| freebies include parking and hot breakfast. set 5 miles from downtown albany, this straightforward hotel off i-90 is also 6 miles from both palace theatre and the new york state capitol. suites add living areas with pull-out sofas. other amenities consist of a seasonal outdoor pool and a bbq area, in addition to a gym, a business center and guest laundry facilities. check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. the warm, unfussy rooms come with free wi-fi and flat-screen tvs, plus microwaves, minifridges and coffeemakers
Albany International Airport 21 min
The Children's Museum of Science and Technology (11 min)
Educational exhibits feature fun, hands-on stations about science & technology. Funplex Funpark (5 min)
Fun zone where youngsters climb rock walls, play mini-golf, ride go-karts & bounce on trampolines. Cohoes Falls (19 min)
Waterfall and river Schodack Island State Park (21 min)
State park in the Hudson River, featuring trails, a kayak/canoe launch & a bird conservation area. Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site (11 min)
Circa-1762 mansion & Revolutionary War outpost once visited by George Washington now offers tours. Albany Institute of History & Art (11 min)
Venerable museum exploring local history & culture via paintings, furnishings & historical objects. Friends of Peebles Island State Park (21 min)
Expansive riverside park with wooded trails for cross-country skiing & hiking, plus fishing access. Dutch Apple Cruises & Tours (9 min) USS SLATER (9 min)
Last remaining WWII-era destroyer escort ship afloat in U.S., with tours of galley, guns & quarters. New York State Museum (11 min)
Huge museum tracing New York's natural & cultural past including 9/11 artifacts & a 1890s carousel. Crailo State Historic Site (10 min)
Interactive museum of Colonial Dutch history & culture in an 18th-century red-brick home. Historic Cherry Hill (10 min)
Art, furnishings, clothes & documents span 5 generations of family life at this 18th-century estate. Washington Park (13 min)
Historic 136-acre park with a lake, sports fields, playgrounds, gardens & statues. New York State Capitol (11 min)
Imposing, renaissance-revival seat of New York's state government, with free tours on weekdays. Albany Pine Bush Preserve (19 min)
Pristine pine barrens with trails, wildlife viewing & interactive nature exhibits & programs. | 
