There are lots of great day trips from the Capital Region. These are some of the places we have visited over the years. It is fun to explore different parts of New York and experience different cities and places. A lot of the places we have checked out are fun to revisit during different seasons as well.
5-Wits, Albany, NY
Adirondack Animal Land, Gloversville, NY (Albany area)
Adirondack Tubing Adventures, Lake Luzerne, NY
Ace of Diamonds Campground & Mine, Middleville, NY (Albany area)
Albany County Ice Skating Facility
Albany Indoor Rock Gym
Art Omi, Ghent, NY
Big Deep & Little Deep Swimming Holes, Woodstock, NY
Billy Beez Indoor Play, Albany, NY
Bowman Orchards, Rexford, NY
Bronx Zoo, NY and Tips for Visiting the Bronx Zoo (Bronx, NY)
Catskill Animal Sanctuary, Saugerties, NY
Darien Lake Amusement Park, NY
Diamond Island, Lake George, NY
Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, NY (3.5 hrs)
Garnet Mine Tours, North River, NY (Albany area)
The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom, Lake George, NY
and Tips for Visiting The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom, Lake George, NY
The Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park, Lake George, NY
High Falls Conservation Area, Ghent, NY
Hunter Mountain, NY (snow tubing)
Hyuck Preserve, Rensselaerville, NY
Ilion Gorge, NY (looking for travertine)
Indian Ladder Farms, Altamont, NY (Albany area)
The Kartrite Resort, Monticello, NY (Catskills)
Lavenlair Lavender Farm, Whitehall, NY
Niagara Falls Fireworks
Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist & Cave of the Winds
Opus 40 Sculpture Park, Saugerties, NY
Riverside Maple Farms, Glenville, NY
Roseland Wake Park, Canandaigua, NY
Saratoga Spa State Park
Saratoga Spa State Park Victoria Pool
Secret Caverns, Howes Cave, NY (Albany area)
Slate Hill Flower Farm, Sharon Springs, NY
Speaker Heck Island, Lake George, NY
Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg, NY (Ithaca area)
Tubby Tubes River Tubing, Lake Luzerne, NY
Via Aquarium, Rotterdam, NY
West Mountain, Queensbury, NY
WildPlay Thacher Adventure Park, Voorheesville, NY
Zoom Flume Water Park, East Durham, NY
~ New York Hikes ~
100 Acre Woods, Malta, NY
Albany Pine Bush, NY
Anchor Diamond Park, Ballston Spa, NY
Ann Lee Pond Nature & Historic Preserve, Albany, NY
Art Omi, Ghent, NY (not hiking trails, but many acres to walk)
Ashford Glen Preserve, Schenectady, NY
Bauer Environmental Park, Colonie, NY
Bennett Hill Preserve, Feura Bush, NY
Bozen Kill Preserve, Altamont, NY
Christman Sanctuary, Duanesburg, NY (Albany area)
Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve, Clifton Park, NY
Eternal Flame Falls, Orchard Park, NY
Falling Waters Preserve, Saugerties, NY
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar, NY
Fox Preserve, Latham, NY
Great Flats Nature Trail, Schenectady, NY
Hannacroix Ravine Preserve, Voorheesville, NY (Albany area)
Henry Gerber Reist Bird Sanctuary, Niskayuna, NY
High Falls Conservation Area, Ghent, NY
Hollyhock Hollow Sanctuary, Selkirk, NY (Capital Region)
Hyuck Preserve, Rensselaerville, NY
Ilion Gorge, NY (mostly for rockhounding)
Indian Kill Nature Preserve, Schenectady, NY
Keleher Preserve, Voorheesville, NY
Kenrose Preserve, Knox, NY
Landis Arboretum, Esperance, NY (Albany area)
Limestone Rise Preserve, Knox, NY (Albany area)
Lisha Kill Natural Area, Niskayuna, NY (Capital Region)
Moccasin Kill Sanctuary, Schenectady, NY (Capital Region)
Normans Kill East Preserve, Delmar, NY
Normans Kill West Preserve, Delmar, NY
Overlook Mountain, Catskills, NY
Peebles Island State Park, Cohoes, NY (Capital Region)
Phillipin Kill Preserve, Delmar, NY (Capital Region)
Pine Hollow Arboretum, Slingerlands, NY (Capital Region)
Plotter Kill Preserve, Schenectady, NY
Robert H. Treman State Park, Ithaca, NY
Sanders Preserve, Town of Glenville, NY (Albany area)
Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga, NY
Saugerties Lighthouse, NY
Schoharie Creek Preserve, Esperance, NY
Swift Wetland, Delmar, NY
Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg, NY (Ithaca area)
Tawasentha Park, Guilderland, NY
Thacher Park Indian Ladder Trail, Voorheesville, NY (Albany area)
Thacher Park Hiking Trails, Voorheesville, NY (Capital Region)
Touhey Family Preserve, Delmar, NY (Capital Region)
Vosburgh Trails, Guilderland, NY
Watkins Glen State Park (Watkins Glen)
Winn Preserve, Altamont, NY
Wolf Creek Falls Preserve, Altamont/Knox, NY (Albany area)
Woodlawn Nature Preserve, Schenectady, NY (Capital Region
Wow! It looks like you have been to a lot of places! Thanks for posting your experiences, will have to check some of these out!
So many places that I have to check out. I am always looking for new places to hike.
Many cool places you’ve been to. It’s been a while since we’ve been to New York, I think we need to pack up and visit a few of these places before summer ends.
So many amazing places to check out. Thanks for creating this list.
Wow! I didn’t know that there’s this kind of place in NY. The place looks incredibly mesmerizing! People who love nature will absolutely enjoy this amazing place!
Opus was a wonderful header photo selection, that looks like SUCH a beautiful layout they did with the brickwork and pond placements.
wow! So many interesting places to visit. I love always to discover new places around my city!
I have never been to New York but would love to visit. Many of these activities and places look like a lot of fun.
I visited New York as a young child. But I don’t recall these places that we visited. In the near future we have to discover all the new places and enjoy all the activities that New york has to offer
Wow! There’s a lot of amazing places to visit! My kids really love to go and have a trip in New York!
That is a huge list of day trips. I wish that we had some hiking spots like the ones in the photos. I live in Texas and its hot during the summer.
On wow they is so many places tp go, perfect for exploring during the holidays
It would be fun and exciting to visit other parts of New York. We’ve only been to NYC during Christmas a few years ago. Would love to go back!
Great list! I would love to explore all these places listed here with my husband 😍 I love revisiting my favourite places❤️.
I love this area of NY we always stop by here before heading to Buffalo. I can’t wait to go back again for the fall season road trip.
Beautiful spots! I will keep these areas in mind if we’re ever in NY. I love the scenery.