What's in Albany?

SixPapaCharlie

SixPapaCharlie

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I am going to look at an airplane in Albany this weekend.

Is it pretty easy to get around using uber out there or do I need a rent a car?
I think I will stay in Albany near the airport because it looks like it has options for food (booze), groceries (booze), Museums (booze), and Bars (Snacks).

The plane is in a town called Ghentt at Kline Kill Airport (NY!) on Trailer Park Road.

I keep making the mistake of going to towns and stupidly expecting them to be like Dallas with regard to having an uber in just a couple minutes.

That is really my main concern. Anyone familiar with the area, please advise.

Also I will have several hours of down time. Looks like there is a pretty cool battle ship on that river. Anyone know if that is a cool thing to tour or any other other interesting things to do in the area?
 
Ah located Kline Kill airport (thank you Skyvector). If I were you I'd stay in Hudson rather than Albany. Hudson has a main street loaded with shops and restaurants, and has become a bit of a hipster/Brooklyn scene on the river. Whether that's your thing or not, it will likely have Uber and Lyft drivers hanging around. I see its also very close to Columbia County airport, which I only know from way to many touch'n'go's, but they might have rental cars for delivery there.
 
Not familiar with the area but I pulled it up on the map out of curiosity. That airport is so far out of town I would be renting a car if it were me...at least for the day trip out to see the plane. I'd imagine getting around within the city would probably be ok by uber....
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Also I will have several hours of down time. Looks like there is a pretty cool battle ship on that river. Anyone know if that is a cool thing to tour or any other other interesting things to do in the area?
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Although they say closed for the season, if you call Old Reinbeck may have someone there - it's about 45 minutes

https://oldrhinebeck.org
 
Isn’t that in NY?

That’s a hard pass from me
 
Brad W said:
Not familiar with the area but I pulled it up on the map out of curiosity. That airport is so far out of town I would be renting a car if it were me...at least for the day trip out to see the plane. I'd imagine getting around within the city would probably be ok by uber....
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I'm in a hotel right next to the Albany airport right now. Strongly agree.
 
what's in albany? albanyans.

you know what's usually not in albany? texans.
 
6er, fess up..........you have cowboy boots, doncha?
 
I have lived in Albany twice over the years, leaving most recently (and for good!) in 2017. Agree with whoever said to stay in Hudson since you're going to Kline Kill (which I don't know a ton about), but if you stay in Albany, suggest staying at one of the chains near ALB. Or you could stay in Coxsackie - not even sure if there is a decent hotel there, but it gives you an opportunity to see if you can say the word "Coxsackie" without smiling.

Albany has a lot of college students, so Uber should be easily available for getting around town (but maybe not down to Kline Kill). Taxis are sketchy as hell there. As in I've had them stop to pick up another fare while driving me. Hale no.

I was always somewhat disappointed by the dining options in Albany. Albany Pump Station used to be a decent place for a burger and a beer. There's a speakeasy under City Beer Hall that has a pretty solid drink menu, too. Jack's Oyster House is a institution in Albany - despite sounding like a dockside shack, it's relatively upscale for the area and it is cool to see the pictures on the walls stemming from its 100 year + history. It's right down from the Capitol - God only knows how many deals (legitimate or otherwise) the legislators have struck there over the years.

The USS Slater (the battleship) is worth a visit. Not sure if they're doing tours of the Capitol building right now due to Covid, but it's a cool thing to walk through. The NYS Museum is also better than the 4th grade fieldtrip it sounds like. Other than that, not much that I'd go out of my way to do. BTW, it may snow this time of year. Suddenly. In great volumes. Not western NY volumes, but still a lot. Or it may be sunny and 60. She's fickle, Albany.

If you end up staying in Hudson, I think you'll want to rent a car. Pretty rural down that way once you're out of Albany and probably negative status on reliable Uber. Suggest you take drive through the Catskills and down into the Hudson Valley. If you're there on the weekend day when traffic will be lighter, drive down to the Taconic Parkway and take it all the way into Westchester. Beautiful drive, the Taconic. I also used to live near Poughkeepsie/Newburgh (not so far from Hudson) when I worked downstate circa 10 years ago. Only good thing about the L O N G Metro North ride home was the scenery coming through the Valley, especially in the fall/winter.
 
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I can't speak to uber/lift as whenever my car is in the shop I rent. Albany is a bit spread out, so a rental may not be a bad idea. FBO is a bit of a hike from the rental counter, but they're friendly so they probably have a way to help with that. I love flying into Kline Kill, but as you know it's grass, well drained/sloped, but still grass, so may be a little soft this time of year, it's been rainy here lately.

I don't know that there's anything all that special here, small town, but the NYS museum's 9-11 exhibit is worth seeing. It's a small collection, but it kind of brings it home a bit. You may want a beer after. I've not been on the Slater, DE, but a friend was a volunteer. I don't know if it's open right now, hours change.

