The Capital District is full of small hidden gems and one of them, Five Rivers, is shining bright during the autumn season. A few minutes west of Albany, DEC's Environmental Education Center is a living museum comprising over 450 acres of broad fields, towering forests, and tranquil wetlands. With over 10 miles of trails for self-guided exploration, Five Rivers fosters “discovery, spiritual refreshment and physical fitness through wholesome outdoor recreation”. Fear not, if you enjoy your refreshment in a more ... Continue Reading

Last Saturday I drove to Middleburgh for a short hike up Vroman’s Nose... at night. I had seen a few photos online but wasn't quite prepared for the spectacular view on the Schoharie valley. We sneaked in right before sunset and half an hour later we were seating on top of the infamous ledge, facing east, waiting for the supermoon to rise. It peaked from behind the hills in a stunning fashion, a huge orange disc distorted by the horizon, ... Continue Reading

Perched on a hill overlooking the Hudson Valley is a rather peculiar villa. The Olana State Historic Site was the home of Frederic Edwin Church, one of the major figures in the Hudson River School of landscape painting. It is difficult to affix one single style to this beautiful mansion, though “Persian” would be a good start, and it has a ring to it. The grounds are open throughout the year and I highly recommend the peaceful view of the ... Continue Reading

K took me on a little trip to the Barberville Falls Nature Preserve last Sunday, less than half an hour east of Albany. The outstanding feature of the area is the Barberville Falls, a beautiful waterfall about 90 feet high and 50-60 feet wide. The pool at the bottom is broad, and quite deep. As in “Creatures from the Deep” — kind of deep. The sky was in no mood that day but that didn't stop us from swimming for ... Continue Reading