new york state of mind

 So I continued my 2 weeks in New York by heading further north up to Albany. I'd never been up there and despite going to upstate New York in March I was excited. First another state capital! And then from my looking at the National Parks I knew that Martin Van Buren (8th President) home was about a half hour south but it would be closed until the end of May so hey, a state capital and a national park it is gonna be good! So Tuesday I had a crazy travel day - left the snow in JFK after my fun few days in the city and had a layover in Dulles (sooooo close to home! the worst!) and landed in an even snowier Albany. (SO SICK OF WINTER!) But after some work on Wednesday I headed out for my adventure!

the New York Capitol building - it was absolutely gorgeous inside - and they had just finished a restoration

they had an awesome exhibit on NY battle flags from all the different NY units - mostly from the Civil War but other ones too!

So after my fun at the capitol I headed south to Kinderhook - home of the 8th President Martin Van Buren. Now his house - Lindenwald was closed until the end of May, but I walked around a little bit and because I got there after 5 the visitors center was closed so I didn't get my stamp :( but this is park #64 for me! 

National Park #65! Woooooo!

his house and farm - he was born down the road and is also buried in a cemetery there too!

 So then I worked the conference Thursday to Sunday afternoon. And needed to find something to do for when I finished on Sunday - so I knew we were close-ish to Vermont, haven't been there in 10 years and maybe there was a national park there not too far away... So back to the maps and I notice another national park in NY only 45 minutes away. Saratoga National Historical Park - a super important Revolutionary War  battle. Figured out out my Sunday plans! So Sunday afternoon I was headed there and I had a great afternoon - the sun was out and it was warm (ok 40 feels warm now!) and while most of the park was closed - winter in upstate NY... I chatted with the park rangers - seriously I've become besties with so many park rangers, we can chat for a long time! and one honestly gave me a 45 minute talk about the battle and I was in heaven! I haven't focused on the Revolutionary War in a LONG time - and especially not in NY, much better with my NJ history. But this guy was seriously awesome!

National Park #65!!

View from the visitors center 

So that was my fun and exciting Sunday afternoon - I enjoyed driving around and being in a more rural area. And the Sunday night I attempted to go to bed early as I had a 5:20 am flight and a day full of flying to get to Orlando!

So had a great time in New York and I got to add a State Capitol and 2 more National Parks! Woooo!