Personally I separate Albany from "Upstate NY". There are a lot of nice towns, state parks, places to visit in upstate. The Adirondacks and Finger Lakes have many great places to go, with lots of nice hamlets around and between them. Quite different than Albany, which I think is mostly a dump and won't miss if I never visit it again.
One of my girlfriends & I went to Ireland. We always rent a car, make no prearrangements then drive from village to village, spending the nights in hostels. I had been driving all day and decided to stop in the next town. As we drove into it both of us looked at each other and said “NOPE”. We went to the next village and hit the pub. We found out for a local that the previous location is where the prison for Ireland is! We had no idea but our INTUITION told us to keep moving.
It is a nice town; all an all the Albany metropolitan region (which includes Saratoga) in my opinion is a pretty blah place. It is a very clique, weather wise kind of gloomy place that just does not have much to offer for young/ single working professionals.
Albany NY had its hay day in the 1980s and early 1990s. The city became terrible after a huge influx of hard guys and tough guys from New York City and downstate. New York infiltrated the city and made it miserable to live in. Also, a lot of students from New Jersey went to SUNY Albany and they made the town even worse. If this video is made in the 1980s, it would be totally different.
Katie, I lived in Albany for 19 years and could not agree with you more, it isn't vibrant or friendly, the vibe is blah. Don't apologize for your true gut feelings. Be well
Live 30 minutes from albany, my towns nice, been around the state (Saratoga, Troy, Rochester, Amsterdam) Albany isnt special very boring, nothing to do really.
I agree - I moved to the Albany area in 2006 and the vibe in that city is what I'd say a political serious-like vibe. I'm glad to read its not just me that feels that vibe. I wonder if its the old buildings that are bland in color but intricate in style. The people are serious until you are friendly first. I usually go to Saratoga, Clifton Park, Broadalbin/the Lakes/Adirondacks for some nice vibes with the locals. I live in Amsterdam which is coming along for friendliness and does have a good community town here in many parts.
Thank you so much for sharing the struggle you had at the beginning of this video! Sometimes it seems like everyone I know and everyone online is always so cheerful and able to go with the flow so easily, and then I feel petty and ashamed and downright weird when I'm in a bad mood and little things are bothering me. Your "pointless" story was so relatable and made me feel much less alone, so thank you for telling it!
Albany is especially blah on the weekends. It’s very much a commuter city. Check out Saratoga if you’re in Capital district on the weekend. Way more fun things to do!
I went to school in Albany. I never had a bad experience but I could not wait to leave. Like you, "I just could not put my finger on it." It just felt so different.
Absolutely love when you show the architecture! The buildings I will probably never ever see, so love traveling along with you. If you could get out and show more of the structure of those old buildings it would be fantastic.
To each their own. Many things I miss about the tri cities . Most of all its access to NYC Adirondacks Catskills and the Berkshires. Accessible to Montreal Boston and Vermont as well . Many things very special about my old home town that I miss. Lots of great memories. Winter is tough.😊
Katie ... I lived in Albany for 5 years and spent many an hour in Washington Park. You drove past the school of criminal justice (8:33) (Nelson Rockefeller School) where I went for my masters. I lived right around the corner. The car honk where you said it felt like NYC, that was on the corner of Lark St and Central Avenue. I can tell Albany creeped you out a bit. There's a lot of history in that city & perhaps you felt some of the spirits. Plus, the city has been through a lot and it's very depressed. Has been for a long time. There's something about Albany that gets you to your bones. Trust me, I know.
Albany always creep me out. We went to the museum when I was a kid. We walked on lark during the day to eat. Nope. I’m going back north lol. I can walk in Troy but not Albany (20 years ago). Haha I always miss the exits 😂🤦♀️.
I can tell you why nobody honks: it's because we don't want to get shot! We are Texans, but I remind my husband all the time to not honk at anyone. There are too many crazies on the road.
We are Texans also and considering moving to the Albany area. Two things that are concerns: colder winters and unfriendly people. What has been your experience with these two things?
@@carlwhite4197 ha! I live in Albany.... It's very peaceful for those who like it. If you can try to move into Saratoga Springs just north of Albany. BUT YES if you aren't prepared for the winters you'll be bummed out how cold it can get and worse we have clouds 5 or 6 months of the year not to mention it gets darker here around 4:30pm during the winter. Sometimes you can enter work at 8am nearly dark out and leave work at 5pm and it will be dark again.... There's very little to no crime certainly shootings ... Maybe downtown in a the very few bad spots of Albany once or twice a year but there isn't a problem. People don't carry guns so if you do beep your horn there is zero risk of road rage here...
All city driving is stressful😛 Maybe you'd like Saratoga Springs or Lake George since you're out that way...Lake George is off-season and pretty quiet right about now.
Never been a large city type guy and if I was heading to live anywhere in NY, upstate would definetly be it. Ive always found it so pretty up there. I love the landscape and real change of seasons they have up there.
I moved from Florida to Upstate New York. I live in Downtown Albany and so far it has been a good experience for me. I love the history and the people have been friendly for me.
Go to the real NY Watertown and the Ontario shoreline, the Finger Lakes Auburn, Seneca Falls, Hammondsport, the Adirondacks, or Letchworth State Park in NY is pretty, Salem MA is fun. So much...
The third honk can be for when you see that random person you kind of know and want to obnoxiously say hi to them while they are walking down the road. I learned how to drive in Boston so I know to drive with my hand on the horn ready to blow it at a moment's notice.
I lived in Albany for 8 years and have a number of friends there, but I don’t really like it either. I worked for the state there, but it just never felt homey to me.
