Visiting Albany and Central New York State

New York's Capital Region with Albany at the center, is a winter wonderland. South of the seemingly endless outdoor winter recreation of the Adirondacks, Albany offers indoor culture for visitors wanting to come inside for a bit of New York’s winter. A recently reopened Irish American Heritage Museum, the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center and the Capital Repertory Theatre are wonderful destinations to get out of the cold. The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown is open daily during winter – less the crowds of summer. A visit to Ithaca rewards travelers with events at Cornell University and Ithaca College. Central New York and New York’s Capital region await your visit.

Expanding to a year-round exhibit center, Albany’s Irish American Heritage Museum celebrates the grand opening of a new facility January 2012. Visit the museum at 370 Broadway in downtown Albany, for a look at the inaugural exhibition “Dublin: Then and Now”. The Irish American Museum offers a unique look at the lives and influence of the Irish in America’s heritage, history and culture.

The former Albany Pump Station along with a historic townhome on Quackenbush Street, are the current home of the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center. Also home to Henry Hudson Planetarium, features monthly Star Shows including Children’s Shows and Albany Star Sightings.

Just fifteen minutes northeast of Albany in Troy, is the Children’s Museum of Science and Technology. Featuring the exhibit, Living Indoor Hudson River, traces the source of the Hudson from its source in the Adirondacks to its end in the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors enjoy special exhibits of the Watershed Table, Invasive Species and the Butterfly House where kids can track the lifecycle of the butterfly. The CMOST is a great place to send some time on a cold day.

Cooperstown is set and hour and a half west of Albany off Interstate 88. February brings Cooperstown's Winter Carnivale 2012. Load up family and friends for a trip to Cooperstown to enjoy. The festivities kick off February 10th with the annual Carnival Fireworks display, followed by the crowning of the Carnival Court at Lakefront Park Bandstand.

Check into the Cooperstown Best Western hotel for a full weekend of winter fun. The Carnival Parade hits Cooperstown's Main Street Saturday morning, after its start at Cooper Park; the parade ends at Doubleday Field after winding its way through downtown Cooperstown. New for 2012, visitors enjoy a heated tent in Doubleday Park filled with food and craft vendors, music, live entertainment and plenty of activities for the kids. Cooperstown makes a great February getaway for raise the spirits.

March in Cooperstown features Sugaring Off Sundays at the Farmer’s Museum. Start your visit with a morning pancake breakfast at the Museum, and then take a ride on the Empire State Carousel, which is open for the event. The highlight of the day is watching the sugaring process showcasing the maple syrup making process. Be sure to taste the “jack wax” – kids of all ages love warm maple syrup over snow.

Albany and Central New York State Hotel Map