Lake George

From Wikitravel

Jump to: navigation, search
For other places with the same name, see Lake George (disambiguation).

The tiny Adirondack village of Lake George [1] [2], in upstate New York, is a year-rounds, resort destination! No matter the season, Lake George offers activities for the whole family from skiing and snowshoeing to taking steamboat rides and hiking.

The lake itself is a glacier-carved trench 32 miles from north to south. The busy village of Lake George is at the southern tip, but there are small towns scattered along the west side up to Ticonderoga, the northern point.

[edit] Get In

Lake George is located around exits 21-22 off of the Adirondack Northway(I-87), and is not too far from Saratoga Springs. Nearby Glens Falls (Exit 18) is more residential, but still a great place to take the kids!

[edit] Get around

  • During the summer months, a bus-line runs in the village of Lake George from Canada Street and into Glens Falls. It may run year-round, though the summertime has more frequent runs. Relax, sit back and take a tour along route 9 or use this bus service as a way to get from point A to point B.
  • Take your special someone for a horse drawn carriage ride along the historical streets in the village of Lake George.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Fort William Henry Museum, Canada Street (Rt. 9), Phone: 518-668-5471, [3]. Daily May-October 9AM-6PM. A restored colonial era fort that has an impressive position in American historical and literary culture. The museum is open daily and hosts tours, colonial firearms demonstrations, and activities for children. There are occasional active archaeological digs and research on the site. The real-life location of Last of the Mohicans. Adults $11.95, ages 3-11 $7.25.
  • Lake George Steamboat Company, 57 Beach Road, ☎ (518) 668-5777, [4]. Every day 9AM-4PM. Has three ships that sail multiple times a day from the south end of the lake in Lake George Village. There are trips of various durations and routes on the lake. One of the ships, the Minne-Ha-Ha, is a favorite with families as it is an operating steam/diesel rear paddle wheel ship. The engine room of the ship is visible during a cruise. The Minne-Ha-Ha also has a working steam calliope that plays familiar tunes at the end of cruises, when docked. The Lake George Steamboat Company also has cruises during summertime fireworks events.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

There is a plethora of activities for the whole family in the village of Lake George. Take a dip in the pristine waters at the town beach [5], stroll along the commercial yet quaint sidewalks in the heart of the village, or listen to your favorite band play at Shepherd's Park. Either way, enjoy the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains that surround you. Lake George is brimming with unique and exciting attractions.

  • The 32 mile long lake itself is quite busy during the summer months with para-sailing, and jetski and boat rentals. There are a number of sunken ships in Lake George for scuba diving.
  • Walk Canada Street in Lake George Village during the evening with your family. It is a busy spot with arcades and souvenir shops. There are fireworks on Thursday nights at Shepard Park during the summer months.
  • Shepard Park has a clean and spacious public beach.
  • Million Dollar Beach on Beach Road past Fort William Henry is free to enter, but has a small parking fee. When the beach was created a million dollars worth of sand was trucked in to the site, which is how it got its name.
  • The Great Escape, (518) 792-3500, [6], a Six Flags partner, is just south of Lake George, has plenty of rides & attractions for the kids and adults. Big waterpark as well.
  • Americade - Motorcycle Rally [7] in early summer.
  • Each winter the lake plays host to the Lake George Winter Carnaval [8]. Events include automobile racing on the frozen lake, and a swim with the local Polar Bear club.
  • Prospect Mountain The tallest peak around the lake. From the top, you can look down on the southern end of the lake and Lake George Village. You can drive to the top for $6 on the Prospect Mountain Scenic Highway, or hike up on trails through the woods. In the winter there are snowmobile and cross-country ski trails to the top. Remember to use a low gear when driving back down the highway. The Adirondak Mountain Club [9] has a good article about hiking the mountain. The local historical society has an article on the mountain's history [10]
  • The Magic Forest [11] is an amusement park that is geared towards young kids with rides suitable for kids that are not ready for the big, fast rides down the road at The Great Escape. They have rides, shows and a few animals. It is clean and small and has the feel of an old-time road-side attraction.
  • There are a number of outdoor activities in the areas surrounding Lake George. Review the local tourist magazine that can be picked up for free at nearly every commercial establishment in the region to find golf, horseback riding and mountain biking as well as white water rafting and tubing on the Hudson and Sacandaga rivers.
  • Miniature golf is also a popular tourist activity, there are many mini-golf establishments in and around Lake George Village.
  • Adirondack Extreme [12] adventure course for kids and adults will have you climbing in the trees and zip lining some 50 feet in the air. It's located a short trip north of Lake George village in the mountains above the town of Bolton Landing.
  • Water Slide World [13] on Rt9 near Lake George Village has many water slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and a toddlers area.

[edit][add listing] Buy

  • Lake George Village, outlet malls a short drive from the village center, [14]. Find designer name brands and unique shops with Adirondack flare.

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • At the various Italian restaurants on Canada Street.
  • East Cove - on the east side of the lake near the village is good food with a rustic Adirondack atmosphere.
  • George's Restaurant - for steak and seafood. A favorite with locals!
  • The Shoreline
  • The Algonquin
  • The Lookout Cafe, the Beach Rd., Lake George Village. Great view of the Lake and the best cheeseburgers in town.
  • The Sagamore - expensive resort.
  • King Neptunes - bar, with bands.
  • Duffy's - cool bar with bands.
  • The Boardwalk
  • JT Kellys - on the Fort William Henry grounds. Good for the best beef in town.

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Hotels and motels

  • Best Western of Lake George, Exit 21 @ I-H 87, +1 518 668-5701, Toll-free: +1 800 234-0265, Fax: +1 518 668-4926, [15].
  • Holiday Inn, 2223 Canada Street, Route 9, +1 518 668-5781, [16].
  • The Sagamore

[edit] Campgrounds

There are numerous campgrounds in the lower Lake George area, one just south of the village called Lake George Battleground [17] run by New York state Department of Environmental Conservation, which also manages campgrounds on some of the islands in the lake [18] itself.

In the surrounding area there are a number campgrounds, including a KOA facility in Lake Vanare [19], another NYS DEC loction [20] and independents such as Mt. Kenyon [21]

[edit] Dude Ranches

The Adirondack Park also has its share of Dude Ranches.

  • 1000 Acres Ranch Resort [22]
  • Roaring Brook Ranch [23]
  • Ridin Hy Ranch [24]

[edit] Get out

If the plethora of T-Shirt shops in the village grates on you, consider heading north to the town of Bolton Landing for a quieter, more upscale lake experience.

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Lake_George"