Page 17 - AAA Hudson Valley – AAA Every Day – March/April 2019

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TRAVELER’S GUIDE
Olde English Pub Wrap Up Photo: Ben Marvin
Saratoga Springs Food Tours
Destination:
The Capital District
The Capital District is home to Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs. Albany and Troy sit on either side of the Hudson River. One of the oldest cities in the nation, Albany was established as New York’s capital in 1797. Craft brewing has been a presence in Albany since the time of the Dutch settlers and continues to be a growth economy for this region. Troy celebrated its bicentennial in 2016 and, at one time, was the fourth-wealthiest city, per capita, in the nation. A current nickname for Troy is the Silicon Valley of the 19th Century.
Taste of Troy Food Tours LLC has two tours offered in these historic sister cities from May to October.
interior. The tour ends in time for guests to have an hour to shop the fantastic Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market and experience this vibrant food scene.
Taste of Troy Food Tours: Central Troy Historic District Food Tour – This flagship tour has been offered since May 2016. The weekly Saturday
tour offers a progressive brunch spread over five independent restaurants, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. It stops at Brown’s Brewing Company to get to taste two of their 12 beers on tap. When it opened in 1993, it was one of only 100 craft brewers in the country. Another stop is Illium Café, home to chef Marla Ortega, winner of Guy’s Grocery Games Mother’s Day Challenge in 2014. In addition to the delicious food, guests of this tour get to experience the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with its
Taste of Troy Food Tours: Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour – New in 2018 and offered weekly on Fridays, this 400-year-old city and state capitol adventure is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. The tour starts at 12:45 p.m. at C. H. Evans Brewing
at the Albany Pump Station, which has family ties to
a commercial brewery established in Hudson in 1787. Six tastes are offered in five locations, ending in time for Happy Hour and a toast to the weekend at the Olde
stunning Tiffany
in Albany. You’ll also visit the First Church of Albany where Theodore Roosevelt, 33rd
English Pub, housed in the second-oldest building (home of the Quackenbush family)
governor of New York and 26th president of the United States worshipped with his family.
Saratoga Springs Food Tours – Saratoga Springs, known as the Spa City, is 36 miles north of Albany and became a city in 1915.
This city offers tours on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in May to October that
highlight the award-winning Farmers’ Market. The tour includes between six
and eight tastings at the Farmers’ Market and several stops on Broadway. The
owner and chief guide has written two books about Saratoga Springs.