CapNY Spring Weekend Itinerary: Albany County

Updated: July 2025

Itching for a weekend getaway or staycation this spring? Book a trip to Albany for must-see museums, craft beverage experiences and much more! With blooming tulips and blue skies, it is a picture-perfect time of year to visit Albany. Scroll on for a weekend itinerary to discover Albany this spring.

This blog post is presented through a content collaboration with Discover Albany.

  • Friday Night

Check in at one of Albany’s charming boutique hotels to kick off your spring weekend getaway. Housed in a 1884 turreted Victorian mansion, the Washington Park Inn is a perfect home base. The boutique hotel is a stone’s throw away from Washington Park and a short walk to downtown Albany. Another great option is the Washington Park Inn’s sister property, The Argus Hotel. The urban inn, located in a renovated, century-old mansion, has 12 guest rooms available.

For dinner, head to Lark Street, dubbed Albany’s “Village in the City”. The bustling corridor is home to charming shops, local restaurants and small businesses. 288 Lark Wine & Tap is a wine bar serving pizza from next door at Villa di Como Ristorante. Rain Modern Chinese is a destination for contemporary authentic Cantonese fare in Albany.  

Rosanna’s on Dove

Vegan or vegetarian? Go to Savoy Taproom for scratch-made food, cocktails and regional craft beverages. Or check out Bar Vegan, a new vegan tapas and cocktails bar, boasting an entire plant-based menu. 

Nearby in Albany’s Center Square neighborhood, dine at Rosanna’s on Dove or Dove + Deer. Rosanna’s specializes in Old World Italian fare with a modern twist. Dove + Deer serves up elevated pub eats. Both eateries are totally Insta-worthy and shake up must-try craft cocktails! 

  • Saturday
Morning

Jumpstart Saturday morning with a hearty breakfast at Iron Gate Cafe. The family-owned and-operated restaurant is a 15-minute walk from the Washington Park Inn. Housed in a converted historic mansion, it is a go-to spot for brunch in Albany. Savor delicious eats including Benedicts, omelets, scrambles, pancakes, French toast and more. If the weather cooperates, don’t miss out on dining al fresco on the charming patio. 

Burn off breakfast with a scenic bicycle ride through Washington Park by renting a bike from CDPHP Cycle!, a bike-share program operated by CDTA and CDPHP.

Iron Gate Cafe

Afternoon

Albany Institute of History & Art

Located not too far from Washington Park, the Albany Institute of History & Art is a must-see museum. It is one of the oldest museums in the country and specializes in art and historical objects documenting the life and culture of New York’s Upper Hudson Valley from the late 17th-century to present.

After visiting the Albany Institute of History & Art, take an afternoon stroll through downtown Albany. Marvel at the stunning architecture of the New York State Capitol Building. Go the Empire State Plaza to view the art collection, a treasure trove of Abstract Expressionist art. Wander the streets of downtown Albany to soak up the city’s rich history and to admire the fascinating architecture. 

Empire State Plaza Art Collection

If you prefer to listen to something as you walk, tune into the Artful Albany podcast. Each podcast episode serves as a self-guided walking tour in downtown Albany. Learn about the city’s 400 year-old history and the #CapitalWalls mural project. The Artful Albany Podcast is presented by Discover Albany, the Downtown Albany BID and Albany Center Gallery.  

Need a bite to eat during your downtown Albany walk? Pop into The Spinning Gyro for sandwiches and wraps. 

Albany Distilling Company

Hop in a rideshare to make it to Albany Distilling Company’s Distillery by 3:00 PM for a tour. Tours dive into the entire production process for the handcrafted, small-batch spirits. The tour concludes with a sampling of Albany Distilling’s spirits. Please note that tours must be reserved in advance! 

Night

Located in the heart of downtown Albany, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen is a great spot for dinner. The Hollow’s menu features seasonal dishes crafted with farm-fresh ingredients. The eatery boasts an extensive craft beer list and a handful of signature cocktails. Many of the dishes are also vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free.  

The Hollow resides on the lower level of this building

After dinner, go to an arena football game or a concert. Sports fans, plan your getaway or staycation on a weekend with an Albany Empire home game. Cheer on the professional arena football players during an exhilarating game! Home games at the MVP Arena this spring are on Saturday April 23, Saturday May 21 and Saturday June 4. More of a fan of concerts and live music? Lark Hall, a historic performance arts venue, was recently restored and reopened. Check out the concert schedule and plan your trip around a Saturday show that catches your interest! 

