Part of our travel plan is to visit as many of the state capitals as we can, so we found a camp just west of New York's state capital, Albany. Continuing to stay in the beautiful NY State Parks, we moved about 60 miles to Thompson's Lake Campground at Thacher State Park. It gave us a chance to see the city of Albany yet be out of the city traffic, a great place. I must say we've never seen a state park with such beautiful fall decorations; more mums and cornstalks everywhere as we drove up to the Ranger Station to check in. Half of the park had already been closed for the season, but there were tons of sites still available.
We chose a large site with a view of the lake (and the playground equipment). But summer was over and there were only a few children in the campground so it wasn't such a busy place.
Since the capitol buildings are closed on the weekend, we had to put a little speed on to get our campsite set up and then get into town in time for the last guided tour of the afternoon. What an amazing experience!!! The capitol is built atop State Street hill and has been the seat of government since 1802. Such grand architecture and built by hand of solid masonry over a period of 32 years. By 1899 its cost had exceeded twenty-five million dollars! Yikes!!!! nothing that could ever be replaced at today's costs.
The guided tour took us through the main sections of the building including the gorgeous Senate Chambers with chandeliers and gold leaf bands along the walls.
We stood on the Grand Staircase, also known as the Million Dollar Staircase, for this photo. Besides the 444 steps it also features 77 "faces" carved into the walls alongside the staircase. These carvings include G. Washington, A. Lincoln, S.B. Anthony and U. Grant as well as many unknown images. Artwork by New York artists cover the walls along the first floor. During October, Capitol Haunting Tours are offered free to the public, taking guests to known hotspots within the Capitol Building as stories are told of spirits who haunt the building. That would be so fun to do, we were just 2 weeks too early.
We decided to stay in the city for an early dinner before going back to the campground, we chose the Albany Pump Station and Brewery. Great food and brews in a restored 1870s brick building.
Saturday morning we spent biking around the campground then went back into Albany to visit the historical Schuyler House Museum. We were the only ones there so we had a private tour, that doesn't happen very often.
Our guide mentioned that the replica of Henry Hudson's
Half Moon was in the harbor for the weekend so we got directions and stopped by to see it docked along the river. It's the full-scale replica of the Dutch ship Henry Hudson used in his explorations in 1609. Though it wasn't open for visitors yet, it does house a traveling museum sharing the unique history of the Dutch colony called New Netherland.
Sunday we decided we'd had enough history and driving so we hung out at the campground, it turned out to be such a beautiful day with the trees turning such lovely hues.
Only a little ways from the campground is a wonderful hike with spectacular views, the Cliff Top Trail and Indian Ladder Trail. The trail leads down to the base of the cliff passing a trickle of a waterfall, an underground stream and caves.
The views towards Albany are beautiful from the limestone cliffs.
Our weekend ended with these lovely views. We now turned south to spend a the next couple of days in the Catskill Mountains.
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