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The Red Cottage: Upstate Overnights

September 28, 2020 By wordpress

The Low-Down

A home away from home. The Red Cottage is a unique bed and breakfast in the heart of peaceful historic Slingerlands. The 3-acre parcel is home to the Innkeeper’s house and the Red Cottage where guests are welcomed with open arms. The cottage is surrounded by old trees and gardens, and the interior decorated with period pieces and contemporary artisan crafts.

Breakfast served in dining room of main house

What Gabby Loves About This Place

This place had my admiration when I read the following about their breakfast, “The focus is on fresh, healthy, local, organic and seasonal. Local blue/green eggs from a nearby CSA are a favorite as are artisan breads.” Okay, so where do I sign up? Plus, “in the evening, plat du jour is offered occasionally in the main house at the whim of the cook.” The ambiance of this place, plus their emphasis on good local food is a win-win for me.

The Details

Reservations may be made via telephone or email. Click here for the contact information. In all seasons, the rate is $165 per night + 8% sales tax. If you stay more than three nights, there is a 10% discount. This is a beautiful autumn stay, book yours today before it’s reserved for the season!

The Red Cottage
Address: 138 Font Grove Rd, Slingerlands, NY 12159
Phone: (518) 475-1684
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CapNY is a perfect fall getaway destination. You deserve a vacation. Book, enjoy, and relax. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos, @UpstateCreative! We’d love to share.

The Morgan State House: Upstate Overnights

September 28, 2020 By wordpress

The Low-Down

The Morgan State House is located on beautiful Washington Park in downtown Albany, impressively designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, the architect of many of the world’s most well-known and beautiful public parks, including Central Park and Prospect Park in NYC. This “Ultimate Modern Inn” is accompanied by a private English garden and a taste of historical elegance in its design and layout.

The Garden

What Gabby Loves About This Place

This was an easy choice…a delicious breakfast (included in your stay!) in the garden. Such a lovely, peaceful way to start a day of an urban adventure. Albany simply serves the best of both worlds, nature and city, and The Morgan State House is a perfect example of it.

The Details

You can book your stay directly on their website for the best rates. Rooms start at $149 per night. Parking is available for $10 per night. They also offer special packages and deals to enhance your stay and exploration of Albany.





The Morgan State House
Address: 393 State St, Albany, NY 12210
Phone: (518)427-6063
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CapNY is a perfect fall getaway destination. You deserve a vacation. Book, enjoy, and relax. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos, @UpstateCreative! We’d love to share.

Washington Park Inn: Upstate Overnights

September 28, 2020 By wordpress

The Low-Down

Built in 1884, this brick Victorian Mansion has a historic charm that matches its location in the heart of historic Albany, as one can walk to the Capitol Building, Empire State Plaza, Center Square and the other gems of the downtown area. If you’re wishing for a leisurely, urban adventure through Albany’s fantastic downtown while enjoying an Inn with character, this may be the perfect place for you.

What Gabby Loves About This Place

I love small boutique hotels. Plus, location, location, location! Washington Park Inn is just two blocks from Center Square in the Lark Street neighborhood, which offers delectable local restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and more. One of my favorite things to do in the area is walk around and admire the 19th century brownstones. I would love to live in one of these brownstones…maybe one day!

The Details

If you book a stay directly on their website, you get a 10% discount using code WPI10! Rates start at $139/night. Breakfast is included in your stay; Brooklyn bagels and smoked salmon included…I mean, what more could you want!

The Washington Park Inn
Address: 634 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12208
Phone: (518) 930-4700
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CapNY is a perfect fall getaway destination. You deserve a vacation. Book, enjoy, and relax. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos! We’d love to share. @UpstateCreative

Grey Gables: Upstate Overnights

September 28, 2020 By wordpress

The Low-Down

A welcoming Gothic Victorian home awaits your arrival in the heart of Slingerlands historic district. This 2,000+ square foot home has three bedrooms, a kitchen with all the necessities for a home cooked meal, a front porch, a screened in back porch, plus a back patio overlooking the woods equipped with a fire pit for those chilly fall nights. Located just a few minutes from downtown Albany via car, you can escape an urban exploration filled day in your own quiet, private, cozy space.

The Rail Trail

What Gabby Loves About This Place

The location of this place couldn’t be more perfect for a fall stay. Just minutes from Albany County Helderberg-Hudson rail trail, you can ride your bike or take a walk and enjoy everything beautiful Upstate has to offer in this beautiful season. This home is a great middle ground for those who want to enjoy nature and who also want to drive into downtown Albany for a meal at one of the local restaurants.

The Details

To reserve your dates, you must fill out an inquiry form on the website. There is a two night minimum and the price is $160 per night plus a $100 cleaning fee per stay. It sleeps up to six people, but you can put in a special request if you wish for more people to join. As we come into the October months, be sure to book quickly so you can enjoy all that fall has to offer at Grey Gables!

