During our time in Albany, we decided to visit one of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Corning Tower Observation Deck. At 42 stories tall, it’s the tallest building in New York State outside of New York City, and it promised a new way to see the city we’d been exploring on foot.

The ride up was quick, and the moment we stepped onto the observation deck, we were greeted with sweeping views in every direction. The Hudson River stretched out gracefully, reflecting the late-summer light. Looking down at the city streets and rooftops was both surreal and exciting—Albany felt familiar from our walks, yet completely transformed when viewed from above.

From this vantage point, we could spot the Empire State Plaza below, its modernist architecture forming sharp lines against the softer curves of the surrounding hills. Beyond the plaza, the State Capitol stood out proudly with its ornate design. On a clear day, they say you can even see the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks in the distance, and we were lucky enough to catch hints of those rolling peaks on the horizon.

What made the experience especially fun was recognizing spots we had walked past earlier in the week. Seeing familiar neighborhoods, streets, and parks from this new perspective gave us a greater appreciation for how the city is laid out. It was like putting together pieces of a puzzle we’d been working on since our arrival.

The Corning Tower visit was a highlight of our Albany stay. It gave us both a moment of awe and a better sense of place—reminding us that sometimes the best way to appreciate a city is to see it from a completely different angle.