Schenectady is a city located in the Schenectady County in New York, United States. The city has a lot to offer and never fails to take the minds of the tourists by surprise. From the beautiful parks, museums, theater, and libraries to beautifully decorated Aqua parks, the city has it all. Thus, the tourists visiting this colorful city can engage themselves in a wide array of outdoor activities and there is no chance for them to get bored once they reach Schenectady. A mix of urban and semi-urban atmosphere in the city makes it a great place to spend the holidays in almost every season. Read on to learn about the best things to do in the area!
1. Central Park Rose Garden
The Central Park Rose Garden is the ultimate destination for all nature lovers. It is a pure bliss to visit the garden since the beautiful colors of the roses never fail to mesmerize the tourists. The wide array of rose bushes that are present there is definitely a treat to the eyes. The park even offers benches to all the visitors and makes sure that they are enjoying their time in this serene ambiance.
Central Park Rose Garden
Address: 500 Iroquois Ln, 12309-6144 Schenectady, NY
Price: 50 USD per person per hour (2 hour maximum) for residents and 100 USD per person per hour (2 hour maximum) for non- residents.
Opening Hours: All seasons, all days, from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
Website: Central Park Rose Garden
2. Via Aquarium
The Via Aquarium attracts tourists of all age groups and can easily be considered a gem of a destination in the city. The tourists visiting this beautiful aquarium will be able to witness a plenty of fishes of both tropical and freshwater variant. The touch pool for the stingrays is definitely a prime reason behind its growing popularity. The Via Aquarium is undoubtedly a great place for the children as it imparts a lot of knowledge on them about the aquatic life.
Via Aquarium
Address: Via Port, 12306 Rotterdam, NY
Price: Free for children aged below 3 years, 10 USD per head for visitors aged from 4 to 17 years, and 16 USD to 19 USD for visitors aged above 17 years
Opening Hours: All seasons, all day admission to the aquarium. Admission gates close at 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Website: Via Aquarium
3. Museum of Innovation and Science
The Museum of Innovation and Science is a major tourist destination for all the tourists who possess an inquisitive mind. The primary agenda behind developing this museum was to quench the thirst of the children in the fields of science and innovation. But, in recent times, this museum has turned out to be a major hotspot for tourists of all age groups. It comprises a wide array of science toys and equipment that helps the tourists to know a lot of unknown things in the field of science.
Museum of Innovation and Science
Address: 15 Nott Terrace Heights, 12308 Schenectady, NY, USA.
Price: Free for children below 3 years. Children aged 3 to 12 years, 7.50 USD per head. Seniors citizens, 9 USD per head. 10.50 USD per head for visitors aged above 13 years.
Opening Hours: All seasons. Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: Museum of Innovation and Science
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4. Schenectady County Historical Society Museum
The Schenectady County Historical Society Museum is one of the prime tourist destinations in the city. It is simply a paradise for tourists who are fond of art. The tourists will be able to gain a lot of knowledge about America’s rich cultural heritage. Besides this, they can also see the beautiful handcrafted goods, jewelry, textiles and paintings done by the local people.
Schenectady County Historical Society Museum
Address: 32 Washington Ave, 12305 Schenectady, NY, USA
Price: Free for children and students with valid identification, 8 USD per adult visitor
Opening Hours: All seasons, Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5. Schenectady Greenmarket
The tourists who visit this interesting market during the wintry season can have a gala time. They can choose from a wide array of food parlors and cafes for the purpose of having their lunch or dinner with their friends and family. They can easily choose between Indian, Jamaican or Louisiana cuisine and can really have a grand feast. The best part of this market is that the fresh produce is from the nearby farms.
Schenectady Greenmarket
Address: 105 Jay St, 12305 Schenectady, NY, USA
Price Free entry
Opening Hours: From May through October, every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Website: Schenectady Greenmarket
6. Proctor's Theater
The Proctor’s Theater is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Schenectady. It is a must-visit for all the tourists who are fond of art and drama. Watching a drama is always fun and the Proctor’s Theater hosts a wide array of dramas at a time and the tourists have the complete liberty to choose one. It has been found that the most of the shows that they host are blockbusters and huge crowd pullers. The Proctor’s Theater is sometimes also considered the nerve center of New York’s art and culture.
Proctor's Theater
Address: 432 State St, 12305 Schenectady, NY, USA
Price: Price depends on the show
Opening Hours: All seasons, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Some Sundays, the box office remains closed, so one must call to verify hours.
Website: Proctor’s Theater
7. Schenectady County Public Library
The Schenectady County Public Library is the ultimate destination for tourists who are fond of books. It is sometimes considered a jewel of the Schenectady downtown. It is also one of the largest libraries in the region. The library comprises a wide array of books on various topics compiled with every type of resource and service. The librarian is extremely helpful and is always eager to help out the readers in every possible way.
Schenectady County Public Library
Address: 99 Clinton St, 12305 Schenectady, NY, USA.
Price: Free entry, but 50 USD per year per head is being charged for the purpose of maintaining the library card.
Opening Hours: All seasons, all days, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
8. Nott Memorial
The Nott Memorial is one of the famous structures in Schenectady and is also a major tourist destination. It is primarily a sixteen-sided building made up of stone and serves as a symbol of the Union College in Schenectady. Witnessing the jaw-dropping architecture of this famous structure is simply a treat to the eyes. It also reveals a lot of information about the America’s ancient architectural style. The Nott Memorial is often considered living by the local residents.
Nott Memorial
Address: 807 Union St, 12308 Schenectady, NY, USA
Price: Free entry.
Opening Hours: All seasons, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
9. Edison Tech Center
The Edison Tech Center is a very exciting to place to visit in Schenectady. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, especially for those who are fond of technology and engineering. The main objective behind forming this tech center was to help everyone understand and in turn feel the joy of technology and engineering.
Edison Tech Center
Address: 136 Broadway, 12305 Schenectady, NY, USA.
Price: Free Entry.
Opening Hours: Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m to 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Website: Edison Tech Center
10. Mountain Ridge Adventure
The Mountain Ridge Adventure is the best place where the adventure-loving tourists can go. It’s a great center of attraction for the kids and young ones. The tourists visiting this adventure park can engage themselves in a wide array of spine-chilling activities.
Mountain Ridge Adventure
Address: 300 Weatherwax Rd, 12302 Glenville, NY, USA
Price: 29 USD per per kid for a Treetop Challenge Course Pass. 49 USD per person for a Treetop Challenge Course Pass. 29 USD for a Zip Line Park Pass.
Opening Hours: All seasons, all days, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Website: Mountain Ridge Adventure
Rediscover Schenectady
A tour to Schenectady is a must for any tourist who is planning to visit New York. Schenectady has a lot to offer and the tourists can engage themselves in a wide array of activities.