I just moved from Westchester NY to Hudson Falls . So far upstate ny is very different and I’m noticing a lot poverty and low cost of living which probably go hand in hand . Definitely small town vibes. I miss the city for sure . Just more things to do and easier to get around.
Albany is beautiful. I would move back in a heartbeat. I think you didn't see the beauty at that park at all. Albany is spread out and you missed so much of the charm of it. Try going up the Northway to Saratoga Springs.
I think she visited just a little too late. Washington Park looks it's best by mid October. Even then even Albanians leave Albany to go leaf peeping. The city itself is not a leaf peeping destination. Only someone from NYC, Long Island, or the Atlantic Seaboard major cities would think of Albany as a rural area that may be good for leaf peeping lol 😂.
Leaf peeping doesn’t happen here. We go to Thacher Park or other rural outskirts for that. You need to park & walk around to appreciate the architecture of Albany. Parking is UNDER or over by the Egg (woot the cutest Brutalist building) & the NYS Museum. Take a tour of the Capitol (it’s stunning inside), check out the Education Bldg (the one with all the columns), walk up Washington Ave to the Institute of History & Art. Cut over Lark St for some good eats & then wander Washington Park. Cuz yeah by car it’s “meh” & always busy.
Enjoyed this video Katie. I've been watching you for some time now and although I am in my 70's I felt young again and right there with you. Thank you. Maureen, South Africa.
Enjoy you late spring , here Virginia 🇺🇸 is fall but no more beautiful yellows and orange. Only naked threes, sleeping till April. My father in the 80 was living in Namibia, that part of the world is so beautiful, and people very nice Bye Macarena🇺🇾🇺🇸. ,@maureennorth.
As someone who lives next to Albany (Troy person here🙋♀️) for the last 18 years I’ve barely gone to Albany because it’s eh. The only times where I go to Albany is to the Sage Campus since they have two campuses and all of my classes are in Albany. I like Troy more than Albany because it feels like there’s so much to do in Troy. Yes it’s hostile just as much as New York City is but that’s kinda what you should expect when you live in New York. Troy night out and the Troy’s farmers market is always a pleasure to have because you get to do so many things and it brings the community together to socialize. It’s super fun!
To see most of New York, we finally decided to be in a bus tour group, We had no regrets even if it was pricey. If you go to New York just for fun, just join a bus tour. And if you’re in no rush, walk and walk to see other beautiful sites.
I went out to Greenport last summer for about five hours. Walked around. It took forever to drive there, even from my starting point of Hauppauge! But yes, it is a nice drive, and a nice town, no doubt. I enjoyed exploring it, although it's very tiny. I heard the main Bed and Breakfast there is very good. (not cheap!) The restaurants there are good. Claudio's. The main thing there is the harbor, lighthouse, the boat tour, from the tiny museum, but i missed the latter because you have to get there very earliy in the afternoon or a.m. or they shut it down by 4 or so. The LIRR goes right there. Bookstore there sucked, nothing of any interest and they got rid of used books! Nice! I wasn't impressed. Shopping was meh. Coffee shop/diner closed very early which was annoying. Southold has more to recommend it, almost.
Hey Katie…. I live in Albany and understand your disconnect. I actually live in Loudonville a suburb. You picked a terrible part of town. Wish we could have connected. Love your blogs!
I went to school there, but rarely went downtown. Wasn't conciously avoiding it, but not much drew me there. Your reaction is really spot on. Albany is part of a decent sized metro area, but the city itself is very small. Yes, it does have a "little NYC" vibe in places, but the downtown is mostly dreary. 50 years ago, blighted neighborhoods were demolished to build the Empire State Plaza, which no one cares about (was supposed to transform the downtown). Drive north on Madison, Western, or Washington, and soon you're in the university area. That's great, but you're now in a college town overrun by kids from Long Island, not very "Albany." I guess you can get attached to any place if it makes you think of great memories or people, but for most people, mediocrity prevails.
I was born in Adirondack area. My dad moved us out to the desert in California 2 years later. 🙄 I've always wanted to go back and check it out. I even look at real estate listings here and there. Honestly, part of why I dont visit is that I'm afraid I'll be disappoined, because I've built it up in my mind. Looks so beautiful..but I've been to a lot of beautiful places where the people are awful...ruins it 100%.
I've lived in Albany (well, a suburb) for almost 20 years, and it's okay that you didn't like it! Driving in Albany always stresses me out. Honestly, it's so hard to find a video of anyone travelling to Upstate on purpose (especially Albany), I just feel like the pointing DiCaprio meme. The large builidng with the columns you passed is the NYS Department of Education building, I believe
Yes 👍🏼 I definitely get different energy from places. We all do I’m sure feel it if we are comfortable or not with the energy in places 😊. Thanks 4 the video ❤😊
I lived in Albany for 5 years and I agree, it is definitely a weird vibe. Crime is pretty bad especially in the central and east neighborhoods. Washington Park is pretty but tons of needles on the ground the last time I was there. The vibe was sterile, urban decay. It did grow on me tho
Come to Syracuse, lots to do here and in the area. Summer is best festivals and concerts non-stop. Green Lakes State Park is fun, lots of country parks, tons of great restaurants.
@@ayoa3892 That’s why I said most beautiful part of the state. If you like hot weather, beaches, and palm trees this obviously wouldn’t be a stop on your bucket list lol
Hey. Hope you are doing great. I just moved to Knoxville and not in love with the city. I’m from New York and to see this video made me have second thoughts about staying in Tennessee. Thanks. Jesus loves you ❤️
Catey I'm like that in Costco. It's frantic and people seem to be grasping for the food samples and good deals. I get claustrophobic in there and it's huge.
