Using the Capital District Transport Authority buses makes it very easy to get to much of the entertainment available in the capital region. There are bus routes covering all of Troy, Albany, and Schenectady. To figure out which one will get you where you want to go, browse to http://www.cdta.org, which lists all schedules. The best part is that using the CDTA buses is completely free for RPI students—just show the driver your ID and you’re all set.

The CDTA buses can get you to many places, including Crossgates and the Latham Circle Mall, both of which have movie theaters and, of course, lots of shopping and eateries. However, downtown Troy offers things to do as well. Just down the hill from campus is Uncle Sam’s Lanes, which will lighten your wallet just a few dollars to take out some aggression on the pins. There is also a small shopping district in downtown Troy, or the main branch of the Troy Public Library for the more literary-minded.

It’s good to keep a few safety pointers in mind when walking around Troy—or any city, for that matter. Stick to daytime trips, travel in groups, and just use common sense: if an area looks sketchy, don’t go there.

Further out, Albany offers a great variety of quality entertainment, from the exhibits at the New York State Museum in the Empire State Plaza to the Albany Aqua Ducks amphibious tours. Passengers on the tour board an amphibious vehicle which travels both the city of Albany and the Hudson River. It’s a bit pricey at $20 per person, but is more than worth the cost. Reservations for the tours, which only run through October 31, can be made by going online to http://www.albanyaquaducks.com/.