A Glimpse Into Albany Life & Capital Region Living
Albany is located on the banks of the Hudson River, so naturally there are plenty of lakes and streams nearby. There is the beautiful Washington Park in the middle of the city, and this has wide open spaces for picnicking, reading, tossing a Frisbee, etc. It's also where the annual Tulip Festival is held each spring along with many other special events throughout the year. There are other smaller parks within the city and state parks nearby as well. More about Albany parks here ».
Within the city, you'll find small businesses and locally owned restaurants as well as chains like Starbucks and Bruegger's. Local theatres and hot spots bring in world-class shows, ranging from comedians to Disney stars to popular music groups. Community events are held year round, many drawing thousands of visitors into Albany. Local colleges also offer a fresh influx of new visitors each year. Business thrives as Albany is considered a major hub for the emerging field of nanotechnology. Learn more about Tech Valley »
If you travel outside the city, there's rolling hills and lakes and streams and forests - really quite beautiful in all seasons. You'll find suburban communities, rural communities - even farms - not too far away from Albany. Browse nearby neighborhoods here. Up for taking a day trip from Albany? There is the popular tourist destination Saratoga Springs about 30 minutes away. Lake George and the Adirondacks are about an hour north.
The Capital Region winter usually sees temperatures in the low 20's - 30's with moderate snowfall. The shimmering white snow looks like a blanket over the region, and naked tree branches glisten with icicles. The lakes and rivers are frozen solid for most of the season, being transformed into skating rinks in many local parks. Occasionally we will get a really big snow storm in the Capital Region, dropping a foot or more of snow. This is when the neighborhood kids rejoice for having a "snow day" and getting to stay home from school. But where do they go? Why, outside, of course... to make a snowman! Discover more winter activities in the Albany area »
In the Spring, temperatures rise to the 50's and 60's, and the air is crisp and refreshing. We usually get quite a bit of rain during April. As the old saying goes, "April Showers Bring May Flowers!" The month of May might get as high as 75. Then you'll see green sprouts poking up from the wet soil and birds chirping from the treetops. Flowers begin to blossom (including Albany's tulips!), bees come buzzing in, and green foliage returns to trees, shrubs and bushes.
Summer brings sunshine and warmth, with temperatures usually in the high 70's to lower 80's. Sometimes with high humidity, a day can get sticky, but for the most part, the summer here is relatively comfortable. Air conditioners are considered a staple for most Capital Region homes each summer. Many Capital Region residents cool off during the summer months by taking a dip in their above-ground or in-ground pools, heading to one of several public pools in Albany or even enjoying one of the local beaches within an hour from the City of Albany.
During the fall season, there are trees everywhere that change into brilliant colors, transforming the Capital Region into a landscape of fluorescent pinks, glowing oranges, deep maroons and bright yellows. Leaf peeping is a common past time during autumn in Upstate New York, and many regional hiking trails and bike paths are especially designed to offer the best fall foliage views. Families visit Capital Region apple orchards and pumpkin patches to make the best of the season... and the best homemade pies! Learn about more fall fun activities in Albany. Temperatures in the fall begin to drop first at night, then the days cool off as well, temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 before falling sharply to welcome in the winter.