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If there’s a great Rensselaer County resource for families you’d like to see on this list, please email [email protected] so we can include it online and in future issues.
Museums and historic sites
Bennington Battlefield
Route 67, North Hoosick, (518) 860-9094
Location of a historic Revolutionary War battle. Facilities include game fields, 276 acres, interpretive panels, information room, and restrooms. Open May 1 through Labor Day: daily 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Labor Day-Columbus Day weekends only 10am-sunset.
Brunswick Historical Society
Garfield School, 605 Brunswick Road, Troy, (518) 279-4024
Society maintains a library and collection of reference materials, photographs, objects and other ephemera intrinsic to local history. www.bhs-ny.org Open Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
CNSE Children’s Museum of Science & Technology
250 Jordan Road, Troy, (518) 235-2120
Hands-on science center, inspiring students of all ages to explore, discover, and imagine their world. Call or visit website for hours and admission. www.cmost.org
Crailo State Historic Site
9 1/2 Riverside Ave., Rensselaer, (518) 463-8738
A museum of the Colonial Dutch in the Hudson River Valley. Open mid-May through October. Call or visit website for hours, admission and special events. www.nysparks.com; www.facebook.com/CrailoStateHistoricSite
Knickerbocker Mansion
132 Knickerbacker Road, Schagticoke, (518) 664-1700
Built in the 1780s by Johannes and Elizabeth Knickerbocker. Open for tours from May-October on Sundays. Call or visit website for hours, admission and special events. knickmansion.com
Rensselaer County Historical Society & Museum at the Hart-Cluett House
57 2nd St., Troy, (518) 272-7232
These buildings house the Society’s extensive museum collections, changing exhibits, gift shop, research library, and offices. Call or visit website for hours, admission and special events. www.rchsonline.org
Outdoor fun
Cherry Plain State Park
26 State Park Road, Cherry Plain, (518) 733-5400
The park offers a beach, picnic tables with pavilions, a playground, recreation programs, a nature trail, hiking and biking, a campground with tent and trailer sites, cross-country skiing, a boat launch with boat rentals, and a food concession.
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center
475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, (518) 658-2055
The Center offers activities and workshops dedicated to environmental education. All programs are open to both adults and children accompanied by their parents.
Grafton Lakes State Park
100 Grafton Lakes State Parkway, Grafton, (518) 279-1155
Park includes five ponds and 2,357 acres. Long Pond has a large, sandy beach, which is a popular summer attraction.
Schodack Island State Park
1 Schodack Island Way, Schodack Landing, (518) 732-0187
Park sits off the eastern shore of the Hudson River just south of Albany. Approximately seven miles of Hudson River and Schodack Creek shoreline bound the 1,052-acre site.
Farms and farmers markets
Engelke Farm
463 Garfield Road, Troy, (518) 275-8433
Pick-your-own fruits and vegetables from June to October with special fall events and a zip line. www.engelkefarm.com
East Greenbush Farmer’s Market
10 Community Way, East Greenbush, (518) 477-7476
Fresh vegetables and local goods in the parking lot between the library and the YMCA. Held every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. from June 15-Oct. 5.
Goold Orchards
1297 Brookview Station Road, Castleton, (518) 732-7317
One hundred years of family farming offering apples and apple products and more. www.goold.com
Liberty Ridge Farm
29 Bevis Road, Schaghticoke, (518) 664-1515
Fun at the farm with special events, corn maze and more. libertyridgefarmny.com
North Greenbush Farmers Market
Twin Town Baseball Fields 79 Williams Road, Troy, (518) 283-4306
Held every Thursday from June through mid October.
Troy Waterfront Farmers Market
282 River St., Troy, (518) 708-4216
Year-round marketplace of quality regional farm and food products, crafts, services and entertainment. www.troymarket.org
Winter fun
Knickerbocker Ice Skating Arena
191 103rd St, Troy, (518) 235-7761
A place for parties or family time, and watch hockey games and skating competitions. Public skating allowed.
Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area
1463 Plank Road, Petersburgh, (518) 283-3652
Groomed ski trails, lessons, snowshoe trails. www.pineridgexc.com
Conway Ice Rink at Hudson Valley Community College
80 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy, (518) 629-4850
Recreational ice skating on weekday and weekend afternoons.
Parks and Rec
Frear Park
155 Oakwood Ave., Troy, (518) 270-4553
Frear Park and Municipal Golf Course is a 247-acre park, offering an 18-hole public golf course, hockey arena, playground and more attractions, is located at, NY 12180 in Rensselaer County.
Joe Bruno Stadium
80 Vandenburg Ave., Troy, (518) 629-2287
Stadium is home to the minor league Tri-City ValleyCats baseball team.
Knickerbacker Park
103rd Street and 8th Ave., Troy, (518) 235-7761
Many recreational uses such as baseball, soccer, track, and more, including the Knickerbacker Pool, an outdoor swimming pool and spray pool, located at 104th and 7th Ave., Troy.
Prospect Park
65 Prospect Park Road, Troy, (518) 235-7761
A playground, spray pool, nature trails, picnic areas and facilities for tennis, basketball, softball and soccer.
South Troy Pool
4th Street and Tyler Street, Troy, (518) 270-1125
An outdoor swimming pool.
Sand Lake Center for the Arts
2880 Route 43, Averill Park, (518) 674-2007
Live theater, music, gallery and family events. slca-ctp.org
The Arts Center of the Capital Region
265 River St., Troy, (518) 273-0552
Engaging people of all ages in the creative experience through classes and exhibits. www.artscenteronline.org
Uncle Sam Bikeway
8th Street and Middleburgh Street, Troy
A paved path for cyclists and pedestrians that passes through scenery full of wildflowers, waterfalls, and shale cliffs. www.troyny.gov/Departments/Parks_Recreation/Bikeways.aspx
Don’t Miss
Uncle Sam Monument
Corner of River and 3rd streets, Troy
Grand, aluminum representative statue of Uncle Sam in the hometown of the real man, Samuel Wilson, who inspired the cartoon character Uncle Sam.
Poestenkill Falls
Linden Avenue, Troy
A waterfall that drops 85-feet into the Dyken Pond and then 75-more feet into a larger pool. There is a third waterfall at the end that falls 15-feet into a pool of water.
Grafton Peace Pagoda
87 Crandall Road, Petersburg, (518) 658-9301
A monument to peace and the site of numerous interfaith celebrations throughout the year. www.dharmawalk.org
Resources beyond the Capital District
Rochester School for the Deaf
1545 St. Paul St., Rochester NY, (585) 544-1240, email: [email protected]
RSD provides a nurturing an inclusive education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students at no cost to families. Education includes American Sign Language and English in a bilingual scholastic setting. Learning programs cater to infants, early childhood, K-12, and up to age 21. www.RSDeaf.org
