Albany, the Capital of New York: A Mix of Sightseeing and Food

🚘 Drive: About 2+ hours one way, taking the same route as to Woodbury Outlet. 🌇 Highlights: 🌟 Empire State Plaza The centerpiece is a rectangular lake, flanked by The Egg theater and four agency buildings. At one end stands the Capitol building, while the New York State Museum lies below. A truly grand and impressive plaza. 🌟 New York State Capitol A Renaissance Revival-style building with 140 years of history. It took nine years and a massive budget to complete, making it the most luxurious state capitol in the U.S. Even from the outside, it looks majestic. On weekdays, you can join guided tours to see the interior, which features gold-leaf wallpaper and stones imported from Italy. 🌟 The Egg A striking performing arts center named for its distinctive egg-like shape. 🌟 Corning Tower Observation Deck Head up to the 42nd-floor observation deck for a 360-degree panoramic view of Albany. Closes at 4 PM. 🌟 New York State Museum We didn’t go inside, but it showcases the history of Albany and New York State, along with local ecology, flora, and fauna. The museum houses many animal and plant specimens and even features an antique carousel that visitors can ride. 🎠 🅿️ Parking: We found street parking nearby—easy and convenient due to low crowds. You can also search for "visitor parking" on maps. 🍜 Lunch: We ate at Ji Bei Chuan, a spot we’d tried twice before in Flushing with good impressions. They recently opened in Albany. We ordered: ✨Tomato Beef Brisket Rice Noodles ✨Thai Golden Soup Fatty Beef Rice Noodles ✨Plain Chicken Slices Rice Noodles ✨Popcorn Chicken #NewYorkguide #NYWeekend #Albany #NYAlbany #Holiday #JiBeiChuan #BBQ #UpstateNY #NewYork#travelguide