You can actually make your car horn have 3 different noises. If you quickly hit it 2 or 3 times it will give a nice gentle beep beep. If someone is about to hit me I hit it strong for about 1 to 2 seconds to really get their attention. If someone does something really stupid or dangerous that almost causes an accident i just lay on the horn until I feel like they got the message...
I worked in the alfred e smith building that is shown in your video and it was uncomfortable for me to just walk around on breaks. Too many drugged up people roam those streets. You should always look up areas before you travel. There is a shooting downtown Albany just about every day. I personally wouldn't walk through Washington Park alone but that's just me. I felt the same way you described when we visited, Greenville, NC.
Vroomans nose is such a nice fall hike - Albany has a few places to see, then museum is nice. If you go in the winter there is ice skating and pre Christmas you have lights in the park.
Nope no more lights in the park. All the transplants from NYC and newbies to the area pressured the city to not allow lights in tbe park anymore, unbelievable. One more reason not to visit Albany.
Rhinebeck NY. It is such a beautiful little piece of heaven. Samuel's sweet shop is there and partially owned by Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. There is beautiful water and such cute architecture. Little shops, and great food.
Albany has a NYC vibe because of the Dutch. Same kind of brownstone houses etc. Driving in downtown Albany is stressful because of all the one-way streets. If you are unfamilar it can be a stressful drive.
Bathroom thing is very understandable. Ideally, I think any place that serves the public should be required to have a public bathroom. I guess it can be very burdensome, when the public use bathroom attracts certain undesirables. As a guy, it's much easier to cope with a bathroom desert, I can only imagine how frustrating it is for women.
I lived in 5 different places around the country and Albany is by far the worst place of all of them. Nobody is friendly and being from the south that is a big deal to me cause I feel so isolated as we are people who love to chat. Not sure why it's like that here and it's very strange to see in person. I'll be done working in 5 years so I can move and it can't come quick enough.
It's so frustrating to miss an exit and then have to drive so much more just to get back. I can relate to that trying to find a bathroom situation, haha. Those little annoyances add up.
Yes, very old history and architecture, but uuuuugh. Grew up north west of there. It was the largest city near. Lark St used to be quirky and nice and QE2 was a fun music venue.But there is some very heavy oppressive karma over that whole area. I feel overwhelmed there around the Capitol, as well. I even worked at SUNY Albany but have never found where to park to check the gorgeous Capitol building out. Have only seen photos and vids online
Hi Katie! I have been searching for a home base as well. Out of frustration and not knowing exactly where to look, I will just drive around. Sometimes I will drive through a neighborhood; and I INSTANTLY I know, NO NOT here. I take this a intuition and will move on.
I’m from NYC and visit Albany which is two 1/2 hours from NYC.. I didn’t like the creepy vibes at all. I went to a town called Saratoga Springs. Which is like a good 25 minutes of north from Albany I love that town very serene 🍁🥰
I’ve never been to Albany. I am bad about honking my horn when people don’t move when the light turns green. That drives me nuts!!! I have lived in the south much more than I did in the north. However, I am from Columbus, OH & that’s where I learned to drive, so I guess my habits stuck with me. I admit that I am a very impatient person & always in a hurry. You would think at 75 that I would slow down a bit. But it hasn’t happened 🤷🏼♀️ May God continue to bless you Katie & keep you in His loving care 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
I really enjoy your “pointless” videos, Katie😂because I can so relate. Difference is you wrap up your story & I stay mid-story wondering what I’m talking about🤣Really pretty scenery - thanks for sharing❤
Today on way home from grocery I found myself in back of a Yaris. I immediately thought of KATIE! As I saw it turn I was struck as to how small it is. I'm now in a 2013 Kia Rio as I inherited it and had to sell my minivan I had Built into a camper. I say this as the Yaris is only slightly bigger than my Rio. Can't imagine living in the Yaris.
There are some nice aspects of Albany. You might want to check out TripAdvisor. Albany isn't the whole upstate. Maybe do a video on one of the counties of the Hudson Valley.
also, the comment you made about people in the South not honking. I don't know what all parts of the South you've been to but we definitely honk here in Huntsville Alabama 😂
Since I visited Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2021 I notice that all the houses in the cities all look the same.. going through Maryland on the train saw the same type of houses even in your video too. A lot different than what we have down here in south Mississippi.. Lumberton, ms.
Nobody likes Albany, that's where New York City sends the Libras to ruin our state haha, I'm just kidding. (Although in all seriousness I don't like the structure in New York where Albany and New York City control the rest of the state.) Albany does have some cool places, my top recommendation would definitely be the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. It's a nature preserve that in this supper unique desert-like habitat that's very rare in the Northeast. There are a lot of rare plants and animals there and the preserve does a great job with the information and educational displays that explain everything. Albany also has a lot of history and cool small-museums; it was a pivotal place during the American Revolution and there is a lot of history dating back even further as it was an important area to the Native American Tribes as well. There is also a lot of ghost tours if your into that kind of stuff. Overall I would agree though that I personally don't connect with the vibe in Albany or the Hudson Valley in general. Albany is probably one of my least favorite cities in Upstate, NY. While I love the small-town friendly, southern hospitality (with better drivers) of Western and rural NY where I grew up, I also enjoy the hustle and bustle of New York City and Long Island. Its a unique electric-energy in New York City that's a lot of fun for an outsider. I feel like Albany and the Hudson Valley is caught somewhere in-between these two cultures, the energy just feels off to me. Nothing against the people who do enjoy it though, perhaps to some it might feel like the best of both worlds. One of my good friend's who is actually a traveler who so far has lived in her little car like Katie, just decided that Albany is where she want's to settle down and find a permanent place/job. To each there own, I'm sure I will visit Albany again someday, I do love history and the pine-bush. Some unique food in that area too, cannot go wrong with that Melba Sauce!
