10 Places That Are Worth The Drive From Albany
There's plenty of fun attractions to visit in Albany, but if you're looking to travel outside of the city for something new, you'll want to check out one (or more!) of these 10 amazing places that are definitely worth the drive.
Tanglewood Music Center
The Tanglewood Music Center was opened in 1940 by Serge Koussevitzky, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's music director. Since then, the Tanglewood Music Center has helped countless young musicians sharpen their skills under the tutelage of Boston Symphony Orchestra musicians. Purchase tickets for a performance of chamber or contemporary music, as well as vocal recitals, and soak in the musical experience.
Location: 297 West Street, Lenox, MA 01240
Drive time: 50 minutes from Albany
The Clark
The Clark is open daily from 10 am - 5 pm, and with all the museum exhibits and events happening, you won't want to leave! The collection of the Clark features European art, especially French Impressionism, and American art, that includes pieces by Winslow Homer, George Inness, and John Singer Sargent. Explore highlights of the current collections during a daily gallery talk and find activities for the whole family with their events calendar. In addition to the gallery exhibits, there are ongoing research and academic programs happening on the Clark's campus.
Location: 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA 01267
Drive time: 1 hour from Albany
Woodstock, NY
Welcome to an idyllic American small town with a twist! Woodstock has been a "colony of the arts" since 1902 and continues its focus on the arts to this day. Many artists call Woodstock home and you can visit the Elena Zang Gallery, the Lily Ente Studio, the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, the Woodstock Artists Association and Museum, or take a few art classes for yourself. If you're not in the museum mood you can take a walk around town and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings, including Overlook Mountain and Cooper Lake. Drive 50 miles to the town of Bethel to visit the site where the famous Woodstock Music Festival took place (and the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, see below).
Location: Woodstock NY, 12498
Drive time: 1 hour from Albany
Stockbridge, MA
Just a short drive over the state border will take you to the Massachusetts town of Stockbridge. You can easily fill a day or weekend full of adventures here, from exploring the Berkshire Botanical Garden to visiting the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum to taking a wine tasting tour. Visit an art gallery or buy tickets for a theater performance while in town! From here, it's a very short drive to the Clark Art Institute and Tanglewood (see above for more details).
Location: Stockbridge, MA 01262
Drive time: 1 hour from Albany
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art
The vast 26-building complex that houses the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) has also been home to various colonial businesses, a textile mill, and an electronics plant. Mass MoCA opened in 1999 as an exhibition space for large contemporary art that would not fit in conventional museum galleries. In addition to its short-term exhibits, the museum features long-term installations by artists including Christina Kubisch, Sol LeWitt, Anselm Kiefer, and more. Once you've explored the galleries, stick around for a musical performance or film screening.
Location: 1040 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
Drive time: 1 hour, 10 minutes from Albany
Hunter Mountain
No matter the season, you can find an activity to enjoy at Hunter Mountain. On and near the mountain you can ski and snowboard, fly through the air with New York Zipline Adventure Tours, learn how to fly fish with the help of friendly staff members, go on a 4x4 off-road adventure, hike, and golf. The spring, summer, and fall seasons are filled with weekend festivals that consist of live music, dancing, food, and drinks. You might love the mountain so much that you decide that the summit is the perfect place to hold your wedding!
Location: Main Street, Hunter, NY 12442
Drive time: 1 hour, 15 minutes from Albany
Cooperstown, NY
Discover all that Cooperstown has to offer, from artistic charm to sports legacy history. Visit Cooperstown's biggest claim to fame, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, after which you can take in a game at Doubleday Field or stop by the Heroes of Baseball Wax Museum. If you time your trip right, you can witness the induction of baseball's greats into the Hall of Fame. There's plenty to do that's not baseball themed too; you can find inspiration from the 20th century American Art or traditional American Indian Art at the Fenimore Art Museum, sample Belgian-style craft beers at Brewery Ommegang, and take in beautiful opera music during the Glimmerglass Festival.
Location: Cooperstown, NY 13326
Drive time: 1 hour, 30 minutes from Albany
Herkimer Diamond Mines
Diamonds can be anyone's best friend at the Herkimer Diamond Mines where you get to keep everything you find! For between $10-$12 you can prospect for your very own Herkimer Diamonds (double-terminated quartz crystals) at the above ground, surface mines. The crystals are close to 5 hundred million years old and rival real diamonds for harness, shape, and appearance. After you find your diamonds, visit the Diamond Activity Center for jewelry classes, appraisals, geode cracking and more. Mining and sluicing will make you hungry, so grab a bite at one of the three cafes. You'll love it so much that you'll want to book a camping vacation at the KOA Resort.
Location: 4601 State Route 28, Herkimer, NY 13350
Drive time: 1 hour, 40 minutes from Albany
Trout Town USA
Roscoe, NY, known as Trout Town USA, is a haven for those looking to get their fly fishing fix. Located in the Catskill Mountains, Roscoe features rugged mountains, pristine bodies of water, and - most importantly - 5 of America's top trout streams. There are even more fishing locations to the west of town, including the legendary Junction Pool, home of the famous Two Headed Trout. The town also has several full-service fly fishing shops, fishing guides, and guide services.
Location: Roscoe NY, 12776
Drive time: 2 hours, 20 minutes from Albany
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts provides a unique educational, performance, and retreat environment for those who are interested in the arts and humanities. The Museum at Bethel Woods is a multimedia experience that incorporates film, interactive displays, and artifacts from the 60's (make sure you stop by the Woodstock festival hillside right outside). The center also features a variety of music events, theater performances, and film screenings, as well as education opportunities for all age groups.
Location: 200 Hurd Road, Bethel, NY 12720
Drive time: 2 hours, 20 minutes from Albany
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