Lake George, NY

Address:Lake George, New York

The 32-mile-long Lake George, in eastern New York State, is a year-round lakeside retreat, with sapphire waters and beautiful mountain views. The lake's clear waters host all sorts of boats and boaters year-round, and a drive on the winding road around the lake reveals country towns and rustic homes. Lake George is a gem of the Adirondack mountains, the perfect family get-away from city life.

A multitude of islands and small bays dot the expansive lake, inviting boaters to explore. You can navigate in and around the lake's terrain by canoe or sea kayak. The lake is surrounded entirely by the impressive peaks and thick forests of the Adirondack range, so wherever you paddle, beautiful views are around each bend. Several cruise lines operate tours from May-October, offering brunch on board, moonlight tours, historic cruises, or fireworks excursions. Every June, the Lake George Opera leaves its theater in Saratoga Springs for Opera on the Lake. Pushing off from Steel Pier, guests cruise around the quiet evening waters of Lake George aboard the Lac du Saint Sacrement, serenaded by the Lake George Opera's apprentice artists.

Fishing fans will love fishing on Lake George. Lake trout, landlocked salmon, northern pike, pickerel, yellow perch, and bass are just a few of the fish that can be found in the deep waters. Lake George houses a cold-water fishery for salmon and occasional trout, as well as a warm-water fishery for bass, pike, and pan fish. Fishing charters for full-day, half-day, or evening trips are available.

If you visit in the fall, bask in the foliage display mirrored in the lake. Fall colors in the lower elevations begin to emerge towards the end of the September. A popular foliage viewing spot is Prospect Mountain, just outside of the town of Lake George. Hikers will enjoy the moderate climb to the 2,030-foot summit, though the top can also be reached by car, via the Prospect Mt. Veterans Memorial Highway. Either way, leaf peepers will enjoy the "100 mile view" to the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In September, don't miss the colorful balloons of the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival floating above the changing leaves.

Certified divers can enjoy Lake George's Submerged Heritage Preserves, where they will see sunken battleships from the French and Indian War along with other vessels. Dive to the Sunken Fleet of 1758, a fleet of approximately 260 ships that was deliberately sunk by the British and American Colonists. You can also see the Forward, a motor launch reported to have been one of the earliest gasoline-powered vessels on Lake George. Built of wood in 1906, 45-ft vessel lies upright on a very soft sediment slope with her bow in deeper water, with two gasoline engines visible. This preserve is known as the Forward Underwater Classroom. A map and underwater signage direct divers to various stations on the ship that teach about vegetation, geology and sea life. Stations include a zebra mussel monitoring station, a fish observation zone, a simulated underwater archaeology site, a Secchi disk for divers to measure water transparency, a navigation course and thermometers along with slates and pencils to record water temperature patterns. Both preserves are open to divers from Memorial Day-September on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the historical significance of the ships, some areas require diving permits.

Nearly two miles north of Lake George Beach lies a third preserve, The Land Tortoise, a 1758 floating gun battery lying in 105 feet of water. The Land Tortoise appears to be the sole survivor of a class of military vessels unique to Lake George and Lake Champlain in the eighteenth century. It is only the sixth shipwreck in the nation to be designated a National Historic Landmark, and The Smithsonian Institution recognized it as the oldest intact war vessel in North America. This is an advanced dive, and you must register and be assigned a time slot to visit the preserve. You can register at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation booth at Lake George Beach, located at the south end of the lake on Beach Road. The preserve is open from the second Saturday of June through Labor Day.

To view the remains of Lake George's military history without getting wet, visit Lake George Battlefield Park, a small, hilly park located behind Fort William Henry, which includes mostly unexcavated ruins of the original fort. Plaques detailing the battle at Fort William Henry in 1757 are on display. Lake George Battlefield Park is open from May-Columbus Day.

Lake George Village is a one-road town with a country Adirondack feel, where you will find shops and restaurants as well as many music and art festivals, particularly during the summer. Numerous log cabin-style restaurants can be found around the Lake George area along the main street.

There are many hotels and motels in the area, and several great B&Bs in Bolton Landing. Luxury lovers can stay at Bolton Landing's historic Sagamore resort. The resort sits on its own 72-acre island right on the waters of Lake George, and has been drawing vacationers since 1883. Stay in the elegant hotel, the surrounding Adirondack-style lodges, or the all-suite Hermitage. Be aware that during the summer Lake George hotels tend to be packed and over-priced. Consider trying something new and stay at a real dude ranch! Spanning more than 500 acres between Lake George and Lake Luzerne is the Roaring Brook Ranch and Tennis Resort, one of the oldest dude ranches in northern New York. The grounds feature tennis courts, swimming pools, and fitness rooms, as well as 25 horses on site. To rough it a bit more, there are campsites along the rim of the lake, and nearly 50 of the islands, accessibly only by boat, are available for camping as well.

The town of Lake George is located about 50 miles north of Albany, New York and about 200 miles north of New York City and northwest of Boston, Massachusetts. It is accessibly by car at exits 18-26 off Route 87. The Albany Airport is 50 miles south of the Lake George Area, and car rentals and bus service are available. Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, in Queensbury, is accessible by private planes and charters. Lake George is also served by train—Amtrak Fort Edward stop, and bus—Adirondack Trailways and Greyhound maintain a regular schedule to the Lake George Area.