Area Attractions
Around Union
Union College is the first American college with a unified campus plan. The first buildings were completed in 1814 following the design of French architect Joseph Jacques Ramée.
The College's 130-acre campus includes eight acres of formal gardens and woodland known as Jackson's Garden. Jackson's Garden is the oldest continuously cultivated garden on a college or university campus in the United States, and it's one of only a few public gardens in the country established by 1850 that has survived in its original location.
The distinctive campus centerpiece, the 16-sided Nott Memorial (1875), is a National Historic Landmark. It is named after Eliphalet Nott, who was president of the College from 1804 to 1866, the longest tenure of any American college president.
Around Schenectady and the Capital District
Proctor's Theater - A beautifully restored theatre orginally built in 1926 as a vaudeville house. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A $30 million expansion was recently completed providing a new stage house, an iWerks movie theater, conference space and a coffee shop. Stage shows direct from Broadway, opera, symphony, comedians, movies and local performing groups all appear at Proctor's. http://www.proctors.org
Saratoga Springs - Saratoga Springs is famous for its spas, mineral waters, Victorian charm, the country's oldest thoroughbred racetrack, and the nearby Saratoga battlefield, site of the pivotal 1777 Revolutionary War battle at which the Colonial forces defeated British General John Burgoyne. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) features a wide range of entertainment, from classical music and ballet to top rock and jazz groups. SPAC is the summer home to the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra.
New York State Museum - The New York State Museum is a major research and educational institution. It is dedicated to promoting inquiry and advancing knowledge in the fields of geology, biology, anthropology, and history, through the investigation of material evidence germane to New York State's past, present and future. http://www.nysm.nysed.gov
USS Slater DE-766 - During World War II 563 Destroyer Escorts battled Nazi U-Boats on the North Atlantic protecting convoys of men and material. In the Pacific they stood in line to defend naval task forces from Japanese submarines and Kamikaze air attacks. Today, only one of these ships remains afloat in the United States, the USS Slater. http://www.ussslater.org/
Schenectady Museum & Suits-Buechs Planetarium - located close to the Union College campus. The museum is known as the "museum of science and imagination". http://www.schenectadymuseum.org
Upstate New York
National Baseball Hall of Fame - located less than two hours away in Cooperstown. This hall of fame is a shrine to the legendary players and founders of America's greatest pastime. http://baseballhalloffame.org
Adirondack State Park - The Adirondack region is home to over 2,000 miles of hiking trails, more than 3,000 lakes and ponds and interesting wildlife. http://adirondacks.org
Adirondack Museum - The Adirondack Museum is a great way to spend the day, no matter what the weather, in 22 indoor and outdoor exhibits on 32 spectacular acres. http://www.adirondackmuseum.org
Surrounding Areas
Montreal is about 4 hours away. Get on the Northway (I-87) and head due north.
Boston is about 3 hours away. Get on I-90 and head east.
New York City is about 3 hours away. Get on the NYS Thruway (I-87) and head due south.