You may have heard Glens Falls was named the best city in New York State for a successful 2017. Even though the article referred to it as Glen Falls (yeah, we’ve heard that one before), it points out GF is affordable and has been awarded a revitalization grant. Beyond that, there are so many other reasons to love this charming little city.

The beautiful historic buildings

Next time you’re waiting in traffic at the circle, instead of turning up the tunes to drown out the noise in the backseat so you can review your to-do list in your head, look around and play a game of “I Spy” with your kids. If you’re on Ridge Street, you might spy an old clock on City Hall, built in 1900. Or you could point out the beautiful brickwork on the D.H. Cowles and Co. Building. They might be interested to know the original building on this corner burned in one of the three major fires in Glens Falls. If they want to know more, plan a trip to the Chapman Museum to visit the DeLong House and learn about the history behind our city.

The Farmer’s Market and Take a Bite

Strolling around the summer market on a beautiful Saturday morning, you’ll find fresh veggies, flowers, locally-produced products, and activities for the little ones. Refill your gallon of Battenkill milk, taste a crepe from Dickinson’s Delights, and pick up some fresh flowers for your kitchen table. We don’t have to miss out on these goodies in the winter because the market is held inside Sanford Street school. Find more information here.

If you haven’t yet experienced a Take a Bite on Wednesday nights in the summer, it’s a must try! Local eateries set up booths with samples of food, dessert and drinks. Bring some cash because each sample costs a few bucks, but you’ll walk away feeling full after trying out all the local bites! The kids will love walking up and down the streets, and there’s often a band and other fun activities happening in conjunction with the food. On a nice night, the streets can be packed, but you’ll find lots of other moms navigating strollers since everything is held outdoors.

The beer

On your next date night, tour a few of the breweries and restaurants serving a variety of craft beer. Downtown GF has quite a few options now! Almost every place you stop is serving up good brews. Download the Untappd app to log your opinions about your tastings. Need a driver? Check out the Hoppy Trails Brew Bus! Here are just some of the restaurants and breweries boasting unique taps.

Crandall Library

Grab a coffee, head into the library, and find a quiet nook to read for as long as you like. Bring your toddlers to the playroom, your young ones to go on the computers or read to a therapy dog in the children’s area. Your teen will love the room where only young adults are allowed. If it’s been a while since you’ve visited the library, take another visit. If books aren’t your thing, check out the DVD selection and look through magazines. Stop by the bulletin board to read about upcoming events at the library, including the infamous book sales where you can score books for almost nothing. We’re lucky to have this community hub downtown.

Supporting Small Businesses

I could write for hours about the shops, restaurants, and activities run by local business owners. (Oh right, that’s the point of this blog!) As a small business owner in Glens Falls, I had the chance to talk to the people of our area daily, and I know they want to keep our businesses thriving. Whatever you do downtown, you can feel good knowing your money is going back to help our city.