Pack your bags and rekindle your spirits - MSU still has a chance for an NCAA Championship, as the Spartan hockey team heads to Albany, N.Y., for the a Frozen Four semifinal matchup Thursday.

This city, New York’s capital, may be lower profile than Memphis, Atlanta or Minneapolis - the sites of the MSU basketball team visited en route to the Final Four last weekend.

But you may be surprised at how much Albany has to offer.

Here, The State News breaks down the happenings in New York’s second-largest city:

Canada, eh?

Think you can handle another 10-hour car ride after following the basketball team through their tournament? That’s what’s in store for you.

Luckily, you get to try something a little less ordinary than driving through the Midwest.

The fastest route is through Canada, and goes right by one of the wonders of the world, Niagara Falls. If you leave today for Thursday afternoon’s game, consider stopping there for the night and catching the sights of this monster waterfall.

The actual route is tricky, until you get to Interstate-90, which you’ll take for more than 200 miles right into Albany. But to get there, you’ll take I-69 East, to I-94 East, which turns into Highway 403 and takes you to Queen Elizabeth’s Way, to Highway 405, to Queenston Lewiston Bridge, to I-290.

So you want to fly? Better book your flight fast, and have plenty of cash on hand. A round-trip flight, leaving Lansing’s Capital City Airport today and returning Sunday costs more than $1,000.

Pack a raincoat and spring clothes. Despite recent chilliness, forecasters are predicting mid-50s all weekend, with a chance of showers.

“It’s cold, and it’ll probably be cold this weekend,” said Beth Allee, an English senior at the State University of New York, in Albany. “We had flurries on Monday and they keep telling us it’s gonna warm up, but it doesn’t seem like it is.”

All hotels within a few miles of the Pepsi Arena, the site of the Frozen Four, are sold out, said Cory Reed, a communications coordinator at the Albany County Convention Center and Visitor’s Bureau. But she said staying a few miles outside of the city should not be a problem. Contact the association for help finding a spot at 1-800-258-3582.

So many choices

Once in Albany and unpacked, there are two pre-game spirit-boosting options to consider.

The MSU Alumni Association and the Blueline Club are hosting a reception from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pagllacci Ristorante, 44 S. Pearl Street, across from the arena. The game against North Dakota begins at 1:30 p.m.

Or celebrate with a variety of Frozen Four fans at the FanFest, a large outdoor tent outside of the arena on S. Pearl Street. It’s hosting food, games and entertainment all weekend and will be open all three days, from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

“It’s really just like a big party,” Reed said. “It’ll have virtual reality equipment and a big screen for people to watch the game outside who don’t have tickets.”

If you’re going to hit the FanFest at some point, you might want to go Friday night, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. for a fireworks show and pep rally.

But all three days the tent will hold events, give-aways, bands and demonstrations.

Since Thursday’s game is mid-day, you should have time to check out both events, and leave plenty of time to do some sight-seeing. And while Albany is stuffed with tourist dives on every corner, a few hidden gems may be worth your while.

The Capitol building, which takes up a few city blocks from State Street to Washington Ave. and from Swan Street to Eagle Street, has free tours four times a day. And it’s not just the standard Senate Chamber and Assembly Chamber type-stuff that you get to see - although those are both included.

But on this tour, visitors get to see the Million Dollar Staircase, a grand staircase made of stone and decorated with intricate carvings.

Or you can check out World War II history at the U.S.S. Slater. This attraction is a legitimate WWII destroyer escort ship, complete with its original guns and equipment. Tours are only $5 for adults and take you through the ship, including a peak in at the living chambers. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If history and government aren’t your style, head to Lark Street, an area just north of the Capitol. This strip has walkable shopping and cafes, and is the hang-out for many students from the State University of New York in Albany, Allee said.

“There’s always Lark Street to check out,” she said. “There’re lots of shops and Washington Park. They have a lot of little clubs and bars and cafe’s, too.”

Art lovers can find themselves at the New York State Museum, on Madison Ave. Its main exhibit now is a motorcycle show that chronicles the past 100 years in New York’s biker history. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nourishment and kicks

With so much hockey, shopping, and sight-seeing, you’ll definitely need to unwind.

Albany has a few choice places for just that. If you want food, dancing and games all in one place, try Jillian’s, at 59 N. Pearl St.

Jillian’s is a pub-style bar, with three floors and a variety of entertainment options.

The first floor is a full-sized restaurant with basic American grub. This floor has a billiards room and full-sized adult interactive games. The top floor is a dance club that stays open until 3 a.m. The club is 21-and-older after 10 p.m., except on College Night on Thursday’s, when the 19-and-older crowd is welcome.

“I know it’s gonna be crazy down here this weekend,” bartender Aaron Noerr said.

Another similar place is The Big House Brewing Co., 90 N. Pearl St. This dining and drinking establishment has three floors of entertainment as well.

The first floor is the main restaurant and bar area and is free to enter. At 11:30 p.m. the second floor opens featuring ’80s music, and the third floor opens featuring dance music. The two higher floors are 21-and-older and cost $3 to enter.

If those don’t suit your needs, try heading to a small eatery on Lark Street, Allee suggests.

Or, if you want a finer dining experience, she said to try the Cranberry Bog, 46 Wolf Road, or the Italian food at Lombardo’s, 121 Madison Ave.

But if you want familiar comfort, head to the Crossgates Mall, 141 Washington Ext. just outside of downtown, past the university. Stationed around it in true American fashion are the T.G.I. Fridays and Bennagin’s-type eateries everyone loves. However, if you’re going to drive around town to these establishments, beware, Allee said.

“Use a parking garage,” she said. “We’re kind of known for giving out a lot of parking tickets.”