(Ska-NECK-ta-dee)
It comes from the Mohawk (Kanien'kehá:ka) word for "near the pines" and refers to the pine plains between Albany and the Mohawk River. It's a great place to go to college. Italian bakeries abound, thanks to generations of the city's immigrants. You'll also find lots of local treasures downtown, including Proctors, an old vaudeville theater presenting Broadway shows; an independent bookstore, and the organic Greenmarket.
(Distance/time estimates from the Nott Memorial)
Stroll down fun and funky Jay Street, a cobblestone walkway lined with specialty shops and good places to eat. 14 min.
Catch the latest Hollywood hits and nosh on concession stand favorites at the BTM Movieland Cinema. 18 min.
Enjoy authentic Moroccan cuisine at Tara Kitchen, one of 50 restaurants within a two-mile radius of campus. 13 min
Make your way by foot or bicycle along the scenic Mohawk River on a 97-mile bike-hike trail. 15 min.
Tour the Stockade District. Make sure to stop at Arthur's Market for great coffee and baked goods. 15 min.
Shop/eat local at the Schenectady Greenmarket, among the best farmers markets in the region. 14 min.
Find your sweet spot at Villa Italia Pasticceria, an Italian bakery and local favorite since 1965. 20 min.
The capital of New York State offers opportunities for internships and research; music and entertainment at the Palace and in Washington Park; biking along the Hudson River; theater at the spectacular "Egg" and colorful Lark Street, with its ethnic restaurants, galleries, clubs, pubs and eclectic boutiques. 30 min.
Experience top restaurants, horse-racing, theater, beautiful parks, cross-country skiing, world-class golf, the country's largest winter dance festival, and more in this charming small city. 41 min.
Troy is home to many artists, college students, restaurants, one of the best farmers' markets in Upstate New York and the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, an acoustical gem often compared to Carnegie Hall. 32 min.
THE ADIRONDACKS REGION
Majestic High Peaks (46 of 'em) and an abundance of lakes, streams, rivers, ponds and mountain villages 1 - 3 hrs..
THE CATSKILLS REGION
A favorite among artists, foodies, nature lovers, rock-climbers and counterculturalists alike. 1 - 3 hrs.
THE BERKSHIRES
Arts, culture and entertainment options abound in this mountainous region dotted with quintessentially New England towns. 1 - 2 hrs.
