NY: Albany, New Paltz, Buffalo

“Anyone out in TT land live in any of these three cities?”

“No. But I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express in Albany once...”

“I'm about 50 miles north of Albany.”

“Buffalo, About a decade or so ago”

“I'm getting ready to leave for the weekend in about 5 minutes. What gives?”

“Twinks needs a ride”

“Don't need a ride. Just considering a few options which involve these three cities (looking at grad schools).”

“I didn't go to school up there. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express in New Paltz once!”

“Useful, really Capn Bobo.

:)”

“What kind of program, TT? The SUNY's are great schools. Albany med and Roswell park cancer Institute (Buffalo) are great also.”

“I've been to all three (even lived in New Paltz when I was 2 y.o.) and really, really like each city. Albany and New Paltz are closer to primo backpacking spots though.”

“Geology”

“Artex,

What classes were you enrolled in when you were 2 y.o. in New Paltz?

sorry twinks, it is phriday...
:]
”

“For Geology program only wouldn't the best choice be UB?”

“Artex has lived in so many places. Did he travel with some kind of a hog-hunting gypsy circus in the 70's?”

“New Paltz is a smaller, quieter town, but still has some of the college atmosphere. I've been there a few times, as my dad lives not to far from there. There's a few bars (and things of the like) to hang out at between New Paltz and nearby (across the river) Poughkeepsie. Not a bad place, but not great either.

Albany is actually a pretty happening place. SUNY Albany is probably one of the biggest (if not the biggest) party schools in the state, and there's always something to do around there, from bars to parties to all other forms of nightlife in between. I know several people who either went to school there are are still in school there, so this is from firsthand experience.

Don't know much about Buffalo, but being that its the second largest city in the state, there's gotta be some happenings going on there. On a side note with Buffalo, you may want to consider the ridiculous amounts of snow they get out there every winter...”

“If I was making the choice based on geographic location, I'd go with Albany. I mean, just look at Albany on a map and consider all the hiking ops its presents you. It's essentially the heart of the Northeast.”

“I live about 50 mins from New Paltz & drive to Albany a couple times a week for work. I like both New Paltz & Albany.”

“Twinkle Toes, let me see what my cousin suggests. He was a geology major as an undergrade at SUNY Plattsburgh. He would probably have some good info that I could get for you.

Albany may be a good choose, because it is the state capital and you may be able to get a job with the state when you graduate.

Here are a few other good points for Albany.
1) White Mountains 220 miles away
2) Green Mountains 85 miles away
3) Catskills 50 miles away
4) Adirondack High Peaks 110 miles away”

“Any Buffalonians here?”

“Buffalo doesn't really get as much snow as most people think. Most of the snow actually falls south of the city but weather persons just lump the whole area together as "Buffalo"

But!!! 3 years ago I was there for 83.5 inches of snow in 3 days. State of emergency..driving ban...the whole deal. It was absolutely fantastic!!!

Letchworth State Park is close, skiing and snowshoeing are close. Mountain biking, miles of paved trails for rollarblades.

I go there several times a year and there is always something going on. Last week I went to 2 free concerts, the Donna's and Buffalo Philharmonic (no, not on the same bill) and took a kid up to Niagara Falls (20 min away). Skipped the chicken wing festival and no time for Anchor Bar. Last time the GooGoo Dolls did a free outdoor concert.

I don't know anything about the school except that about 5 miles of the rollerblading passes through Amherst campus.”

“Letchworth State Park is awesome. Spectacular waterfalls. And that railroad bridge shuttering with fear.. I only get vertigo on manmade objects, and boy did that think wig me out. It's like several hundred feet over the canyon. I walked it though. Thankd God the train didn't come.”

“Umm. I meant I shuttered with fear. Not the railroad bridge.”

“I grew up in Rochester and spent a lot of time in Letworth State Park. My faorite times were in the winter, cross-country skiing all over the place. That train tressel is something else hundreds of feet above the Upper Falls. There is some great hiking in Letchworth.”

“Uh, shuddered........”

“How about you shove it instead?

j/k! :-)”

“New Paltz is adjacent to the "gunks" (Shawangunk mts) Many trails, but mostly rock climbing.Catskills are reasonably close. Pretty old historic town.