  • Sunday

Check-out from your hotel and grab a rideshare (or drive your car) to The Skinny Pancake for breakfast. The Vermont-based creperie is downtown Albany’s newest breakfast and brunch hotspot. The menu has a wide selection of sweet and savory crepes made with local ingredients. Reservations encouraged! 

After breakfast, explore outside the city of Albany limits. Either hop in a rideshare or drive your own car to the Pine Hollow Arboretum in Slingerlands. It is a 15-minute drive from downtown Albany and a tranquil place for a morning walk. Be immersed into the sights and sounds of spring along the network of trails. Marvel at the blossoming magnolia trees, azaleas and wildflowers! The grounds are open for free from dawn to dusk, 365 days per year. 

Pine Hollow Arboretum
Afternoon

If you are not quite ready to end your weekend getaway or staycation, plan for one last stop! Near the Pine Hollow Arboretum, check out Art on the Rail Trail (ART). This public art initiative is a volunteer committee of the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy.  Go for a walk to soak up scenic views of nature and admire the vibrant art installations. Find information on the locations of the art installations at this link.

 
Young People’s Mural, designed by student Emily Meier, project work led by artist Andrea Hersh
  • Written By: Discover Albany

How to Spend 48 Hours in CapNY

CapNY offers the perfect blend of small city charm and rustic nature. The region is a vast area that ranges from the foothills of the Catskills to the foothills of the Adirondacks, and in between those 90 miles are cities, towns, countrysides, forests, mountains and lakes, all with their own unique flares.

Photo: Samascotts Garden Market, learn more below!

Your Summer Rompin’ HQ

The area provides a wide variety of things to do, eat, and drink, and is located just three hours away from New York City. Definitely don’t overlook the Capital Region when planning your next weekend romp this summer. And if you do plan on visiting, here is a 48-hour itinerary to help map out your trip. 

Day 1

Late Afternoon: Arrive in Hudson, NY

If you’re coming from downstate, Hudson is the perfect first stop on your CapNY trip. Hudson sits on, given its name, the Hudson River, and is a quaint small city with an artsy vibe. If you’re a fan of antiquing and interior design, you could spend a whole weekend just here, going up and down Hudson’s main street, Warren Street, to all the shops and boutiques. 

Shop at The Antique Warehouse
When you see the HUGE warehouse that kind of looks like it’s abandoned – DON’T RUN AWAY! This is what’s inside. The Antique Warehouse

Not on Warren street, but definitely a must-see, is The Antique Warehouse, a literal warehouse, filled with furniture, decor, art, and architectural pieces like windows and pillars. Do a little shopping before checking into your hotel.

Check into your hotel!

If you’re in Hudson, you gotta keep with the interior design trend, and stay at The Maker, a beautifully designed boutique hotel, clad in leather, velvet and fringe, making for a luxurious and stylish stay. You won’t have to stray far for dinner, as The Maker has an incredible restaurant right at the hotel. Their restaurant sits in a glass conservatory, and focuses on seasonal plates with a local emphasis. They also have a separate menu in their candle-lit lounge, which serves more casual fare, as well as craft cocktails, wine and local beer. 

The Maker Hotel

Day 2

Morning: Stop at Bartlett House for breakfast

Once you’ve left Hudson, drive 20 minutes to Ghent, NY, and make sure to stop at the Bartlett House for breakfast. The Maker’s in-house cafe serves Bartlett House’s pastries, but why not go right to the source. Grab a coffee, one of their breakfast sandwiches made on a freshly baked English muffin, and a croissant, because why not? You’re on vacation. 

Check out Art Omi
After breakfast, take a 6 minute drive to Art Omi, a 120-acre outdoor sculpture and architecture park and gallery, where you can enjoy beautiful art pieces while also taking in some fresh air and upstate NY nature. You could easily spend half a day exploring the park, but you can also make it a shorter 2 hour stop, where you stick to one area. Art Omi is completely free, which is always a plus, but donations are encouraged. And make sure to wear your walking shoes, as it’s a nature walk as much as it is an art gallery.
Afternoon: Stop for a snack in Valatie, NY
The feline manager

After checking out Art Omi, head up North towards Troy, NY. If you’re hankering for a snack after all that walking, you can make a pitstop in the town of Valatie on the way. Stop at Golden Harvest Farms for one of their famous apple cider doughnuts, rated the best in the Capital Region, which they have year-round. Or go to Samascotts Garden Market, which has delicious homemade ice cream, and also happens to be a plant nursery. Lap up some ice cream in their greenhouse while you peruse their great indoor plant selection. And make sure to greet their very helpful feline manager.