Your actually right. The liberal mayor of Albany is from out west and most of her city leadership are all liberal NYC transplants. They are doing nothing to make Albany a desirable destination for people throughout the capital region. Albany has been dying since Mayor Jennings left office, police reforms, and Albany shifted far left politically. High crime, no development, and they even chased out Holiday Lights in the Park a nearly 30 year tradition which got better each year....
My family has been in the capitol region of upstate new york on the same land for more than 200 years and i cant recall any family member favoring NYC. I am a patriot and i still cant agree with how rural new york and NYC are still one state.
I don’t care about being rude towards the city when all their destructive policy is pushed upon residents of upstate who do not live even remotely the same life as those in NYC. So to hell with NYC
If you are not use to upstate NY that would make sense why you are not use to it I was born in Oneonta NY there is really nothing around for miles but at the same time most people that are originally from upstate NY don't like living there anyway but I'm glad you still get to see some of the scenery and show people thank you for being you you are amazing
Instead of a horn to beep at people, I want a bullhorn so I can yell at people to move out of the left lane or to get off their cellphones! Lol I probably wouldn’t be very polite though!
I can identify with this because I decided to drive my 30-year-old car from Myrtle Beach South Carolina to Seattle because I had done it 10 years previously going in the other direction. Fall colors and houses on back roads by rivers and little towns was all terrific. Then my front end started to shake and I couldn't drive over 55 miles an hour. Broke down in Athens Ohio and couldn't get parts. Had to drive all around like that and sit in motels and hotels trying to do something about the car and it was that same kind of one thing after another that irritated you right down to your toes. Decided f*** it and shipped the car to Seattle.
These are parts of Albany that I had never seen and now I never will since I moved to FL 37 years ago. If I ever go back up to Saratoga to visit, it's not likely I'll have any reason to investigate the nicer areas of Albany.
Long waits for doctors visits, poor health providers who don't accept Medicaid, little cultural flare, rampant opiod addiction, decaying urban centers like Albany, and poor cell signal to name a few issues
The one building is also part of the state capital building even thoe it’s across the street. And the not comfortable vibe you got by the park is because Washington park is not safe it’s had it’s fair share of crimes.. not a good idea to walk alone even in the day time
Personally I separate Albany from "Upstate NY". There are a lot of nice towns, state parks, places to visit in upstate. The Adirondacks and Finger Lakes have many great places to go, with lots of nice hamlets around and between them. Quite different than Albany, which I think is mostly a dump and won't miss if I never visit it again.
There is more in the state than Albany, but it is included in this portion of the state, just like you cannot take it out of NY and move it to NH.
@@krone5 True!
In the lake Bonaparte area right now. Beautiful
One of my girlfriends & I went to Ireland. We always rent a car, make no prearrangements then drive from village to village, spending the nights in hostels. I had been driving all day and decided to stop in the next town. As we drove into it both of us looked at each other and said “NOPE”. We went to the next village and hit the pub. We found out for a local that the previous location is where the prison for Ireland is! We had no idea but our INTUITION told us to keep moving.
😂 I think that makes it the safest place if all the criminals were locked up!
I think Ireland has twelve prisons
45 min north of Albany is a super quaint town called Saratoga Springs 💓
That's where I grew up and lived until I was 25!
Yes that’s an awesome town!
Yeah and alot of human shit all over the place and , homeless people, drug addicts and douche bag college kids. Fuck Saratoga
It is a nice town; all an all the Albany metropolitan region (which includes Saratoga) in my opinion is a pretty blah place. It is a very clique, weather wise kind of gloomy place that just does not have much to offer for young/ single working professionals.
Albany NY had its hay day in the 1980s and early 1990s. The city became terrible after a huge influx of hard guys and tough guys from New York City and downstate. New York infiltrated the city and made it miserable to live in. Also, a lot of students from New Jersey went to SUNY Albany and they made the town even worse. If this video is made in the 1980s, it would be totally different.
That's interesting to learn! Thank you for sharing.
Katie, I lived in Albany for 19 years and could not agree with you more, it isn't vibrant or friendly, the vibe is blah. Don't apologize for your true gut feelings. Be well
Live 30 minutes from albany, my towns nice, been around the state (Saratoga, Troy, Rochester, Amsterdam) Albany isnt special very boring, nothing to do really.
Albany got ruined and tainted after the 1980s when all of the miserable people from New York City and downstate New York moved up to Albany
@@Garrett-Prodsame
I agree - I moved to the Albany area in 2006 and the vibe in that city is what I'd say a political serious-like vibe. I'm glad to read its not just me that feels that vibe. I wonder if its the old buildings that are bland in color but intricate in style. The people are serious until you are friendly first.
I usually go to Saratoga, Clifton Park, Broadalbin/the Lakes/Adirondacks for some nice vibes with the locals. I live in Amsterdam which is coming along for friendliness and does have a good community town here in many parts.
@@InnovationTree very bland up here its not just you
Thank you so much for sharing the struggle you had at the beginning of this video! Sometimes it seems like everyone I know and everyone online is always so cheerful and able to go with the flow so easily, and then I feel petty and ashamed and downright weird when I'm in a bad mood and little things are bothering me. Your "pointless" story was so relatable and made me feel much less alone, so thank you for telling it!
