When friends and family come to stay, show them the best of Albany, Oregon, and make a few discoveries of your own. A pottery class could introduce you to a skill you've wanted to try. A walk through a familiar neighborhood might reveal a building you've never stopped to admire. These ideas work just as well for an Albany staycation, giving you a reason to set aside everyday errands and enjoy where you live.

Begin at Gallery Calapooia, where local artists display their work inside the historic Flinn Block. Give yourself time to look closely at a piece that catches your attention. You might discover a new artist or notice a technique you'd like to try yourself.

Continue outside to find public art around Albany. Look for the sculptures at 1st Ave. and Lyon St., then seek out "Zeki" outside the Carnegie Library. Its dinosaur and oversized building blocks make a playful stop for a closer look.

Choose the artwork you think someone else in your group would love. Reveal your picks over coffee and see how well you know one another.

At Surefire Design, choose a pottery piece and paint your own design. You can work on separate projects while sharing a table and catching up. Ask about reservations and when your finished pieces will be ready to collect.

For time working with clay, check the workshops and classes at Calapooia Clay. The studio welcomes participants ages 16 and older. Review the class format before booking, including how many sessions it requires and when you'll pick up your work.

Splatter Box offers a more energetic way to create, with paint-splattering sessions you can book ahead. Compare the options with your guests and choose the kind of creative afternoon they'd enjoy.

Make a small piece for someone else in your group. Once the pieces are ready, exchange them as keepsakes of your time in Albany.

Start with a place you may have passed many times without going inside. The Monteith House, built in 1849, offers a look at early Albany through its restored rooms and furnishings. Check the tour schedule before planning the rest of your day around it.

Continue through part of the Monteith or Hackleman historic district, choosing a few blocks to explore at your own pace. The Albany Explorer app can help you locate historic homes along the way. Notice how one home's woodwork differs from the next, and enjoy the residential buildings from public sidewalks.

Downtown, look above the shop windows for architectural details you usually miss. Step into The Natty Dresser to browse a menswear shop inside the restored former S. E. Young & Son department store. It's a chance to see how a historic building remains part of everyday Albany life.

Photograph one architectural detail without showing the whole building. At lunch, see who can match each photo to a stop along your route.

Follow the paved Dave Clark Trail along the Willamette River, starting near Monteith Riverpark. Choose a distance that feels comfortable for your group, then head downtown for lunch. The City of Albany's trail guide can help you plan your route.

For a different view of the river, try the natural-surface path at Takena Landing on the north bank. Waverly Lake offers a shorter paved loop of about seven-tenths of a mile. Match the route to your guests' preferences and check current conditions before you go.

Pause for one quiet minute along the trail, then share one thing each person noticed. Look for one another's discoveries as you continue.

Give a meal the time you usually reserve for a special occasion. Start with brunch at Brick & Mortar Café, and let the conversation carry you through another cup of coffee. Downtown's shops are close by when you're ready to explore.

On Saturdays during its April through November season, the Albany Farmers' Market gives you another way to share local food. Choose picnic ingredients with your guests, or ask a grower what's especially good that week and build dinner around it.

An afternoon at Deluxe Brewing and Sinister Distilling introduces guests to beer and spirits made here in Albany. Ask about a drink that's new to you.

At Sybaris Bistro, the dinner menu changes monthly to reflect the season. 

Share a glass of wine at Springhill Cellars Winery, a family-owned winery on a hilltop in North Albany. The tasting room is open Friday through Sunday from May through mid-December, or by appointment. In summer, plan an evening around its 4th Friday events, featuring live jazz.

Let each person choose a stop for a different part of your day. Compare favorites afterward and decide which discovery deserves a return visit.

Give yourselves time to browse at Albany Antique Mall, where vintage finds can send a conversation in unexpected directions. An item someone remembers from childhood might become the day's best story. Ask your guests what they collect before you start looking.

Continue to Millie's Vintage Resale Mall, which carries vintage kitchenware and an assortment of nostalgic finds. Keep an eye out for a small keepsake your guests can take home. You can turn the search into a friendly challenge.

Set a small budget and see who finds the most memorable souvenir. Compare discoveries over lunch.

If your guests need a hotel for their visit, explore places to stay in Albany to find the right fit. Most of Albany's hotels have accessible rooms, but be sure to ask the property about any accessibility before booking if your guests need accommodations.

Build the evening around a performance at Albany Civic Theater or a movie at Pix Theatre. Choose your show first, then plan dinner with enough time to enjoy the meal. Leave the next morning open for breakfast and a stop you didn't get to the day before.

Before your guests head home, give everyone one vote for a final stop. Leave time for the winner, even if it means returning for another helping of yesterday's favorite.

Check the Albany events calendar for something happening while your guests are in town. For help tailoring a plan, call or come by the Albany Visitors Association. Tell us what your group enjoys, and we'll help you choose where to begin