Upstate NY Day Trip: Fall Foliage & Food in Albany 🍂

Nothing says early autumn like golden leaves! Yesterday, I hiked at Thacher State Park near Albany—and it was absolutely stunning. The mountain breeze was crisp, and the waterfall made me feel the true power of nature 💨💧 The park sits atop a hill—the drive up offers sweeping views of Albany. A short trail leads to a rushing waterfall you can hear before you see! The full loop takes about 1 hour, but with photos and breaks, plan for 2 hours. Parking is FREE 🆓✅ After hiking, we drove 28 minutes to Shining Rainbow Restaurant—a classic Chinese spot with a surprise: mahjong rooms and KTV! 🀄🎤 The menu mixes Cantonese and Sichuan flavors. Must-tries: the fragrant Sichuan Boiled Beef and sweet-savory Sesame Balls 🍲🍡 Perfect for a fun post-hike feast with friends! 📍 Park: John Boyd Thacher State Park, Voorheesville, NY 12186 📍 Restaurant: 209 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206 #AlbanyNY #UpstateNewYork #FallFoliage #ThacherStatePark #WaterfallHike #ChineseFood #KTVFun #DayTrip #AutumnVibes #HikeAndEat #NYTravel #LeafPeeping #FriendsAndFood