites Albany Downtown. It is conveniently and centrally situated in numerous downtown attractions, points of interests and government buildings. It is about 5 miles away from the State University of Albany, the Albany Palace Theater, the Empire State Plaza and the Capital Repertory Theater. The hotel features 165 lavishly appointed rooms and suites as well as meeting and banquet rooms, fitness centers and high speed wireless Internet access. All guestrooms have refrigerators, microwave ovens, cable televisions, hairdryers and data ports.

Red Roof Inn Albany Airport Hotel is situated about 10 miles away from downtown Albany and just 1 mile away from the Albany International Airport. It is 25 miles away from the Saratoga Harness Track and 6 miles away from the Pepsi Arena, Palace Theater and the State Capitol of New York.

It offers complimentary taxi services to and from the airport, coupons for several restaurants within walking distances and discounts to local fitness facilities. All guestrooms have alarm clocks, cable televisions and coffee makers with coffee, data ports as well as microwave ovens, hairdryers and irons with ironing boards.

Hilton Garden Inn Albany Airport Hotel is situated in the foothills of Adirondack Mountains. This hotel is 30 miles north of some New York destinations such as the Adirondack Parks, Lake George and Cooperstown. The hotel features a 24 hour complimentary business center, heated indoor swimming pool, high speed Internet access and a large parking area. All guestrooms have microwave ovens, coffee makers, large work desks, two dual line telephones, data ports, voice mail, ergonomic chairs and cable televisions.