ALBANY

How To Get There And Things To Do

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Brief History of Albany
What's Albany Like?
Things To Do
Transport in Albany
How To Get To Albany

BRIEF HISTORY OF ALBANY

PLEASE NOTE: The following information has been taken from, and is copyright of Lonely Planet © Guide to New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania

Located on the west bank of the Hudson River, Albany (population 100,000) is the state capital of New York. It is a city that has managed to retain and retrieve, the historic charm of an old and vibrant northeastern city. Ornate state buildings and brownstone houses grace the downtown and the tree-lined streets of the neighbourhoods. The marble and glass buildings of the enormous Empire State Plaza dominate downtown and stand in sharp contrast to the otherwise historic surroundings.

Albany's character is largely defined by its role as the seat of the nation's second largest state government. Although it continues to be a manufacturing center, it is the city's service economy that allowed Albany to escape the economic devastation that accompanied the decline of basic manufacturing in other northeastern cities. In fact, the city enjoys a relatively healthy economy that supports excellent restaurants, revitalized neighborhoods, architectural gems and an array of amenities that make Albany worth a visit

The Albany plateau was once the heart of the Five Indian Nations, which included the Iroquois and Mohawk tribes. The plateau runs for 18 miles northwest to the Mohawk Valley. The first Europeans to arrive in the area in the 1500s were French trappers. In 1609, Henry Hudson sailed the Half Moon up the river that bears his name, opening the area to Dutch fur traders, who built a fort and developed a trading center. The first permanent settlement was established by a handful of Wallon families, French Prostestants who fled the Spanish Netherlends looking for religious freedom and converts. They called their settlement Fort Orange.

The town that grew up around the fort was known as Beverwyck (Beaver Town) and was controlled jointly - and with considerable contention - by the Dutch West India Company and a powerful diamond merchant Kiliaen Van Rensslaer. In 1652, Peter Studyveasant who was - at that time - a director for the Dutch West India Company, declared Beverwyck an independent town.

Twelve years later, Studyvesant was forced to surrender the town and fort to the English, who once again renamed it, this time in honor of the Duke of York and Albany. Albany was officially granted a charter in 1686. The Dutch were allowed to keep their own language, religions, and customs, all of which are still in evidence in Albany today.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries Albany remained an important link in the fur trade, and its strategic location made it a logical meeting place for representatives from the various colonies. The British tried to capture it during the Revolutionary War, but they failed. It became the state capital in 1797.

With the opening of the Erie Canal between Buffalo and Albany in 1825, the city grew dramatically. Albany built a 4000 foot pier to service canal boats to transport people, wheat, salt, glass, and other items. The railroad reached town in 1851, and the city soon became an important transportation crossroads and manufacturing center.

The city's strategic location and its diverse economic base have helped it - in recent times - to maintain a vibrant economy and to launch a preservation and renewal movement for much of the city.

The Lonely Planet's guide states: "...the city enjoys a relatively healthy economy that supports excellent restaurants, revitalized neighborhoods, architectual gems and an arrary of amenities that make Albany worth a visit."
On the other hand, Rough Guides more negatively states: "It's not an unpleasant town, just rather boring, with its contemporary character almost exclusively shaped by political and bureaucratic affairs, though there are a few livelier areas on the fringes."

This page will attempt to give an honest opinion from a student perespective:

Dawn Says....

Alex Says...

Becky Says...

Jo Says...

The Pepsi Arena hosts local ice hockey, lacrosse, and basketball games, and has music concerts all year round. This year so far has included the Backstreet Boys, Slipknot, Snoop Doggy Dog, and coming in December, Britney Spears. There are also one-off sports events such as the WWF, and face-off games between teams from the NHL and NBA.

The Egg at the Empire State Plaza also hosts music concerts (including jazz and classical music orchestra performances), plays, comedy gigs and talks.

The Palace Theate host various events including drama plays, musical plays (such as STOMP!), and music artists -most recently Maxwell, and Lonestar. Albany also has a well respected Cap. Rep. Theatre where you can see a variety of plays throughout the year.

The main nightclub Downtown is Gillians which is a US nightclub chain and features DJ's nearly every week. You can get into Gillians if you are 18 or over but will be stamped on the hand if you are under 21 and will be prohibited from the bar areas.

It might sound boring, but you really should visit the Albany Institute of History and Art, and the University Art Museum on campus. Access is free and both provide interesting displays and put on educational events. The museums and the Albany Public Library Downtown, will no doubt provide invaluable information to American Studies students for their disertation.

Albany is well served by a bus service run by CDTA. Your SUNY card will give you free access to the no.10, no.11, no.12 and no.17 buses. For all other buses there is a fixed charge of $1. The exact change is required to get on the bus. Timetables can be found on their website, and are availible at the campus centre.

Albany is also served by a train station which you can get to via the CDTA buses. Trains go to Penn Station in NYC, and although travelling by train is not the cheapest form of transport, it is fast and efficient. Penn Station is right outside of Madison Square Garden which makes the train handy for trips to events taking place at the Garden. Visit the Amtrak website for train times and ticket information.

Greyhound bus services offer a more affordable transport option than the train for travel outside of Albany. You can catch Greyhound buses from the main Greyhound Station Downtown, as well as from the university campus. Greyhound buses travel to a variety of places across America. A trip to NYC from Albany is approximately 2 and 1/2 hours depending on the time and the day that you travel. Check the Greyhound website to find out where you can travel to and the cost of tickets.

