Upstate New York
Lake George
Lake George
Recognized as one of the clearest and cleanest lakes in the world, Lake George is a stunning lake nestled in the Adirondack Mountains, and we are big fans! Whether you are looking to get out on the lake, bike, hike, or shop at the nearby outlet malls, this area has it all. We chose this location as part of our journey because we wanted to attend the 4-day Adirondack Balloon Festival. We went to the opening ceremony which featured an incredibly cheesy live band and a moon glow...which is where they use their burners to light up their balloons after dark. Then on the last day, we were up before dawn to catch the morning lift off. What a beautiful sight that was. About 80 hot air balloons launched in short order and hovered around the airfield. Here are a few images that captured the morning.
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry is located at the south end of Lake George. The fort was briefly in use from 1755 – 1757 during the 7-years war between France and England. It has been authentically reconstructed (as it was burned down by the French after their victory). While we were there, they staged an immersive movie experience. Say what?? They did a showing of the 1996, Daniel Day-Lewis film, The Last of the Mohicans. The storyline of this movie is built around this fort and the battle that occurred here, but it was so much more than just a showing. As we watched the movie, we were plunged into the action by live musket and cannon fire that was synchronized with the battle scenes of the film, and by actors dressed as soldiers and Native Americans fighting all around us. It was an experience we will not likely forget.
Scenic Highway
During our research, we had heard great things about the scenic drive up Route 9N which runs along the western shore of the lake. So, we decided that would be a great way to spend a day. We started in Lake George Village and headed north. Along the route, we passed beautiful homes, charming towns, and stunning views of the lake. If you time it right, stop in the town of Bolton Landing for lots of great places to grab lunch and shop. Ultimately, we made our way to Fort Ticonderoga. Yes, like caves, we seem to visit a lot of forts! We will let you guess which one of us drives both the cave and fort visits and which one rolls their eyes before agreeing. This one, however, turned out to be a pleasant surprise for both of us. The fort is surrounded by the beautiful Adirondack mountains which are just breathtaking, especially during the fall. In addition to its beauty, this fort is packed with American history. There was an extra bonus for Christina as she is a huge fan of the TV show, Outlanders, where (in Season 7, Episode 6) the main characters, Claire and Jamie, escape from Fort Ticonderoga just before the French begin blasting away with their canons. The best part is that event actually happened at Fort Ticonderoga. Well, the part about the French capturing the fort from the British actually happened. We are pretty sure that Claire and Jamie were never really there. The Fort itself is an impressive site to see and learning about the fort’s history was fascinating.
Explore
Adirondacks
We think that to truly appreciate this area, you must immerse yourself into the wild beauty of the Adirondacks. We did that by hitting the trails. While we aren’t the most rugged or experienced hikers, we do like to get out there and see what we can see. We must admit that we were a little unsettled when we had to sign a logbook at the start of one trail that included our name and how many days we were planning to be in the woods. On another trail, we were advised to take a few items that we could tie to tree branches to help us find our way back out. Yup, it was starting to feel a little like we might be getting in over our heads. Visions of Hansel and Gretel started dancing through our minds, and we were forced to admit we are definitely more casual hikers, and not the real deal!!
Up to this point in our trip, the weather had been spectacular. Unfortunatley, while in Lake George, that changed, and we experienced a few days of rain. The reality is that not every day on the road is a fun day. If you are going out for weeks at a time, eventually, you have to take care of domestic tasks like paying bills, grocery shopping, maintenance, and laundry. It turns out that this is a good way to spend your time on a rainy day.
On our last day in lake George we decided to do a rail ride with the Revolution Rail Co. They offer three different biking experiences. we chose the North Creek ride. This is a one-of-a-kind bike experience. Well, at least it was for us. We did a 7-mile route along the Hudson River with some stunning views of the fall foliage. The rail used to be an old mining route that was abandoned years ago and is now a great way to see the mountains of the Adirondacks.
Lake Placid, NY
House we walked past on our way to lunch.
One of our day trips in this area was to Lake Placid, NY. Lake Placid is a charming little town surrounding an equally lovely lake. It is best known for hosting two winter Olympic games, and is still a hub for snow sport activities. We spent the day shopping, having lunch and taking in the fall colors. The leaves were a brilliant array of colors. Unfortunately, due to the dense fog (and continued rain) we couldn’t capture all the beauty in a photograph.
