Albany Local Guide

Recreation and Leisure

First Prize Paintball

The ultimate in outdoor fun! Bring your friends and family to experience the thrill of this exciting sport. A locally owned, family business for 15 years, First Prize Paintball is the Capital Region’s most complete indoor and outdoor paintball facility with a fully stocked pro shop. If paint isn’t your thing, try the go-karts, miniature golf and skateboarding.

The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom

The perfect escape to over 135 rides, shows and attractions including seven roller coasters and a full blown water park. The new Looney Tunes National Park is perfect for the younger set to enjoy meeting Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird and having fun on age-appropriate rides. For the more adventurous set, test your nerves on the Canyon Blaster roller coaster or the Raging River whitewater raft ride. Water is the name of the game at the adjacent Splashwater Kingdom with water slides, a giant wave pool and Paul Bunyan’s Bucket Brigade, a five-story tree house that sprays water everywhere!

Albany Pine Bush Preserve

The 3,000-acre Albany Pine Bush Preserve, located in the heart of the Capital District Region, represents one of the few remaining examples of an inland pine barrens ecosystem in the world. Many people visit the preserve each year for outdoor recreation, research, nature study and relaxation. The sand plain is home to a diverse grouping of animals and plants including 20 rare species and two rare natural communities.

Albany River Rats Hockey Team

Get ready for some action on the ice when you head to Pepsi Arena to watch the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. Albany's Pepsi Arena, formerly Knickerbocker Arena, is a sports fan’s dream and is Upstate New York's Premier Sports and Entertainment Facility.