Located at the western end of the Mohawk Valley, Utica is the natural gateway to the beautiful Adirondack Mountains and scenic Thousand Islands. Albany, the capital of the State of New York, lies at the eastern terminus of the Valley on the Hudson River. Utica and Albany are regional transportation hubs; visitors can arrive by air (at Hancock International Airport in Syracuse), train or bus (Amtrak and Greyhound service), or car (the New York State Thruway or state routes 5, 8, 12).

The region is steeped in history—from the American Revolution through the Industrial Revolution—and is enriched by both cultural diversity and support for the performing and decorative arts. Utica is home to the internationally recognized Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, the Utica Symphony Orchestra, Broadway Theater League, the Stanley Performing Arts Center, the Utica Zoo, and a municipal ski facility. Albany boasts the Institute of History and Art, the New York State Museum, the Capitol Repertory Theatre, and the Palace Performing Arts Center.  Albany and Utica were important ports along the Eric Canal which linked the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.