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Located about 35 miles northwest of Albany, the city of Amsterdam, NY, is within driving distance of some of the most beautiful and photogenic state parks that New York has to offer. If you are planning an adventure in your 2022 Ford F-150 and are looking for great spots to visit, here are three nature reserves you can reach in less than two hours by car. 1. Moreau Lake State Park Offering great opportunities for different recreational activities including skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, swimming, hiking, paddling, and ice fishing, Moreau Lake State Park is a fantastic destination for a day trip or a weekend escape from Amsterdam. Sitting on the banks of the Hudson River, this state park covers an area of over 6,200 acres and was established in the 1960s. more Located about 40 miles northeast of the Amsterdam city center, Moreau Lake State Park can be reached in less than one hour by car via routes NY-67 and I-87. Open year-round and managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, this place boasts some of the most beautiful autumn and winter landscapes in the state. 2. Gilbert Lake State Park Featuring a beautiful lake, a series of small ponds, and over 12 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, Gilbert Lake State Park is located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains and covers an area of about 1,600 acres. Created in 1926, this place welcomes about 80,000 visitors each year and offers great opportunities to explore the stunning nature of the region. Some of the activities that make Gilbert Lake State Park a popular destination for Amsterdam locals and visitors from all over the state include swimming, boating, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, and picnicking. Within the territory of this nature reserve, you can also find the New York State Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, which features photographs, memorabilia, and permanent exhibits showcasing the work of this voluntary government work relief program between 1933 and 1942. 3. Schodack Island State Park Another idyllic nature reserve on the banks of the Hudson River, Schodack Island State Park covers an area of over 1,000 acres and welcomes more than 125,000 visitors each year. Established in 2022, this place offers excellent amenities including a large campground, an extensive network of multi-use trails, selective hunting areas, and picnic spots. Getting here from downtown Amsterdam takes about 50 minutes via route I-90. Before you hit the road and explore these fantastic parks with your friends and family, visit us at Brown's Ford! Take a look at our extensive inventory of new and used vehicles, book a test drive, and ask one of our agents about the custom deals we have available for you. Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

Go on exciting day trips from Amsterdam, NY, to see roaring waterfalls, impressive Victorian architecture, a magnificent subterranean lake, and the skeleton of a massive beast 13,000 years old. Enjoy every mile behind the wheel in a 2022 Ford Ranger XLT with easy maneuverability, great driver-assistance features, and a gutsy turbo engine. 1. Plotter Kill Preserve The breathtaking 632-acre Plotter Kill Preserve right here in Amsterdam boasts three beautiful waterfalls ranging from 40 to 60 feet in height. A path leads from the Mariaville Road parking lot and splits into two trails that lead to each waterfall. more The scenic Red Trail is the longest trail and loops through most of the preserve to the top of all three waterfalls. If you follow the Blue Trail, you will reach the overlook for the best view of the roaring Upper Falls, the largest waterfall in the preserve. 2. The Nott Memorial The impressive Nott Memorial on the campus of Union College in Schenectady is one of the world's few 16-sided buildings. The beautiful Victorian building is 89 feet in diameter and capped with a vaulted dome sprinkled with 709 small colored-glass windows. Intricately tiled floors cover the ground level, and beautiful stained glass windows on all 16 sides. The building is dedicated to Eliphalet Nott, president of Union College, for 62 years, from 1804 to 1866. The construction of the Nott Memorial began in 1858 and was completed in 1879, and today, this beloved building houses the Mandeville Gallery and the Wikoff Student Gallery. The Nott Memorial is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been declared a National Historic Landmark. 3. Howe Caverns Take a drive to 255 Discovery Drive in Howe, explore the Howe Caverns, and enjoy a boat ride on an underground lake. An experienced and knowledgeable tour guide will then take you to explore the six million-year-old Howe Caverns through winding corridors under massive boulders to a subterranean riverbed carved out of limestone over millions of years. You will find spectacular rock formations and dripping stalactites down well-worn winding pathways and 139 stairs that twist and turn into the cavern's depths 156 feet below to a breathtaking underground lake. 4. The Site of the Cohoes Mastodon For a century and a half, the Cohoes Mastodon has been a significant feature of the New York State Museum at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany. Still, you'll have to drive the 40 or so miles to 100 N Mohawk Street in Cohoes to visit the site where this incredible beast was found. During the construction of Harmony Mill No. 3 in 1866, the 13,000-year-old male mastodon skeleton was uncovered deep within an Ice Age pothole near the base of the Cohoes Falls. Archaeologists determined that he weighed around five and a half tons, stood over eight and a half feet tall, and was about 32 years old when he died. Take a trip to these unique destinations and see amazing sights. Before you hit the road, swing by Brown's Ford of Amsterdam today and check out the all-new tough 2022 Ford Ranger XLT.