Albany is especially blah on the weekends. It’s very much a commuter city. Check out Saratoga if you’re in Capital district on the weekend. Way more fun things to do!
Exactly, commute to job in Albany and then enjoy my time outside in my almost rural home on the weekend.
I went to school in Albany. I never had a bad experience but I could not wait to leave. Like you, "I just could not put my finger on it." It just felt so different.
The NYS Museum is my favorite up there. But it's usually best to drive through Albany on your way to some better place.
Absolutely love when you show the architecture! The buildings I will probably never ever see, so love traveling along with you. If you could get out and show more of the structure of those old buildings it would be fantastic.
To each their own. Many things I miss about the tri cities . Most of all its access to NYC Adirondacks Catskills and the Berkshires. Accessible to Montreal Boston and Vermont as well . Many things very special about my old home town that I miss. Lots of great memories. Winter is tough.😊
I feel the same! Albany is special, you just gotta know where to go and how to make the most of it
My favorite part of Albany is the uhaul truck on the roof of some building.
It’s still there as well as the building with the huge dog on the roof
Katie ... I lived in Albany for 5 years and spent many an hour in Washington Park. You drove past the school of criminal justice (8:33) (Nelson Rockefeller School) where I went for my masters. I lived right around the corner. The car honk where you said it felt like NYC, that was on the corner of Lark St and Central Avenue. I can tell Albany creeped you out a bit. There's a lot of history in that city & perhaps you felt some of the spirits. Plus, the city has been through a lot and it's very depressed. Has been for a long time. There's something about Albany that gets you to your bones. Trust me, I know.
i was raised there moved away when i was 25 years old glad to be out of there
Albany always creep me out. We went to the museum when I was a kid. We walked on lark during the day to eat. Nope. I’m going back north lol. I can walk in Troy but not Albany (20 years ago). Haha I always miss the exits 😂🤦♀️.
Looks Depressing to me.
@bellaann518 lol..try walking in Troy now. Make sure you have life insurance!
Troy is nice now..downtown at least
LOVE your hair, today! You can ALWAYS tell when the "vibes" are right for you, and when they're NOT--regardless of good mood/bad mood!
I can tell you why nobody honks: it's because we don't want to get shot! We are Texans, but I remind my husband all the time to not honk at anyone. There are too many crazies on the road.
We are Texans also and considering moving to the Albany area. Two things that are concerns: colder winters and unfriendly people. What has been your experience with these two things?
@@carlwhite4197 ha! I live in Albany.... It's very peaceful for those who like it. If you can try to move into Saratoga Springs just north of Albany. BUT YES if you aren't prepared for the winters you'll be bummed out how cold it can get and worse we have clouds 5 or 6 months of the year not to mention it gets darker here around 4:30pm during the winter. Sometimes you can enter work at 8am nearly dark out and leave work at 5pm and it will be dark again.... There's very little to no crime certainly shootings ... Maybe downtown in a the very few bad spots of Albany once or twice a year but there isn't a problem. People don't carry guns so if you do beep your horn there is zero risk of road rage here...
False
All city driving is stressful😛 Maybe you'd like Saratoga Springs or Lake George since you're out that way...Lake George is off-season and pretty quiet right about now.
Never been a large city type guy and if I was heading to live anywhere in NY, upstate would definetly be it. Ive always found it so pretty up there. I love the landscape and real change of seasons they have up there.
I moved from Florida to Upstate New York. I live in Downtown Albany and so far it has been a good experience for me. I love the history and the people have been friendly for me.
I loved Albany in the early 80's the old row house & beautiful architectural buildings. All cities change. Thanks for the tour. Safe travels🍂🍁🧡🌻.
Go to the real NY Watertown and the Ontario shoreline, the Finger Lakes Auburn, Seneca Falls, Hammondsport, the Adirondacks, or Letchworth State Park in NY is pretty, Salem MA is fun. So much...
Letchworth 😵💫 such a coming-of-age part of my life lol that's where all the local kids go to scare themselves
Living 20 mins outside of albany, working in albany, I now realize why I take so many out of state road trips and love them all 😂😂😂
Take a trip to Northern New York, near Lake Placid! If you like mountains you will love it
The third honk can be for when you see that random person you kind of know and want to obnoxiously say hi to them while they are walking down the road. I learned how to drive in Boston so I know to drive with my hand on the horn ready to blow it at a moment's notice.
I lived in Albany for 8 years and have a number of friends there, but I don’t really like it either. I worked for the state there, but it just never felt homey to me.
Could you show us some of the areas around Seneca and Cayuga Lakes? I read a book series set there and would love to see them some day
I just moved from Westchester NY to Hudson Falls .
So far upstate ny is very different and I’m noticing a lot poverty and low cost of living which probably go hand in hand .
Definitely small town vibes. I miss the city for sure . Just more things to do and easier to get around.
Hudson falls is a drug ridden shit hole, def doesn’t represent upstate ny
4 months ago I left a apartment 3 blocks down from Washington park and I don't miss it at all
In Los Angeles, people honk when the light is red.🙄
Total coked out idiots.
Albany is beautiful. I would move back in a heartbeat. I think you didn't see the beauty at that park at all. Albany is spread out and you missed so much of the charm of it. Try going up the Northway to Saratoga Springs.
A couple of tiktok famous couples just moved to Saratoga springs
@@angelbasham6631 interesting that they chose there. They must love the summers and the track. I lived there too.
I think she visited just a little too late. Washington Park looks it's best by mid October. Even then even Albanians leave Albany to go leaf peeping. The city itself is not a leaf peeping destination. Only someone from NYC, Long Island, or the Atlantic Seaboard major cities would think of Albany as a rural area that may be good for leaf peeping lol 😂.