Arrive in Troy, NY for lunch

Troy is a newly revitalized city that also sits along the Hudson River, just north of Albany. You could say Troy has a bit of a Brooklyn vibe, but it truly does have its own unique personality. Depending on what time you arrive, you might be able to hit Troy’s popular farmers market, right in the heart of its downtown, which runs from 9 am to 2 pm every Saturday. The farmers market not only has fresh fruit and vegetables, but also a ton of food vendors serving up all kinds of cuisines. If you miss it, no fret, as there’s plenty of restaurants in the cute downtown. 

Grab a coffee and walk around Washington Park
Do it for the gram at Superior Merchandise Company

If you need a pick-me-up afternoon coffee, make sure to stop at Superior Merchandise Company. I recommend their iced latte with oat milk, it’s my favorite in the Capital Region. And while you’re waiting for your coffee order, you can shop the store’s perfectly curated, vibesy assortment of candles, glassware, clothes, and stationery. Enjoy your coffee on their back patio or walk a few minutes to the historic Washington Park. The park is gated, as it is one of the few private parks in New York State, however, the cobblestone streets and houses around the park are stunning. So much so, the HBO show Gilded Age filmed there. 

Get lunch at Nighthawks

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab some lunch at one of the many restaurants in downtown Troy. If it’s before 3 pm, you can’t beat Brunch at Nighthawks, a farm to table restaurant with an often changing menu depending on what’s in season, although their popular burgers are always available to order, veggie ones as well. And they always have at least one vegan option on their Brunch menu. Other options for lunch include the al pastor tacos from La Capital Tacos and the beef bulgogi from Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen. 

Pick up a bottle of natural wine
Twenty-Two 2nd Wine Co.

If you’re a fan of natural wine, make sure to stop at Twenty-Two 2nd Wine Co. The boutique wine store offers a great selection of unique, small-production, naturally-made wines from around the world. I especially love their selection of orange/skin-contact wines. 

Early Evening: Drive up to Saratoga Springs

Once you’ve had your fill of Troy, take the 30 minute drive North to Saratoga Springs. It is still a beautiful little city, featuring a walkable downtown with plenty of shops and restaurants, idyllic parks, and is in close proximity to lakes and hiking trails. Check into your hotel, like the newly renovated The Adelphi Hotel, which sits right on Broadway, in the heart of downtown Saratoga. Freshen up and get ready for a night on the town. 

Grab dinner at Hamlet and Ghost

Walk over to Hamlet and Ghost, a popular haunt in Saratoga Springs, that serves craft cocktails and modern American fare. Be sure to make a reservation, as it is very busy most nights, and for good reason. I’m partial to their oysters, and grass-fed burger with duck confit fries, but their vegetable small plates are also incredible, like their broccolini with cured egg yolk, mint, and tonnato sauce.

Night: Go to 9 Maple Ave for an after-dinner cocktail

After dinner, walk across the street to 9 Maple Ave, an intimate moody 1880’s area bar with a wide selection of liquor. Order their Espresso Martini, it’s amazing, while you listen to live jazz.

After 9 Maple Ave, you could go next door to the nightclub, The Nite Owl, for some dancing, or go bar hopping down Caroline Street, which is right around the corner, and lined with bars, many featuring outdoor patios or rooftops, so you can enjoy the warm summer nights. 

Day 3

Morning: Morning: Grab coffee and a quick breakfast

Wake up early, and nurse that hangover with a quick coffee and breakfast from the nearby Saratoga Coffee Traders or Uncommon Grounds. Saratoga Coffee Traders have great, quick, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, and Uncommon Grounds is often voted as the best bagels in the Capital Region. 

Pack a lunch for later from Putnam Market

Stop by the Putnam Market to get all the makings for a picnic lunch, I recommend ordering a sandwich on their baguettes, you won’t be disappointed. They also have a great selection of cheeses if you want to pack the makings of a charcuterie board. Check out of your hotel, grab some sunscreen, and head out for a day on Saratoga Lake. 

Go boating on Saratoga Lake

About a 10 minute drive from downtown Saratoga is Saratoga Lake. The idyllic lake is a popular spot in the summer months for boating, hanging out on the beach, or eating at one of the many restaurants that line its coast. Charter a pontoon boat for a half day (9 am to 2 pm) at Vivi E Basta Rentals, or rent kayaks, also at Vivi’s or at The Kayak Shak, which is located just upstream on a creek that feeds right into the lake. Enjoy a day in the sun and water, and if you still have some time before traveling back home, snag an Adirondack chair at Dock Brown’s Beach Bar for a cold drink to end the day.

  • Written by: Victoria Diana

Victoria Diana is a writer, director, and stand-up comedian born and based in Schenectady, NY.