"I've got a mule and her name is Sal, 15 miles on the Erie Canal..."

 The Erie Canal connects Albany to Lake Erie via a daisy-chain of rivers, lakes, and canals. It's a very long way if you do it in 15-mile increments. You can do it much quicker along the New York Thruway or an Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited.

We like the leisurely drive along Rte 5 or 5S. There are many little towns along the way, some of them cute, others pretty desolate. Along the way you can get some nice scenery, especially at the locks.

This can be a pleasant route off the thruway for jumping off north into the Adirondacks or south into the Upstate NY Farm Country.