Grey Gables
Address: 127 Font Grove Rd, Slingerlands, NY 12159
Phone: (518) 728 1175
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CapNY is a perfect fall getaway destination. You deserve a vacation. Book, enjoy, and relax. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos! We’d love to share. @UpstateCreative

Exploring the Albany Pine Bush Preserve

August 26, 2020 By wordpress

By: Maria Gigliello

Maria!

Did you know that the Cap Region is home to one of the rarest habitats in the world? Out of only 20 in existence, the Albany Pine Bush Preserve boasts one of the largest inland pine barrens in existence. You might know it as the sandy stretch of land around the Thruway in the Guilderland/Colonie area, but the Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a totally unique piece of preserved land teeming with rare plants and animals that we are lucky to have right in our own backyard. Take a trip with me as we explore this delightfully uncommon preserve in the Cap Region.

The Helderbergs from the Karner Road Barrens

I had the opportunity to intern at the Pine Bush when I was in college and spent many days leading school and camp groups around the preserve. I still know some of the trails like the back of my hand and I still never tire of lingering among the towering pitch pines. There are so many elements to the Pine Bush that make it a unique place but one thing to note is that the preserve is not just one chunk of land. The Thruway, Crossgates Mall and suburban neighborhoods split the land up into several parcels. With 12 trailheads and over 20 miles of trail, you have endless options of exploration!

An inland buck moth

The Discovery Center

Let’s start right at The Discovery Center off of Route 155. Several miles of trail start from here, including a 1 mile loop and a 2.5 mile loop over rolling sand dunes. This is a great part of the preserve to explore if you’re interested in seeing wildlife. Pretty soon, in September, you’ll catch sight of black, orange and white inland buck moths flying above the scrub oak. Be on the lookout for turtles, deer and a wide variety of birds as well!

The Madison Avenue Pine Barrens

Remy enjoying the Madison Ave Barrens

Moving down the road to Madison Ave Extension, I want to bring you to my favorite trailhead of the Pine Bush. The Madison Avenue Pine Barrens is one of the best spots to feel dwarfed by the distinct pitch pine trees that tower over the preserve. Gentle, rolling terrain makes for a relaxing walk while taking in the beauty of the land around you. When lockdown first started, my dog, Remy, and I frequented this trailhead as the wide, sandy trails make for a good spot to walk a four-legged friend. The full loop at this trailhead is only about .6 miles but take the purple connector trail for an extended 3.7 mile walk to DiCaprio Park in Guilderland!

The Great Dune Trailhead

The preserve’s characteristic pitch pines 

Just down the road from the Madison Ave. Pine Barrens is one of the crown jewels of the whole preserve, the Great Dune trailhead. This area contains–you guessed it– the largest sand dune of the preserve standing at 75 feet tall! While most of the Pine Bush’s habitat is made up of sandy soil, pitch pines and species that prefer a dryer climate, the Kaikout Kill that runs through the Great Dune area supports ferns and mosses providing some charming greenery. In spring, this is also a great area to look for the endangered Karner blue butterfly that only feeds on the leaves of wild lupine. Several loops can be made from here, the longest being just under 2 miles.

Wild lupine ready to be snacked on 

Six Mile Waterworks

Finally, we’re making a stop at the Six Mile Waterworks trailhead! Home to Rensselaer Lake, this section of the preserve allows for fishing, paddling and picnicking. If fishing is your thing you can try your hand at catching bass, carp, pike and pumpkin seed. If you’re more of a hiker, you can pick up a .5 mile trail from Six Mile Waterworks that will lead you to the neighboring Rapp Road Barrens.

There are several more trailheads in the preserve with superb hiking and bird watching opportunities! You can check out all of the trails and what they have to offer by visiting the preserve’s website.

Eat & Drink

When you’re done hiking, paddling, or fishing, there are some great eateries in the area to stop by as well:

  • Blessing’s Tavern in Colonie: Located on Watervliet Shaker Road, just down the road from the Pine Bush, this local favorite has some top notch pub food to refuel after your day of adventuring. You can’t go wrong with any of their sandwiches or wings!
  • Fiden’s Brewing Company: Mere minutes from several Pine Bush trailheads is Fidens, a local microbrewery. If you’re a fan of IPAs, they’ve got you covered with their “Socratic Questioning” lineup that features 7 different kinds of IPAs and DIPAs.


Maria Gigliello is an avid hiker, paddler and writer who enjoys spending as much time as possible doing all three things in the Adirondack State Park. She is just as passionate about beer as she is about responsible outdoor recreation and is always in search of a good view and a brew. You can follow her adventures on her blog, The Dirt.

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Related Posts

  • Exploring the Albany Pine Bush Preserve
  • Upstate Overnights: Catskills Edition
  • Warren County Paddles-to-Pubs, by Blogger Maria Gigliello
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