Go up last Saratoga to the Adirondacks. There are some breathtaking views on both routes 73 and 86 in the Lake Placid area.
Leaf peeping doesn’t happen here. We go to Thacher Park or other rural outskirts for that. You need to park & walk around to appreciate the architecture of Albany. Parking is UNDER or over by the Egg (woot the cutest Brutalist building) & the NYS Museum. Take a tour of the Capitol (it’s stunning inside), check out the Education Bldg (the one with all the columns), walk up Washington Ave to the Institute of History & Art. Cut over Lark St for some good eats & then wander Washington Park. Cuz yeah by car it’s “meh” & always busy.
Enjoyed this video Katie. I've been watching you for some time now and although I am in my 70's I felt young again and right there with you. Thank you. Maureen, South Africa.
Enjoy you late spring ,
here Virginia 🇺🇸 is fall but no more beautiful yellows and orange.
Only naked threes, sleeping till April.
My father in the 80 was living in Namibia, that part of the world is so beautiful, and people very nice
Bye
Macarena🇺🇾🇺🇸.
,@maureennorth.
As someone who lives next to Albany (Troy person here🙋♀️) for the last 18 years I’ve barely gone to Albany because it’s eh. The only times where I go to Albany is to the Sage Campus since they have two campuses and all of my classes are in Albany. I like Troy more than Albany because it feels like there’s so much to do in Troy. Yes it’s hostile just as much as New York City is but that’s kinda what you should expect when you live in New York. Troy night out and the Troy’s farmers market is always a pleasure to have because you get to do so many things and it brings the community together to socialize. It’s super fun!
To see most of New York, we finally decided to be in a bus tour group, We had no regrets even if it was pricey. If you go to New York just for fun, just join a bus tour. And if you’re in no rush, walk and walk to see other beautiful sites.
Katie you're literally glowing in this video 😍
I grew up in New York, but I’ve never been to Albany. Thank you for the tour! My favorite place is Greenport, LI, NY
I went out to Greenport last summer for about five hours. Walked around. It took forever to drive there, even from my starting point of Hauppauge! But yes,
it is a nice drive, and a nice town, no doubt. I enjoyed exploring it, although it's very tiny. I heard the main Bed and Breakfast there is very good. (not cheap!) The
restaurants there are good. Claudio's. The main thing there is the harbor, lighthouse, the boat tour, from the tiny museum, but i missed the latter because
you have to get there very earliy in the afternoon or a.m. or they shut it down by 4 or so. The LIRR goes right there. Bookstore there sucked, nothing of any
interest and they got rid of used books! Nice! I wasn't impressed. Shopping was meh. Coffee shop/diner closed very early which was annoying. Southold
has more to recommend it, almost.
Hey Katie…. I live in Albany and understand your disconnect. I actually live in Loudonville a suburb. You picked a terrible part of town. Wish we could have connected. Love your blogs!
I went to school there, but rarely went downtown. Wasn't conciously avoiding it, but not much drew me there. Your reaction is really spot on. Albany is part of a decent sized metro area, but the city itself is very small. Yes, it does have a "little NYC" vibe in places, but the downtown is mostly dreary. 50 years ago, blighted neighborhoods were demolished to build the Empire State Plaza, which no one cares about (was supposed to transform the downtown).
Drive north on Madison, Western, or Washington, and soon you're in the university area. That's great, but you're now in a college town overrun by kids from Long Island, not very "Albany." I guess you can get attached to any place if it makes you think of great memories or people, but for most people, mediocrity prevails.
Lmao you sound old
I was born in Adirondack area. My dad moved us out to the desert in California 2 years later. 🙄
I've always wanted to go back and check it out. I even look at real estate listings here and there. Honestly, part of why I dont visit is that I'm afraid I'll be disappoined, because I've built it up in my mind. Looks so beautiful..but I've been to a lot of beautiful places where the people are awful...ruins it 100%.
What kind of CVS doesn't have a bathroom? That and Walgreens are my go-to on the road! Way cleaner than fast food places. And usually private. :)
Always laugh when someone refers to above NYC as "upstate". We are 60 miles away from Niagara Falls. THAT is upstate to me! LOL
......WESTERN NY
Very true but I point out whenever people hear New York they automatically think of NYC which is the reason I always say upstate NY
@@kbahr007 I always say I'm from really upstate NY, near the VT border.
@@cindee1794 Vermont has an even worse reputation.
Anything above the Bronx is upstate to us who live in NYC. There's NYC, Long Island and upstate. Westchester, Rockland are "upstate" to us.
I've lived in Albany (well, a suburb) for almost 20 years, and it's okay that you didn't like it! Driving in Albany always stresses me out. Honestly, it's so hard to find a video of anyone travelling to Upstate on purpose (especially Albany), I just feel like the pointing DiCaprio meme. The large builidng with the columns you passed is the NYS Department of Education building, I believe
Yes 👍🏼 I definitely get different energy from places. We all do I’m sure feel it if we are comfortable or not with the energy in places 😊. Thanks 4 the video ❤😊
I lived in Albany for 5 years and I agree, it is definitely a weird vibe. Crime is pretty bad especially in the central and east neighborhoods. Washington Park is pretty but tons of needles on the ground the last time I was there. The vibe was sterile, urban decay. It did grow on me tho
Come to Syracuse, lots to do here and in the area. Summer is best festivals and concerts non-stop. Green Lakes State Park is fun, lots of country parks, tons of great restaurants.
Albany isn’t upstate enough… 😊check out Saratoga or come see the Adirondacks!!! Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake!