For food, yep, the Wolf road strip has a lot of chain places. For a local steak, I'd suggest Barnsider, just off Wolf. Regional chain BBQ/beer, Dinosaur BBQ in Troy. Small family Italian places, lots of options, I'd recommend Lo Porto in Troy. Late night diner, the 76 in Latham, but even they are only open until 10 on weekends post-covid. Donuts? Bella Napoli, they have a couple of locations. For hotels, I think anywhere on Wolf is fine. Central? Eh...

Good luck with the plane!
 
DavidWhite said:
sounds like a nice place to visit
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Keepin' it classy as always, Dave!

How you doin', anyway?

--

Bryan:

I have friends in Albany (who really enjoyed Texas when they came here); if you need something, I can probably help.
 
I like Texas. Had an interview in Austin many years ago.

skier said:
Where's a good restaurant near Albany? Manhattan.
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Manhattan for food? I wouldn't. People go for shows, for work, and the youngsters for the nightlife and shopping. Or at least that used to happen, pre-covid.

Food or music I'd probably head to Boston.
 
86Aviator said:
The USS Slater (the battleship) is worth a visit. Not sure if they're doing tours of the Capitol building right now due to Covid, but it's a cool thing to walk through. The NYS Museum is also better than the 4th grade fieldtrip it sounds like. Other than that, not much that I'd go out of my way to do. BTW, it may snow this time of year. Suddenly. In great volumes. Not western NY volumes, but still a lot. Or it may be sunny and 60. She's fickle, Albany.
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USS Slater is a BB? Not named for a state. Must be really OLD.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Looking at a Comanche 250.
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Poor man's Bonanza. I flew in @EdFred's Comanche, really nice airplane. Fast as my Mooney, but cavernous inside. Do make certain your mechanic knows about the gear, I've heard that's the Comanche's Achillies heel. Funniest thing, seminar yesterday was by a Scientist from Albany. Didn't get a chance to ask her about places to eat.
 
Not that far away is ESAM or Empire State Aeroscience Museum. It is the

former General Electric Schenectady Flight Test Center and may interest you.

I worked there a long, long time ago so I can’t help with restaurants.
 
Ghery said:
USS Slater is a BB? Not named for a state. Must be really OLD.
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Yea, you’re right to call that out, I think it’s actually a destroyer. Was just using OP’s language re battleship in my post.
 
I was in nearby Woodstock a couple weeks ago. Sounds funny but make sure you have cash when crossing some of the bridges over the Hudson. Some of those toll bridges only take cash (a whopping 1.75 for the Kingston bridge) or EZ Pass. I didn't have cash and got a ticket. You can send in the toll amount within a few days without penalty but you have to mail it in...can't pay online. Super old school considering how most of the tolls around NY are setup.
 
mr_happyland said:
I was in nearby Woodstock a couple weeks ago. Sounds funny but make sure you have cash when crossing some of the bridges over the Hudson. Some of those toll bridges only take cash (a whopping 1.75 for the Kingston bridge) or EZ Pass. I didn't have cash and got a ticket. You can send in the toll amount within a few days without penalty but you have to mail it in...can't pay online. Super old school considering how most of the tolls around NY are setup.
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I was down that way Saturday. That toll booth is gone, just ezpass overhead. Toll booths around Albany, down to at least the Catskill/Hudson bridge (rt 23), are all gone now. All automatic toll/ez pass. I think rentals all have ezpass, but they probably charge a surcharge. Around Albany/Schenectady/Troy there's no reason to use the Thruway (toll), and all the bridges in this area are free. To avoid the Thruway tolls to get between Albany and Hudson, just use one of the versions of Rt 9 from Columbia County (Kline Kill airport) up through Rensselaer County to I-90 exit 11. That part of I-90 to Albany is free.

Fun fact, population density of Columbia County is about 1/30th of Dallas County TX. It's mostly farm country. Nice hardwood lumber yard within a mile or two of the CC airport. Local rough cut red and white oak, and walnut, among other things. The city of Hudson isn't the greatest, it has a bit of a sprinkle of criminal and transient wealthy, but the rest of the county is pretty nice.
 
NoHeat said:
OT, I'm wondering why place names in NY often include the word "kill." There are the towns of Catskill and Fishkill, there's Beaverkill River, and lots more. Is it Dutch?
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Yep, means “creek” I think. I used to live in Fishkill, actually.
 
Dave Theisen said:
Pretty sure you meant to say faster than your Mooney. :)
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Could be, I can't say I recall the speeds that accurately. Certainly in the same ballpark. The Mooney gets the speed from a low frontal area, the Comanche from a honking big engine out front. Got nothing bad to say about the Piper, they're really nice airplanes.
 
I'm looking forward to experiencing this speed thing that all you guys talk about.
 
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