Maybe your summer plans include a tent under the stars, embarking on a heart-stopping whitewater excursion, or surrounding yourself with six million acres of unspoiled nature, but if you had to choose one place to fulfill everything on your itinerary, witnessing the sheer magnitude of the Adirondacks will leave you speechless. While your kayak glides through the glassy waters of Lake George as eagles soar gracefully above you, and the cool spray of a cascading waterfall refreshes your senses, you’ll wonder how it’s possible to be so close yet feel so far from the city. Videos and travel brochures can only skim the surface of what the experience is truly like because the wild Adirondack spirit likes to tell its own story.
Adirondack State Park is not only the largest in the U.S, surpassing both Yosemite, and The Grand Canyon, its infinite size could easily make it a state all its own. Part of untamed protected wilderness, and the other a community of year-round outdoor enthusiasts, this is where New York’s high rise reputation takes a restorative hiatus. With 3,000 lakes, 12 diverse regions, and Mayberry-esque towns that know you by name, civilization, and the forces of nature converge in a perfect symphony. Whether you’re in the mood for something touristy like exploring Lake Placid’s Olympic history, and visiting coastal wineries, or escaping into the shaded forest of Kane Mountain, the opportunities for leisure, or adventure are virtually endless.
From biking, paddle-boarding, hiking, and skiing, to outdoor yoga, and birdwatching the magnetic energy of the Adirondacks has a way of converting even the most polished city dweller into a modern-day Davy Crockett. If you have designer taste, the Adirondack fairways are some of the best in the country including the Victorian elegance of The Sagamore Resort in Lake George also featured by Golf Digest, and the 18-hole family owned Inlet Golf Club. From river rafting, to fly fishing, navigating the Adirondacks by hook or by the paddle isn’t hard to do with 30,000 miles of sapphire rivers and streams to choose from.
Most people prefer exploring the Adirondacks during late spring, and summer when major attractions like the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge and boat tours are in full swing, but even when the last deciduous leaves have fallen, and a dusting of snow reaches McCauley Mountain, shops, restaurants, and resorts are still bustling with tourists. Whether you’re here for adventure or seeking a quiet reprieve from the incessant city noise, the beauty of visiting, or living in this enchanted part of the country is creating your own unique story.
