ADK

I often share pictures of the Adirondacks in Upstate NY here on the blog so I thought it would be a good idea to share some of our family's favorites in case you are interested in your own Adirondack getaway.  For those of you who already love this area, I thought it would be great if we could compare our favorites.  Please tell me your in the comments!

We spend most of our time in a small town about 40 miles north of Lake George called Schroon Lake.  When I was growing up, my parents would take my brother and I on vacations to Lake George and I have wonderful memories of that.  When I met my husband, his family had a vacation home in Schroon Lake and, for me, it was love at first sight.  From my first trip, I felt a connection to those mountains deep within my soul.

Schroon Lake is a quiet town, which is perfect for us.  The 9 mile lake is clean & clear and not too crowded, except on the busiest summer weekends.  Our family's home is up on a mountain about 4 miles away from the lake. There is a large trail system that goes just past our house that is perfect for snowmobiling in the winter and hiking in the summer.  Billy and I dream of retiring to this area and we still haven't decided whether we will prefer to be right on the lake, or away from the lake where we can have more privacy and mountain views.  We have plenty of time to make that decision :)

If you like more hustle and bustle on your vacation, then Lake George is the place for you.  We rented a home on Lake George a few years back with my family.  The lake is much bigger and there is a lot more activity there.  Lots of great restaurants and things to do.  We prefer the Schroon Lake area, but I usually recommend Lake George to my friends who like a bit more action and would get bored easily in a quieter place.

Lodging:

If you are interested in a true Adirondack experience, I suggest you take a look at www.adkbyowner.com.  We have rented several waterfront homes through that website and have had fantastic experiences.  You can put in your own parameters and find a home that suits your exact needs and budget.  So far, we have stayed at 1 home on Upper Saranac Lake and 2 homes on Schroon Lake.  This summer, we will be staying at a home on a private pond and we are VERY excited.  I will be sure to blog about that.  We always find homes that allow us to bring our dogs because they are an essential part of our Adirondack experience.  We liked to check out other areas of the ADKS because it is such a vast and beautiful place and we don't want to miss any of it.

Sunrise on Upper Saranac Lake

Schroon Lake has no large hotels, but they do have several bed and breakfasts that I have heard good things about.  For more info on lodging, check out SchroonLakeRegion.com.  For more info about Lake George, check out VisitLakeGeorge.com.

Food:

Our favorite restaurant is actually a pizza place called DeCesare's Pizza in Schroon Lake.  The pizza is Adirondack style and not to be missed.  Billy and I often have date nights at Cafe Adirondack in Pottersville, NY.  It is a fairly small & quirky BYOB and we always enjoy our evenings there.  Our favorite place to get ice cream is Donnelly's in Saranac Lake.  We first discovered this small family run ice cream stand when we stayed in a rental home on Upper Saranac Lake and we have since made the hour+ trip from Schroon Lake a couple of times.  The ice cream is that good!  It is homemade and there is just one flavor of the day that is twisted with vanilla.  My favorite is raspberry and the kids love the pistachio.  Yum!  We also love to visit farmer's markets in the areas.  Our favorite is the market in Keene, NY on Sunday mornings.

A Few of our Food Favorites:
Izzy's in North Creek (great sandwiches)
The Adirondack General Store in Adirondack, NY (charming old fashioned general store)
Battenkill Valley Creamery milk products (my boys adore the chocolate milk)
Oscar's Smokehouse in Warrensburg, NY

Enjoying the Lakes:

Schroon Lake has a beautiful and free public beach.  As a boating family, we think the best way to enjoy the lake is to get out on it.  If you already have a boat, there are 2 free state boat launches on Schroon Lake.  You can also rent a boat at the Schroon Lake Marina.  Their website has lots of info. on rates and what is available.  They also rent kayaks, row boats and anything else you might need for a fun day on the lake.

Our Favorite Places to Visit:
The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake
Lake Placid (quaint shopping and eating along with Olympic attractions)
Hiking Trails, lakes, rivers and streams around every corner
North Creek and Gore Mountain (winter skiing)

Do you have any favorites in the Adirondacks?  We would love to hear your suggestions in the comments!