New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is the region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County.

Rensselaer is in the heart of New York’s Capital Region, putting a world of cultural and recreational opportunities within reach.

The area offers both a relaxed lifestyle and easy access to the high-energy metropolitan centers of the Northeast.

Distance from campus:

Albany	9 mi/14 km		Burlington, Vt.	148 mi/238 km
Bennington, Vt.	31 mi/50 km		New York City	159 mi/256 km
Saratoga Springs	34 mi/55 km		Boston	174 mi/280 km
Lake Placid	133 mi/214 km		Montreal	225 mi/362 km

History, Culture, and Metros

The history, entertainment, culture, shopping, and festivals in and around Troy and New York State’s Capital of Albany are minutes away from the Rensselaer campus. Drive a few more minutes and you’re in Saratoga Springs for horseracing in the summer and a happening nightlife year-round. Famous havens like Cooperstown and Woodstock are a quick drive away. A trip to Manhattan can be a scenic Hudson River ride on Amtrak or explore downtown Boston — both are equidistant from Troy, less than three hours away. Just a bit farther is Niagara Falls near Buffalo, or cosmopolitan Montreal, Canada.

Mountains, Lakes, Nature, and Parks

The Capital region offers numerous trails for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and mountain-bikers. The Adirondack Mountains of New York, the Berkshires in Massachusetts, Vermont’s Green Mountains, and New York’s Catskills are all within an hour of Troy, and offer hundreds of areas for camping, hiking, and skiing. Many clubs sponsored by the Rensselaer Union take full advantage of these natural resources.

For closer access to nature, Grafton Lakes State Park is minutes from campus. Only a little farther is swimming, boating, or sightseeing at gorgeous Lake George.

Arts, Music, and Sports

Arts organizations of every description are also found in the area. The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, considered by many experts to have the finest acoustics in America, is a short walk from campus as is a new downtown arts center. Nearby Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is the summer home to the New York City Ballet and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. is also close by and the summer venue for the Boston Pops. Albany’s Times Union Center hosts a wide array of top-name musical groups, sporting events, and other entertainment options.