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Top Ten Best

With connections to Uncle Sam, Norman Rockwell, "The Night Before Christmas" and "Yankee Doodle", Rensselaer County is as All-American as mom and apple pie. The secret of the region's appeal? Why, there is so much to see, do and discover here.

Follow the links below for some of the best...

1) The Waterfalls at Poestenkill Gorge make a spectacular setting for a quiet moment of reflection and meditation.

Here are some other natural wonders:

  • Barbersville Falls, Poestenkill (518) 238-2832
  • Berkshire Bird Paradise, Red Pond Rd, Grafton (518) 279-3801
  • Burden Lake, Averill Park (518) 674-8917
  • Burden Pond, Campbell and Vanderburgh, Troy
  • Buttermilk Falls, Buttermilk Falls Rd, Schaghticoke
  • Capital District Community Gardens, Troy (518) 274-8685
  • Cherry Plain State Park, Off Rt. 66, Cherry Plain (518) 733-5400
  • Crystal Lake, Rt. 66, Averill Park
  • Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, 475 Dyken Pond Rd., Grafton (518) 658-2055
  • Frear Park, Lavin Ct. & Park Blvd, Troy (518) 270-4553
  • Hoosick Falls Waterworks Project, Off Carey Avenue, Hoosick Falls (518) 686-7071
  • Hoosick River Gorge, Rt. 40, Schaghticoke
  • Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway Tours (518) 274-5267
  • Glass Lake, Rt. 66, Averill Park
  • Grafton Lakes State Park, Off Rt. 2, Grafton (518) 279-1155
  • Lock 4 Canal Park, Stillwater Brdg. Rd., Schaghticoke (518) 664-5261
  • Murray's Beach/Lyon's Lake, Off Rt. 20, Nassau (518) 766-3953
  • North Greenbush Town Beach, Snyders Lake Road, N. Greenbush (518) 283-8807
  • Papscanee Island Preserve, Staats Island Rd, Castleton
  • Poestenkill Gorge, Linden Avenue, Troy
  • Prospect Park, Congress St., Mt. Ida, Troy (518) 270-8667
  • Rensselaer Taconic Land Conservancy Field Trips (518) 238-2832
  • Schermerhorn Park, Rt. 9J, Castleton
  • Taconic Crest Trail, Top of Petersburg Pass, Petersburgh
  • Tech Park Hiking Trails, N. Greenbush

Rensselaer County Parks and Recreation


2) We have more Tiffany Windows per square mile than you'll see anywhere else in the world.

Here is a list of Tiffany windows and other architectural treasures you'll find...

  • Bush Memorial Center, 1st & Congress St, Troy (518) 244-2000
  • Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, 138 8th St., Troy (518) 272-1955
  • First Presbyterian Church of Lansingburgh, 115th St. & 3rd Ave., Troy (518) 235-3851
  • Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway Historic Tours (518) 274-5267
  • Oakwood Cemetery, Rt. 40, City Line, Troy (518) 272-7520
  • St. John's Episcopal Church, 146 1st St., Troy (518) 274-5884
  • St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, 416 3rd St., Troy (518) 274-6720
  • St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 70 Main Street, Hoosick Falls (518) 686-4982
  • St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 58 3rd St., Troy (518) 273-7351
  • Tiffany's Windows in Troy Self-Guided Walking Tour (518) 274-5267
  • Troy Public Library, 100 2nd St., Troy (518) 274-7071

Rensselaer County Arts

3) Yo Yo Ma loves to record in the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall because of it's absolutely perfect acoustics.

Here are other venues to catch exciting performances:

Rensselaer County Music/Theater

4) Both John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon visited the Hendrick Hudson Hotel during the 1960 presidential race. Here are nice places where you can stay while visiting the region today...Click Here

5) Enjoy a romantic dinner at the Crooked Lake House, where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton once met for a secret rendezvous. Here are just a few places to have a bite...Click Here

6) You can still catch the latest movies from your car at the Hollywood Drive-In. Here are some other fun things you can do...Click Here

7) Whenever you hear a church bell, you can bet it was made here, right along with the centennial Liberty Bell.

Here are some historical highlights...

Rensselaer County Historical Sites and History

8) Daniel Day-Lewis immortalized the docks of Troy in the movie "Age of Innocence".

You can set the scene at these waterfront resources:

  • Albany Yacht Club, 73 Broadway, Rensselaer (518) 445-9587
  • Captain J.P. Cruise Line, 278 River St., Troy (518) 270-1901
  • The Mallory Line Collar City Charters, Troy Town Dock & Marina, 427 River St., Troy (518) 272-5341
  • Rensselaer County Boat Launch into the Hudson (2002), Off Broadway, Rensselaer (518) 462-4266
  • Riverfront Park, Broadway at Dunn Memorial exit, Rensselaer (518) 462-4266
  • RiverSpark Visitor Center, 251 River St., Troy (518) 270-8667
  • Troy Town Dock & Marina, 427 River St., Troy (518) 272-5341

Rensselaer County Waterfront

9) Summer nights are not the same without a delicious double-dip cone from the hands of "Snowman"

Rensselaer County Dining

10) Kids of all ages can thank Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for inventing the ferris wheel.