The Oldest Town In New York That Everyone Should Visit At Least Once

What started off as one of our country's first settlements, the city of Albany is now home to over 98,000 residents. Full of history and life, Albany became New York's state capital back in 1797 and has continued to grow ever since.

Aside from cozy coffee shops to gift shops, the lively street is home to a variety of restaurants and storefronts that can suit everyone's needs. The unique flare that can be found in this stretch of Albany is one that draws in visitors of all ages and is worth checking out.

Right on Quackenbush Square, the Vistors Center offers maps all year long for self-guided walking tours. Another reason to stop in here while you're visiting the area? The Visitors Center also has a gift shop showcasing locally made products and Albany items that you'll want to take home with you.

Another amazing perk to Albany? There are so many spectacular venues where you can see a variety of shows and artists perform. If you missed out on seeing The Nutcracker Ballet last week at the Palace Theatre then don't worry too much! There are still plenty of other magical shows you can catch this season, the theatre will be showing movies like Elf, A Christmas Story, It's A Wonderful Life and other holiday classics that we all love.

Take a step inside the unique architecture of The Egg to experience a show you'll never forget. The Egg has plenty of upcoming events that are perfect for the holiday season. From holiday concerts to Albany Berkshire Ballet’s "The Nutcracker", if you've never actually been inside of this venue before then now is the time to cross this place off of your bucket list.

Always weather permitting, the skating rink only closes daily from 3PM to 4PM for maintenance. If you already have your own pair of skates then it won't cost you a dime to enjoy this Capital Region attractions, otherwise visitors can rent skates for $4 dollars ($3 dollars from children 12 and under). If you're trying to save every nickel and dollar for the upcoming holidays, then take advantage of Hannaford's free skate rental day every Friday! You'll also be able to find a full-service snack bar here Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, just another reason to visit on the weekend.

If you live in the Capital Region there's a good chance that you've taken a tour of our Capitol building. If you've never seen this historical structure when its decorated for the holiday season though, then it's worth taking the time to check out before the month is over. Tour the building and you'll find holiday cheer all over the place, with several different Christmas trees that are all decorated beautifully. With weekday tours Monday through Friday and tours on the second Saturday of every month, there's plenty of opportunities for you to take in Albany's history here.

Right in the heart of the city you can find 125 holiday light displays all inside of Washington Park. Celebrating 20 years of holiday cheer, the park comes to life during this season and is beautiful to see in person. Jump in your car with a group of friends and family and stay warm while your eyes light up over these wonderful displays. To find out more information about this event, click here.

Albany Pine Bush Preserve is home to a rare ecosystem that you won't find in many other places through the world, with several different trails that will take you to serene outdoor settings that you'll be surprised to find in this area. The preserve has 18-miles of designated trails that are beautiful to explore especially when they're frosted over with New York's crunchy snow. Open every day all year long, you can click here to see a maps of the trails and to check for conditions and closures before you plan a trip here.