Arrival in the United States

• JFK Airport Homepage
• Newark Airport Homepage

New York City to Albany

Flight and Airline Information

For your safety and convenience, you should not book a flight that arrives in New York City late at night. It is highly recommended that you book a connecting flight from New York City to Albany as this is the most direct and fastest route. However, if you choose other ways to get to Albany from New York City, you can use private or public transportation:

Express Shuttle

Bus or Train

How to Get to Station in Manhattan:

You can pick up the bus directly outside of the airport terminal. You do not need a reservation to take the bus from the airport. The trip into Manhatten takes 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic conditions.

• New York Airport Service Express Bus (phone number (718) 875-8200)leaves JFK every 15-30 minutes to Port Authority Bus Terminal. The one way fare is $13.00.
• Express Shuttle USA/Grey Line Express (toll free number: 1-800-451-0455) provides transportation to many different locations in Manhatten. The cost for one-way is $14.00.
• If you choose to take a taxi directly from the airport to either the Port Authority Bus Terminal or Penn Station, please note the following advice:
• For your own safety, use uniformed taxi dispatchers to get a taxi at the airport. Dispatchers can provide you with fare information.
• Use taxis whose color are yellow (we strongly advise you to use only yellow cabs). Also, check if taxis have medallion shields on the hood and medallion numbers on the roof.
• Note the driver's 6-digit license number on the dashboard in case there is a problem with your ride.
• There is a flat fare policy for all trips from JFK Airport to the first destination in Manhatten. Beyond the first destination, additional charge would apply.
• The fare from Manhattan to JFK is about $30.00, plus gratuity (tip) of up to 15% and tolls (if any).
• Click Here For General Transportation Information in New York City.

From Manhattan to Albany:

• Their combined service operates for seven days a week, starting from 12:45am till 11:30pm. From the 5:45am service, the service runs approximately every hour.
• The trip takes approximately 3 hours, depending on traffic conditions. One way service is approximately $26.00.
• Remember to enquire about student discounts when you purchase your ticket.
• You do not need to make a reservation to ride the bus; however, you need to be at the station one hour prior to the departing time. Sometimes there are a lot of people waiting to board the bus, and if the seats fill up, you may have to wait for the next bus.
• The fares and times mentioned above are subject to change without notice.
• For more information contact:
  Port Authority Bus Terminal (phone number: (212)-564-8484).
  Adirondack Trailways (toll free number: 1-800-225-6815).
  Greyhound Bus (toll free number: 1-800-229-9424).

By Train - Pennsylvania Railroad Station ("Penn Station") is located between 7th & 8th Avenues, and 32nd & 33rd Streets at Madison Square Garden where you take Amtrak train.

• Amtrak trains leave Penn Station from 7:20am until 8:37pm. Travel time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to Albany.
• A one-way fare to Albany costs between $39 and $46 depending on when you travel.
• You are allowed to take only 2 pieces of carry on luggage with you on the train.
• There are up to 5 stops on the way. The city of Albany is served by the railway station in Rensselaer, which is across the Hudson River from Albany.
• Please be alert to possible schedule and fare changes.
• For futher information contact Amtrak (toll free number: 1-800-872-724).

By Automobile:

• Take the New York State Thruway to Exit 24.
• After you pass through the tollbooth, take Route 90 East. Stay in the right hand lane as the Washington Avenue/State University Exit is the first exit.
• There is a traffic light at the exit - Go straight through the light and you will be on the University campus. At the stop sign, make a left. You will be on Perimeter Road.
• Take the first right onto Collins Circle where you will see signs for "Visitor Parking." Follow the signs and ask the person in the parking booth where you may park. You will have to pay for visitor parking until you have registered your car with the Office of Parking Management.

Arrival in Albany

• If you have a lot of luggage, we recommend that you take a taxi. You must telephone for a taxi and give them your location so that someone can pick you up. We recommend Yellow Cab (phone number: (518)-456-8294.) Sometimes taxis will be waiting outside of the bus terminal or train station.
• If you prefer to take a bus, CDTA (=Capital District Transit Authority) public bus service is availible for the cost of $1.00 (Exact change is required). For more information call (518) 482-8822 or visit the CDTA Website.
• From the Albany Bus Terminal (located on Hamilton Street near Broadway):
• The taxi fare to locations near the campus is approximately $7.50 plus a gratuity (tip) of 15%.
• CDTA public bus service runs approximately 25 minutes apart. From the bus terminal, the closest boarding point is on the corner of State Street and North Pearl Street. Either the "Western Avenue 10" or the "Washington Avenue 12" bus will take you to the campus area. The cost is $1.00 (exact change is required).
• From the Albany International Airport (in Colonie county):
• You can get a taxi outside the terminal or you can call the dispatcher at the airport at (518) 869-2258 or the Albany dispatcher at (518) 434-2222 which charges approximately $14 plus tip for a single passenger and $2.5 for each additional passenger to the University. It usually takes 30 minutes to the campus.
• If you are taking a taxi from any of these locations, be sure to ask the driver what the fare will be before you get in. Be careful not to leave your luggage unattended!

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