Fall has finally arrived, and with the changing from summer to autumn, the weather is brisk and the colors are gorgeous with the leaves creating a rainbow of orange, yellow, brown, and tan colors. With Halloween come and gone, now it’s time to find a few additional outdoor activities for fun for all ages, and a good place to start is at parks in and near Albany.
Albany Pine Bush Preserve
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is a 3,300-acre environmentally-friendly ecosystem offering a variety of must-see and must-do activities. The landscape features delicate sand dunes and almost 20 miles of distinctive trails for hiking, jogging, biking, and horseback riding. Bring your fishing gear and drop a line or a canoe for a leisurely and relaxing trip. There’s also mountain biking, nature study, and cross-country skiing.
At the Discovery Center, numerous programs are available from natural history to ecology. The state-of-the-art facility is dedicated to educating visitors to the importance of the preserve and why it’s so rare through the use of interactive exhibits and the Discovery Trail. The center has free admission and is open daily.
Washington Park
A beautiful park with plenty of walking paths winding through the woods and around the lake, Washington Park features the King Memorial Fountain (The Moses Fountain), circa 1893, which is impressive on many levels. There are recreational activities such as ice skating, tennis, biking, and basketball.
The park has events and festivals throughout the year such as the Capital Holiday Lights in the Park for the Christmas holidays, Taste of the Holidays for spirits and food, the Lantern Parade, the annual Tulip Festival in the spring, and more.
Schodack Island New York State Park
Just 20 minutes away in Schodack Landing, enjoy traversing the eight miles of trails in the 1,052-acre park. Schodack Island is bustling with life, as it is home to the Bird Conservation Area with resident bald eagles, blue herons, and cerulean warblers. Hike along the eastern Hudson shores, which enhances an already beautiful hiking environment. Picnic tables and grills are dispersed throughout the park along with playing fields and boat launches. During the winter, the park is a prime location for ice skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Saratoga Spa State Park
Like Schodack Island State Park, Saratoga Spa State Park is known as a winter destination for snowshoeing, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and ice hockey. For fall fun, the park has a plethora of activities including a nature trail, certified running courses, biking, golfing, fishing, tennis, recreational programs, museums, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and the Spa Little Theater. Picnic tables, pavilions, swimming pools, mineral spas, and historic landmarks are all part of this year-round park just 30 minutes from Albany.
Whatever time of year you choose to get out and about for some fresh air and recreation, Albany has plenty of activities, events, and entertainment to choose from. Whether it’s a day of hiking and biking or ice skating and skiing, there’s always something to do at one of these area parks.
