Things to do / Travel Guide
Northern New York encompasses a vast area of natural beauty, most notably the Adirondack Mountains and several shimmering lakes, as well as charming towns dotted in between and connected via scenic highways. Located within a couple hours drive of New York City, Boston, Montreal, and Ottawa, northern New York is an excellent destination for a quiet escape into mountains, wilderness, water, and fresh air. The majority of the region is encompassed by the massive Adirondack Park, with other sites highlighted from just south of the park and working around to the east, within, and then north of the park.
The Central Adirondacks
The 6-million acre Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve, which covers over one-third of the total land area of New York State, encompasses a diverse terrain of mountains, valleys, forests, lakes, rivers, and towns. It is the largest park in the continental United States, bordered on the east by Lake Champlain and Lake George, separating the Adirondacks from the Green Mountains in Vermont. Bordered to the south by the Mohawk Valley, to the west by the Tug Hill Plateau, and to the north by the St. Lawrence River, hundreds of species of shrubs, herbs, and flowers grow freely in the spectacular region. Museums around the Adirondacks outline its fascinating history of logging, farming, mining, and tourism and how each has shaped the area. Several towns were established in order to tap into the timber and iron ore resources, while in the central Adirondacks, pioneers created the first settlements by clearing huge areas of land for farming. Winter is a good season to venture to the Adirondack Mountains, when nearly every winter sport is at your fingertips. Warmer seasons mean access to 2,000 miles of marked trails in the Adirondacks, as well as a chance to splash around in the numerous bodies of water within the park.
Lake Placid
The gorgeous Lake Placid area, which hosted both the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, still boasts numerous Olympic-size attractions, including the Mackenzie Intervale Olympic Ski Jumping Complex, where visitors can take a ride in a glass elevator to the top of the 26-story ski jump. Lake Placid has hosted several other major events such as the World Cup bobsled and luge, the Ironman Triathlon, and figure skating competitions. On Whiteface Mountain you'll find some of the top alpine skiing and snowboarding terrains in North America. The slopes are open from November-April and include over 70 runs and 300 kilometers of cross-country trails. Visitors to the Lake Placid area will also find museums, a Center for the Arts, and old-fashioned themed parks - such as Santa's Workshop, making the stunning area a destination that peaks their natural, cultural, artistic, and/or athletic interests.
Saranac Lake
Enjoy the clear waters and fresh mountain air of the Saranac Lake area, regarded as “a pioneer health resort” for its rejuvenating qualities. Trails weave through the evergreen forest surrounding the lake where outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and snowboarding are not only accessible, they're encouraged! Saranac Lake is perfect for those looking for time on the water and along the beaches at the water's edge. Families will find trails for strollers and kid-friendly hiking trails. In the downtown area of Saranac Lake you'll find a theater open year-round, art galleries and rotating exhibits, and free outdoor concerts in the summer. Saranac Lake is also home to one of the longest-running Winter Carnivals in the U.S., which has grown into a 10-day festival that includes sporting events, dramatic and musical productions, parades, and fireworks set off above the carnival's world-renowned Ice Palace. The Ice Palace is constructed over six weeks leading up to the carnival and made, on average, of 1,500 blocks of ice.
Saratoga Springs
Located at the foothills of the Adirondacks, the historic Victorian city of Saratoga Springs has been luring visitors since the 1700s. Pivotal battles of the American Revolution were fought in the area including the Battle of Saratoga, regarded by historians as a major turning point in the war. Numerous museums, monuments, and battlefields illustrate such historic American events. Perhaps what Saratoga is best known for, the famous Saratoga Raceway Park is a summer must for horse-racing fans - the oldest thoroughbred racetrack in the United States. The Saratoga National golf course was built on a former horse farm and has won numerous awards. Quaint downtown Saratoga, lined with shops, restaurants, and gardens, is also worth a visit.
Nicknamed the “Queen of Spas” and “The Spa City,” Saratoga is the home of several natural mineral springs and two renowned spas. At Saratoga Spa State Park, designated a National Historic Landmark, visitors can find cultural, aesthetic and recreational resources. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center attracts world-renowned performers to its large, covered outdoor amphitheater year-round, including the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra. Saratoga Spa State Park is also home to Spa Little Theater and the National Museum of Dance, as well as the Gideon Putnam Resort, which features soothing mineral springs and luxury spa treatments.
Lake George
Magnificent Lake George stretches approximately 32 miles, enclosed on all sides by the southern Adirondack Mountains. Lake George offers its visitors a multitude of options and attractions on the shiny calm of its waters, as well as in the surrounding woods and campgrounds. Winter in Lake George means winter sports and enjoying the serene beauty of snow-covered evergreens as far as the eye can see. Charming Lake George Village is home to shops carrying rustic Adirondack furniture, crafts, and artwork. Not far from there is Bolton Landing, where you can peruse antique stores along the main road. Outside of its many breathtaking natural features and sporting opportunities, the Lake George area is also home to several action parks and outlet stores.
The Champlain Valley
Along the eastern edge of northern New York, the Champlain Valley is generally quieter and less-developed, making most of the area an ideal spot for those really looking to avoid crowds. Sitting on the shores of the glorious Lake Champlain, which forms the border between New York and Vermont and stretches north to Canada, the Champlain Valley played a major role in two significant wars in American history: the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.
Sitting at such a crossroads, and with sweeping panoramic views, one can see how fortresses such as Fort Ticonderoga were so critical to conquer and control, and changed hands so many times. Fort Ticonderoga has been expertly reconstructed and is a must-see for the history buff, while the remains of other important forts, such as Fort Crown Point and Fort William Henry are nearby and interesting to visit as well. A natural wonder in the Champlain Valley not to be missed is the Ausable Chasm, an enormous gorge carved out by the Ausable River, where visitors are treated to stunning rock formations, caves, waterfalls, and rapids.
The Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands reaches from upstate New York into southeastern Ontario, along the St. Lawrence River. It is a well-known vacation spot, with some of the best sport-fishing opportunities in the country available year-round. Bass, salmon, trout, pike, and other fish swim their way along the St. Lawrence River, which is 15 miles wide at its source and eventually narrows to a five-mile width. The islands - there are over 1,800 of them extending over a distance of 50 miles - range in size from “mere points of rock” to those that cover several square miles. To be included in the official count, an island must meet two criteria: it must be above water 365 days a year and must support a living tree or bush. Numerous distinguished visitors made the region widely-known as a summer resort in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with several grand hotels providing luxurious accommodations.
Just over the Thousand Islands bridge lies Wellesley Island, home to the Wellesley Island State Park, which contains over 400 campsites, a boat launch, several golf courses, and the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center and Museum. The Nature Center is a 600-acre preserve with eight miles of trails around the marshes, fields, and forests of the island. The trails, museum, and Nature Center are open year-round.
Places to Visit in Lake Placid, Lake George, Saratoga Springs, Adirondacks and Northern New York
Places-to-Visit
Whiteface Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway
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