I agree
That's the middle of nowhere
@@ayoa3892it’s also the most geographically beautiful part of the entire state
@@MrBurns0618 you have an opinion as if it was fact lol I'd rather see a beach and palm trees with water that isn't green that's beautiful
@@ayoa3892 That’s why I said most beautiful part of the state. If you like hot weather, beaches, and palm trees this obviously wouldn’t be a stop on your bucket list lol
Hey. Hope you are doing great. I just moved to Knoxville and not in love with the city. I’m from New York and to see this video made me have second thoughts about staying in Tennessee. Thanks. Jesus loves you ❤️
Catey I'm like that in Costco. It's frantic and people seem to be grasping for the food samples and good deals. I get claustrophobic in there and it's huge.
You can actually make your car horn have 3 different noises. If you quickly hit it 2 or 3 times it will give a nice gentle beep beep. If someone is about to hit me I hit it strong for about 1 to 2 seconds to really get their attention. If someone does something really stupid or dangerous that almost causes an accident i just lay on the horn until I feel like they got the message...
I don't use it often. Maybe 1x or 2x per road trip.
the log cabins are nice, they are off the exit I live. check out lake Mohawk in New Paltz N.Y.
Your honesty is refreshing, Had to subscribe
I worked in the alfred e smith building that is shown in your video and it was uncomfortable for me to just walk around on breaks. Too many drugged up people roam those streets. You should always look up areas before you travel. There is a shooting downtown Albany just about every day. I personally wouldn't walk through Washington Park alone but that's just me. I felt the same way you described when we visited, Greenville, NC.
Thanks Katie, have fun!
Vroomans nose is such a nice fall hike - Albany has a few places to see, then museum is nice. If you go in the winter there is ice skating and pre Christmas you have lights in the park.
Nope no more lights in the park. All the transplants from NYC and newbies to the area pressured the city to not allow lights in tbe park anymore, unbelievable. One more reason not to visit Albany.
Rhinebeck NY. It is such a beautiful little piece of heaven. Samuel's sweet shop is there and partially owned by Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. There is beautiful water and such cute architecture. Little shops, and great food.
I know we all have things that set us off.
Albany has a NYC vibe because of the Dutch. Same kind of brownstone houses etc. Driving in downtown Albany is stressful because of all the one-way streets. If you are unfamilar it can be a stressful drive.
I totally agree with you about not liking or getting an uncomfortable vibe in some towns from others .
Bathroom thing is very understandable. Ideally, I think any place that serves the public should be required to have a public bathroom. I guess it can be very burdensome, when the public use bathroom attracts certain undesirables. As a guy, it's much easier to cope with a bathroom desert, I can only imagine how frustrating it is for women.
The beautiful building with the columns is the NYS Education Dept
I lived in 5 different places around the country and Albany is by far the worst place of all of them. Nobody is friendly and being from the south that is a big deal to me cause I feel so isolated as we are people who love to chat. Not sure why it's like that here and it's very strange to see in person. I'll be done working in 5 years so I can move and it can't come quick enough.
To bad you didn't drive farther North. Some of the most beautiful parts of Upstate NY
I live in Albany. It sucks. You are totally right on the vibe. And driving in Albany is harder than Montreal for sure, a bigger city. Great video.
It's so frustrating to miss an exit and then have to drive so much more just to get back. I can relate to that trying to find a bathroom situation, haha. Those little annoyances add up.
Yes, very old history and architecture, but uuuuugh. Grew up north west of there. It was the largest city near. Lark St used to be quirky and nice and QE2 was a fun music venue.But there is some very heavy oppressive karma over that whole area. I feel overwhelmed there around the Capitol, as well. I even worked at SUNY Albany but have never found where to park to check the gorgeous Capitol building out. Have only seen photos and vids online
Pretty little park but I think we are past the leaf season. I'm picturing snow. Lots of it. And future ice skating.
Hi Katie! I have been searching for a home base as well. Out of frustration and not knowing exactly where to look, I will just drive around. Sometimes I will drive through a neighborhood; and I INSTANTLY I know, NO NOT here. I take this a intuition and will move on.
Question? How come you don't you mention the crime factor?
I’m from NYC and visit Albany which is two 1/2 hours from NYC.. I didn’t like the creepy vibes at all. I went to a town called Saratoga Springs. Which is like a good 25 minutes of north from Albany I love that town very serene 🍁🥰
I like cranky mood Katie! 😂 But seriously, I love Bethel, NY. Home of the original Woodstock festival. My favorite place to go in upstate NY.
You should've gone to Washington park for the tulip festival and Thatcher park outside of Albany for the foliage
I lived in Albany.
It has been...is..
And will always be a shithole.
You were correct.
I’ve never been to Albany. I am bad about honking my horn when people don’t move when the light turns green. That drives me nuts!!! I have lived in the south much more than I did in the north. However, I am from Columbus, OH & that’s where I learned to drive, so I guess my habits stuck with me. I admit that I am a very impatient person & always in a hurry. You would think at 75 that I would slow down a bit. But it hasn’t happened 🤷🏼♀️
May God continue to bless you Katie & keep you in His loving care 🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
NE in the fall! I’ve never been there. Thanks for sharing!
I'm from upstate NY. Best time to visit is mid October when all the leaves are changing. Absolutely beautiful.
they dont honk in pa either!
You should try again in the spring for tulip festival!
Why did you go to Albany of all places??
