I find it interesting that no one else has posted anything good about Albany. I grew up there and moved away in 1983. I never liked it at all. So much so that I have never once returned even to visit.
The only good thing that I can think of off hand is Teds Fish Fry. Which technically isn't even in Albany.
You can find the good or bad in anything.
Albany area is within 3-4 hours of 3 Major Metropolitain cities. (5 if you want to travel a little longer.) That's a day trip.
Selection and quality of restaurants is getting better all the time.
Seasons change.
No real natural disasters - we get some cold and ice, but I'll take that over my home getting shaken, flooded, or blown away.
Near the best skiing areas - if you can ski in the east you can ski anywhere.
An hour and a half from the largest national park - that people actually live in!
Of course, it's still in NY (taxes), it gets cold in the winter, black flies and mosquitos suck, it's not very attractive in general with it's mix of building designs, it's small, jobs are scarce, and the polititions are crooked (but aren't they all)
You can find the good or bad in anything.
Albany area is within 3-4 hours of 3 Major Metropolitain cities. (5 if you want to travel a little longer.) That's a day trip.
Selection and quality of restaurants is getting better all the time.
Seasons change.
No real natural disasters - we get some cold and ice, but I'll take that over my home getting shaken, flooded, or blown away.
Near the best skiing areas - if you can ski in the east you can ski anywhere.
An hour and a half from the largest national park - that people actually live in!
Of course, it's still in NY (taxes), it gets cold in the winter, black flies and mosquitos suck, it's not very attractive in general with it's mix of building designs, it's small, jobs are scarce, and the polititions are crooked (but aren't they all)
You know it is sort of funny in a way that you mention "it's not very attractive in general with it's mix of building designs," because I used to live there. I spent the first 35 years of my life in that area. And that mix of designs and the green of that area is what I miss most about there. Where I live now in New Mexico almost all of the buildings are built to look like the old pueblo style. Which is basically some shade of brown or tan. It is at first OK but after a while it gets very old. Because on top of that the entire surrounding desert is basically brown to.
I have lived in a few different spots around the state. I went to highschool in Bethlehem and my mom still lives up there, I have to say, it isn't that bad. Yeah, you have your general city things that suck, but they also bring in things that you don't get in rural areas. Also you are within day trip distance to NYC, Toga, Vermont skiing, and the Adirondacks, not to mention everything in the city, troy and what not.
Its a give and take, but there is a lot of cool stuff to do.