<p>a few clarifications on the travel info above ^^^</p>
<p>Montreal is a good 4 hour drive from Albany – easy and close enough but NOT 2-1/2 hrs!. NYC and Boston about 3 hrs. (lsd87 must have a pretty heavy foot on the pedal on the Northway, the Turnpike and the Mass Pike!)</p>
<p>The train to NYC does take 2-1/2 hrs (gorgeous ride along the Hudson River), to Montreal takes most of a day, and it’s not worth the incovenient schedule to take the train to Boston from Albany.</p>
<p>There are various bus routes, I think Greyhound and Adirondack Trailways serve those cities from Albany.</p>