No one wants a partridge in a pear tree. Let our ADK bloggers help you wrap up your holiday shopping!
On the 12th day...
by Kim Andresen
1.
Party of the year!
New Year's Eve is a special, even unique, holiday. It is the only one which celebrates both the old, and the new. It is a time to look backward and forward. To take the stress off of such endeavors, you should also have a good time. To help with that, Saranac Lake's First Night gives you many choices to celebrate the turn of the year — your way.
The 12th annual First Night Saranac Lake is an all-ages celebration of many arts. There are 18 performers among 10 venues from 6 p.m. to midnight.
2.
Go for the Gold
In a few months when the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics open, a surprising number of U.S. athletes will be from the Lake Placid area, from biathletes and skiers to bobsledders and lugers. With an Olympic Training Center and over 100 years of winter sports competition, the tiny village positively oozes Olympic spirit.
The first thing most visitors notice (other than the beautiful scenery, fresh mountain air, and quaint downtown) is Lake Placid’s diminutive size. We have 2,600 residents and one main thoroughfare. People often shake their heads and wonder, “How did they pull off an Olympics?”
3.
Seven-stop shopping
The convenience of online christmas shopping is wearing thin for many of us. If you’ve been glued to your computer for far too many hours, then why not get out of the house and visit those quaint little shops found in the Lake Champlain Region? Not only will you discover unique gifts for the people on your list, but you’ll also find it an energizing way to get into the holiday spirit!
Here, in no particular order, are seven of the many wonderful local shops that are prepared to make your Christmas merry, your Hanukkah happy, and your Yule cool.
4.
Stay cozy, stay close
Oh, a cabin in the woods, with the whispery fall of snow outside and the crackle of a fire inside... It is a wonderful base for snuggling, skiing, heart to heart talks over hot chocolate, and snowshoeing on a bluebird day. So very Adirondacks.
The Whiteface Region has a delightful variety of cabins and cottages that will match a couple's longing to be alone, or accommodate a lively group wanting to spend more time together. Cabin rentals range from small and remote to grand and convenient, or anything in between.
You might be surprised at the options.
5.
Time's a ticking
If you are like me, there are two weeks until Christmas and you haven't done any of your shopping... It's go time! There are plenty of options here in our little town. In my family, there are two types of people you have to shop for -- luckily the stores in Tupper Lake make it a breeze.
6.
Down for the holidays
Titus Mountain is a ski center after all, so an amazing gift would be to simply give the gift of learning to ski and/or snowboard. Spoken as a skier, there is truly no better experience in the winter than feeling the crisp air on my face, hearing the snow crunch beneath my skis, smelling the fresh winter air around me, and taking some turns on my favorite run (Three Trees).
Without further ado, here is my simple one-stop shopping gift guide to give an experience to your family, friends, and loved ones with the help of Titus Mountain Family Ski Center.
7.
The gift of experience
We all know that sometimes holiday shopping can be a real drag. Going to the same stores, shopping for the same people - who seem to have everything ... This year, why not mix it up a little? Give the gift of tickets!
8.
Pieced together
If you like to quilt, you will love Aunt Polly's Material Girls.
This charming shop, tucked along the scenic shores of the Hudson River, is a crafter's delight. Wonderful fabrics, plenty of notions, specialty tools, and local wool are all available at this full service quilting shop.
Though I am not a crafter or quilter, I do enjoy the end products. This place helps anyone see the appeal.
9.
The ADKs are a happenin' place!
Check out this sampler of awesome upcoming events!
FIL World Cup Luge
Dec. 15-16
Season's Greeting Party at Titus
Dec. 16
Village of Lights
Dec. 17
Winter Solstice Party
Dec. 22
Christmas Holiday Camp
Dec. 27-29
Festival of Trees
Wed-Sat through Dec. 30
Show Up Encore!
Dec. 30
First Night Saranac Lake
Dec. 31