My daughter graduated from SUNY New Paltz recently & teaches 3rd grade.

I have driven through some of Buffalo's snow storms & have driven the thruway (closed) in a state vehicle. The locals seem to like the snow as a good insulator. DRops their heating bills WAY down after a foot or two.”

“Buffalo. ugh. i hate driving through there on my way to nicer places.
i've never heard about the extreme snow accumulation.The Falls isn't so bad in January...i can't imagine there's that much difference on their side of the river.”

“Buffalo is generally too close to the lake to get most of the major snowfall. The big snow fall to the south and west of the city most of the time.”

“How could I forget..30-45 minutes away, Leroy, NY: The Jello Museum.”

“I grew up in the Albany area, but I've been in California for 18 years now. I'll be back in that area for a few days in October to visit my parentes, but it doesn't look like I'll have time for hiking. :(”

“As a person who grew up Suth of Buffalo, yes, we got more. Buffalo still got a sheeite load of snow, though.

I fled NY after the "blizzard" of '99 hit Rochacha March 7-9ish.

Snowed in in March? F*** That!”

“lol---march is still winter. try living on the other side of the lake. that's is the best time for icestorms.”

“It snowed here on my college graduation in May. It was a freak storm, but it happens.”

“No way, helinka! I'm done with the "North Country" in Winter time. And I can't believe you canadians don't allow studded tires, y'all are crazy!”

“If you really want snow go to the Tug Hill Plateau
Annual average snowfall of 20 feet”

“nice! where is that, lz?”

“I live in the snow belt just south of Buffalo. We average 100" a year. The city is much less. With the rare extreme snow event every 10 years or so that hits the city. To add to the Buffalo area you have Zoar valley 30 minutes south of town, and Allegheny National Forest an hour south of town. All in all not a bad town.”

“It's in northern New York. Between the Adirondacks and Lake Ontario.”

“ahh Tug Hill, so much precipitation that the area is full of abandoned farms and not much else. One of the more desolate areas of NY. Where you can "party" by traveling South to Syracuse or North to Watertown”

“I still think Albany is the coolest town:

- Not too big of a city
- Has a decent nightlife
- Not too expensive, even in the suburbs
- There's ample job opportunities
- And most important of all -- awesome hiking ops in all 4 cardinal directions, all within 2 hours or so of town...”

“Great responses here.

How about Syracuse?”

“How about Syracuse?"
Twinkle Toes
10:17:41 PM
09/13/04

Mmmmmm, Dinosaur Barbecue.”

“I hope you like a lot of snow...and by a lot of snow, I mean a lot of snow...”

“Oh yeah, did I mention that Syracuse gets insane amounts of snow...?”

“Ok, I lived in Buffalo for a while and all of my extended family is still there. So, the benefits are: great small town feel for a city it's size, really good art/music/concerts for a city it's size, chicken wings, Ted's Hot Dogs, UB is a really good school. Drawbacks: it's cold, even in the spring and fall.

I also lived in Nyack, NY which is about 45 minutes south of New Paltz, and I went hiking there all of the time. Benefits: small town college feel, great outdoors stuff (especially rock climbing) in the gunks, not too far from NYC, not too far from major hiking destinations in the North East.

Drawbacks: it's a small town, not much to do other than hang out in college bars...but the school might have a good art/music program.

Don't know much about Albany...I would assume it's a mix of the two others and a lot closer to the high peaks region.

Good luck with the decision!”

“Holy crap! Hey bongofreak, I lived in Nyack for two years!!! 1998-2000. Very cool town.”

“What's weirder is that I lived in Nyack for the exact same 2 years...moved from Jersey City in 1998, moved to San Fran in 2000.

The buddy I lived with own (or his family owned) Walsh's Bar on Main Street.

Small world!”

“bongofreek,
I've got 4 jars of Ted's hot sauce in the fridge and the Sahlens hot dogs to go with it.”

“Holy crap! I think that's the bar I used to live right across the street from! I lived on the corner of Main Street and Midland Avenue, in some apartments above the businesses.”