Lake George
In New York State’s water oasis, you can have fun outside and relax to recharge.
The Lake George area in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains is known as one of the first holiday spots in the United States. It offers both exciting outdoor activities and peaceful rural living. The area is centered on a 51-kilometer-long lake and offers a wide range of activities all year round. During the winter, you can ski, snowboard, ice fish, and snowshoe. During the summer, you can swim, kayak, go to amusement parks, take lake cruises, go on historic tours, and go on scenic walks. There are hours in between when you can shop at outlet malls and small shops, try local food and drinks, and visit the famous “Mystery Spot” on the shore, where people say the echo doesn’t follow the rules of physics.
John Adams once said that Lake George, which is 51 kilometers long, was “the most beautiful water” he had ever seen. You can enjoy this natural beauty on a calm kayak trip or on one of the many tours that Lake George Waterfront Cruises and the Lake George Steamboat Company offer. Drive along the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway to see the view from the ground up. The peak of the mountain, which is 619 meters high, has a view of the whole area, including New Hampshire and Vermont, which are 161 kilometers away. There is a 5-kilometer trail in Lake George Village that goes to the top of Prospect Mountain and back. This is an even more beautiful way to get there.
In this otherwise calm area, you can turn up the thrills with one of many exciting things to do. You can sign up for a wild whitewater kayaking trip on the Hudson or Sacandaga rivers, which are close by. Several groups offer trips, such as Wild Waters Outdoor Center, Sacandaga Outdoor Center, Beaver Brook Outfitters, and Whitewater Challengers. On a scenic “railbiking” trip with Revolution Rail Co., you can ride your bike along an old train track along the Hudson River and through the Adirondack forest. At Natural Stone Bridge & Caves, you can walk on the Stone Bridge, the huge marble entry to a cave, and look around at other caves, grottos, and natural water features. Finally, for a different kind of epic journey, go 10 kilometers south to Six Flags Great Escape & Hurricane Harbor or Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark in Queensbury. Both have roller coasters and water slides.
In 1755, Sir William Johnson named Lake George after King George II of England to honor him. During the French and Indian War, it was a major fight. The Fort William Henry Museum takes people back to that time and shows them what life was like. Reenactors tell stories about fighting on the front lines to protect the British Colonies. About an hour to the south, in Glens Falls, you can find The Hyde Historic House & Art Museum, which has a great collection of European, American, Modern, and Contemporary art from the 1800s.