Low elevation hikes, big sky dreams, and perfect summer tees.
Get Out, Get Going!
1.
Stargazers welcome
Calling all astronomy buffs and outer space novices!
Every time the holidays roll around, my wife and I head to her mom and stepfather's place in Fly Creek, an aptly-named flyspeck on the map that's home to a cider mill and lots of country roads. There are a couple of creeks there, too.
The routine there rarely varies: the days are spent visiting nearby Cooperstown or wandering the woods, and in the evening we help cook dinner and let the warmth from the wood stove lull us into competitive board gaming. It isn't until later, long after the stars appear, that we venture outside to peer through her stepdad's enormous telescope.
2.
Placid’s perfect pars
Long before Lake Placid became synonymous with the 1980 Winter Olympics and before it was home to an Ironman triathlon and large-scale lacrosse, hockey, and rugby tournaments, it was known for its golf courses. And rightfully so. This compact town, ringed by mountains and lakes, holds five golf courses — all of which boast gorgeous views of the Adirondacks.
Our golf heritage has been around since the 1800s, marking it among America’s firsts. History buffs will tell you some of golf's greats have refined their games and even designed the courses here in Lake Placid.
3.
Chesterfield for fun, hiking, and history!
Chesterfield is a very old town. The native Algonquin people were the original inhabitants. This area is still a rich source of fascinating structures with great appeal, both natural and man-made.
This classic example of an Adirondack water-powered mill community was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
4.
5 fabulous spring hikes
Wildflowers, waterfalls, endless views, and the return of our summer birds — sounds like spring in the Adirondacks! Anyone who hikes here knows there’s a huge variety of trails, but in spring we try to stay off paths that go over 3,000 feet in elevation to let them dry out. It’s a great way to protect our forests, and with so many low-elevation hikes available it’s a great time of year to see some of those magnificent places.
So what’s your pleasure? Read on to learn our favorite hikes for bird watching, standing on a summit, climbing an Adirondack fire tower, seeing some waterfalls, or just taking it easy.
5.
Low elevation, big views
I love standing on a mountaintop, surveying the surrounding landscape and watching clouds roll by, but I don’t always have time to get to those wonderfully out-of-the-way places. That’s one of the many things I love about living in Saranac Lake — there are options to be had — and since I've been too busy to do long hikes I love having a list of easy go-tos. Besides that, at this time of year it’s best to stick to elevations under 3,000 feet to give high-elevation trails time to dry, so it all works out!
6.
Schroon Lake is summer ready!
For many people, it's not summer until Memorial Day Weekend. Nowhere is this more true than in the Schroon Lake Region. When spring starts to happen, it happens fast, as everyone gets ready for the boating, fishing, paddling, hiking, and events that make Schroon Lake such a magnet in the summer.
Many activities center around Schroon Lake's namesake lake, which has plenty of room for everyone. It's a busy time at the Schroon Marina, where boats are unwrapped and readied for a full season of fun. No watercraft? No problem!
7.
Great golf deserves great eats
Here in the greater Malone area, we sure do love our golf. With 54 holes, including two courses at the Malone Golf Club and one at Highland Greens Golf Course, we always have plenty of golf to offer during your stay with us. Now don't get us wrong, our downtown restaurants are a great addition to your golf getaway, but the two locations also boast their own great eats right on site.
8.
Eat, drink, and explore in Wilmington!
Wilmington has some great new things going on, and with summer right around the corner the timing could not be better. During the summer months I love to take the gondola ride up Whiteface Mountain to take in the views from the top. My family and I will always stay in town for dinner after this experience, so I decided I needed to go check out some of the new businesses for myself. Taste test. I was so happy that I did.
9.
The ADKs are a happenin' place!
What to do, what to do? Here's a small sampler of awesome upcoming events:
Celebrate Paddling ADK
Month of June
Hendrickson Hatch Fishing Tournament
June 2-3
Beyond Bullets and Blades
June 6
Schroon Lake Hobie Cat Regatta
June 15-17
Gary LaQuay Fishing Challenge
June 16
Do the Q! The first ever US Quadrathlon
June 16
Wilmington Whiteface 10K Whiskey Run
June 16
I Love NY Horse Show
June 3-8