Schenectady
Schenectady once called the city that lights and hauls the world, is located in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Approximately 20 minutes from New York's capital of Albany, Schenectady is best known as the birthplace of General Electric and for Proctor's Theater. Schenectady has also been working on a successful project to revitalize its downtown.
Get in
By car
Schenectady is located approximately 24 km (15 miles) northwest of Albany, New York. It is accessed from the NYS Thruway (I-90) at exits 25 and 26 which are the two ends of Schenectady's connector interstate of I-890. It can also be accessed from I-87 via 4 lane surface routes of NY 7 (I-87 exit 6) and NY 5 (I-87 exit 2)
By bus
Greyhound Bus Lines 22 State St, +1-518-346-6113, The bus station is located about a block from Schenectady County Community College. While the bus station is nothing to look at it is in a fairly safe area just a few blocks from the main downtown area.
Capital District Transportation Authority, +1 518 482-8822 . CDTA offers scheduled bus service 7 days a week. See CDTA's website for bus schedules.
By train
Amtrak connects Schenectady with New York City (approx. 3 1/2 hours), Buffalo (5 hours), Toronto (7 hours), and Montreal (7 1/2 hours). Many additional trains run between New York City and Albany-Rensselaer Station, 20 miles away.
Get around
See
- Schenectady Museum, 15 Nott Terrace Hts, 12308, ☎ +1 518-382-7890. Tuesday - Sunday, 10AM - 5PM. The Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium celebrate science, invention, and imagination. The museum explores the area’s rich technological heritage, with some of the region’s finest interactive exhibits. The museum also has an extensive General Electric collection. $3 - $5.
- The Stockade, north of Union St. downtown along and near the Mohawk River. The Stockade historic district is one of the older residential neighborhoods in the U.S., with about 40 structures dating back to the Revolutionary War era or even earlier. Strongly recommended for lovers of early American architecture.
- Nott Memorial Hall, Union Collage.
Do
- Proctors Theatre, 432 State Street, 12305, ☎ +1 518 382-1083. Proctors is the Capital Region's premier theater for Broadway shows and more. Large plays such as Phantom of the Opera have played here. Free garage parking and lower ticket prices make this an excellent alternative to NYC's Broadway. Proctors has been recently remodeled and has excellent reviews.
Buy
- Jay Street, Jay Street between State St and Franklin St. Jay St. is a collection of unusual shops and restaurants. If you're looking for places you wouldn't find in a mall this is an ideal, albeit unusual, place to shop.
Eat
- Glen Sanders Mansion, 1 Glen Avenue, Scotia, ☎ +1 518 374-7262. Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30AM - 2PM Dinner: Mon-Sat 5PM - 10PM Sun 4PM - 9PM Sunday Brunch: 10:30AM - 1PM. From website: Glen Sanders Mansion Restaurant is the perfect blend of the very old and the very new making it one of the most unique restaurants in the Schenectady area. Steeped in history dating back to 1658, the main dining room features double Dutch doors, with hand made hinges and original fireplaces. The perfect spot before a Proctors show, anniversary celebration or business luncheon. $$$$$.
- Tara Kitchen, 431 Liberty St, ☎ +1 518-708-3485. Moroccan restaurants
Sleep
- Parker Inn, 434 State St # 1, 12305 (Next to Proctors), ☎ +1-518-688-1001. $149 - $325.
- The Stockade Inn, 1 N Church St, ☎ +1 518-346-3400.
Go next
| Routes through Schenectady |
| Buffalo ← Utica ← | W   E |
→ Albany (Rensselaer) → New York City |
| Buffalo (Depew) ← Utica ← | W  E |
→ Albany (Rensselaer) → Boston/New York City |
| Buffalo ← Little Falls ← | W   E |
→ Albany → Boston/New York City |
| END ← Binghamton ← Oneonta ← | W  E |
→ END |
| Utica ← Little Falls ← | W  E |
→ Albany → END |
| Rome ← Little Falls ← | W  E |
→ Cohoes → Waterford |