North of Congress Park begin the bustling blocks of downtown Broadway, lined with shops and restaurants that spill out onto the sidewalks in summer. Leafy trees spread their boughs, and inviting park benches beckon here and there.

At one time, Broadway was flanked with one grand hotel after another, some sporting balconies that stretched hundreds of feet. Today, only the 1877 Adelphi (365 Broadway, 518/587-4688, www.adelphihotel.com) remains. Inside you’ll find a romantic period lobby while out back is an expansive garden that’s a good place for afternoon tea or a late-night drink.

Other buildings worth noting along Broadway include the 1916 Classic Revival Adirondack Trust, No. 473, adorned with Adirondack symbols and bronze Tiffany doors; and the 1910 Beaux-Arts post office, No. 475.

At Lake Avenue, across from the post office, is the 1871 Italian palazzo city hall, the birthplace of the American Banking Association and the American Bar Association.