I really enjoy your “pointless” videos, Katie😂because I can so relate. Difference is you wrap up your story & I stay mid-story wondering what I’m talking about🤣Really pretty scenery - thanks for sharing❤
Today on way home from grocery I found myself in back of a Yaris. I immediately thought of KATIE! As I saw it turn I was struck as to how small it is. I'm now in a 2013 Kia Rio as I inherited it and had to sell my minivan I had Built into a camper. I say this as the Yaris is only slightly bigger than my Rio. Can't imagine living in the Yaris.
Katie, Are you trying to say that Albany looks like it's best time was in the past, long past?
Feel for you Katie. ❤
Do you film on a cellphone or DJI Pocket? New Sub
There are some nice aspects of Albany. You might want to check out TripAdvisor. Albany isn't the whole upstate. Maybe do a video on one of the counties of the Hudson Valley.
That blouse is amazing, looks great on you 🥰
also, the comment you made about people in the South not honking. I don't know what all parts of the South you've been to but we definitely honk here in Huntsville Alabama 😂
Since I visited Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2021 I notice that all the houses in the cities all look the same.. going through Maryland on the train saw the same type of houses even in your video too. A lot different than what we have down here in south Mississippi.. Lumberton, ms.
Does anyone know the name of the song in the video ??
Nobody likes Albany, that's where New York City sends the Libras to ruin our state haha, I'm just kidding. (Although in all seriousness I don't like the structure in New York where Albany and New York City control the rest of the state.) Albany does have some cool places, my top recommendation would definitely be the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. It's a nature preserve that in this supper unique desert-like habitat that's very rare in the Northeast. There are a lot of rare plants and animals there and the preserve does a great job with the information and educational displays that explain everything. Albany also has a lot of history and cool small-museums; it was a pivotal place during the American Revolution and there is a lot of history dating back even further as it was an important area to the Native American Tribes as well. There is also a lot of ghost tours if your into that kind of stuff. Overall I would agree though that I personally don't connect with the vibe in Albany or the Hudson Valley in general. Albany is probably one of my least favorite cities in Upstate, NY. While I love the small-town friendly, southern hospitality (with better drivers) of Western and rural NY where I grew up, I also enjoy the hustle and bustle of New York City and Long Island. Its a unique electric-energy in New York City that's a lot of fun for an outsider. I feel like Albany and the Hudson Valley is caught somewhere in-between these two cultures, the energy just feels off to me. Nothing against the people who do enjoy it though, perhaps to some it might feel like the best of both worlds. One of my good friend's who is actually a traveler who so far has lived in her little car like Katie, just decided that Albany is where she want's to settle down and find a permanent place/job. To each there own, I'm sure I will visit Albany again someday, I do love history and the pine-bush. Some unique food in that area too, cannot go wrong with that Melba Sauce!
Your actually right. The liberal mayor of Albany is from out west and most of her city leadership are all liberal NYC transplants. They are doing nothing to make Albany a desirable destination for people throughout the capital region. Albany has been dying since Mayor Jennings left office, police reforms, and Albany shifted far left politically. High crime, no development, and they even chased out Holiday Lights in the Park a nearly 30 year tradition which got better each year....
As someone that lives upstate NY insulting the city is kinda rude
My family has been in the capitol region of upstate new york on the same land for more than 200 years and i cant recall any family member favoring NYC.
I am a patriot and i still cant agree with how rural new york and NYC are still one state.
@@RonaldEdwards-e8pooooh boy. Your family lived on the same property for over 200 years… did your family have slaves there too? 😉
Since when? Lived in Sullivan County, Dutchess County and Chautauqua County and Onondaga County. Everyone in upstate NY shits on all big cities in NY😂
I don’t care about being rude towards the city when all their destructive policy is pushed upon residents of upstate who do not live even remotely the same life as those in NYC. So to hell with NYC
I think you’re confusing Upstate NY with Central NY
Thatcher Park looks over Albany and the Hudson Valley.....beautiful view. Sorry you missed it.
I lived in Troy ny for 15 years I know how you feel!!
im a solo traveler in a class a coach. currently in new berlin NY.
love this video 🤗 i totally feel you on having those days, you look gorgeous as always!
If you are not use to upstate NY that would make sense why you are not use to it I was born in Oneonta NY there is really nothing around for miles but at the same time most people that are originally from upstate NY don't like living there anyway but I'm glad you still get to see some of the scenery and show people thank you for being you you are amazing
Instead of a horn to beep at people, I want a bullhorn so I can yell at people to move out of the left lane or to get off their cellphones! Lol I probably wouldn’t be very polite though!
😂😂😂
I can identify with this because I decided to drive my 30-year-old car from Myrtle Beach South Carolina to Seattle because I had done it 10 years previously going in the other direction. Fall colors and houses on back roads by rivers and little towns was all terrific. Then my front end started to shake and I couldn't drive over 55 miles an hour. Broke down in Athens Ohio and couldn't get parts. Had to drive all around like that and sit in motels and hotels trying to do something about the car and it was that same kind of one thing after another that irritated you right down to your toes. Decided f*** it and shipped the car to Seattle.
That was dumb, the car was too old and you could've broken down on a stretch of highway. Don't take those kind of risks.
Did u try visiting Terrytown NY
These are parts of Albany that I had never seen and now I never will since I moved to FL 37 years ago. If I ever go back up to Saratoga to visit, it's not likely I'll have any reason to investigate the nicer areas of Albany.
Long waits for doctors visits, poor health providers who don't accept Medicaid, little cultural flare, rampant opiod addiction, decaying urban centers like Albany, and poor cell signal to name a few issues
The one building is also part of the state capital building even thoe it’s across the street. And the not comfortable vibe you got by the park is because Washington park is not safe it’s had it’s fair share of crimes.. not a good idea to walk alone even in the day time