12 Adirondack Towns With A Slower Pace Of Life
The Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York hold dozens of small towns and villages within Adirondack Park. The park has welcomed visitors as a state-protected area since the 1890s, and many who arrive for a slower pace end up staying. Some like the relaxed way of life so much that they decide to make the Adirondacks a permanent home. Here are twelve of the prettiest towns in the Adirondacks for taking it easy.
Blue Mountain Lake
A lakeside town that's small but mighty, Blue Mountain Lake is known for its scenery and attractions, including the famous Adirondack Experience, the Museum at Blue Mountain Lake. This is a family-friendly, interactive museum and experience set across more than 120 acres. Visitors can pilot a historic guideboat, climb a fire tower, and view a museum showing artifacts from life in the Adirondacks across multiple centuries.
Looking for an artistic experience? Head to Blue Mountain Lake's own Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, also known as ALCA. This arts center hosts live theater, music, and dance performances, as well as putting on classes for those looking to express their creative side. And be sure to enjoy Blue Mountain Lake's natural scenery with a visit to Blue Mountain Lake Beach, where Red Cross certified lifeguards will be on duty while guests enjoy swimming and sunbathing in one of the Adirondacks' most beautiful lakes.
Glens Falls
Known as the "gateway to the Adirondacks," Glens Falls is not technically in the Adirondack Park, but on the southern edge of it, and an excellent jumping-off point to tour the mountains from. Moreover, it is home to the Adirondack Theater Festival, which hosts live theater every summer, including both plays and musicals.
Whatever time of year guests come to Glens Falls, visitors can enjoy the arts at The Hyde Collection, an art museum which holds permanent modern and historical collections including European and American art, as well as traveling exhibitions. After enjoying the museum, check out nearby Cooper's Cave, a natural formation which inspired passages by the famous author James Fenimore Cooper. Admission is free to the public.
Lake George
One of the best-known towns in the Adirondack Mountains, Lake George is a popular spot for an upstate New York getaway. The town sits on, and shares a name with, Lake George, the 32-mile "Queen of American Lakes." Visitors to the town of Lake George can enjoy the lake from the comfort of Million Dollar Beach, a sandy public beach with lifeguards to ensure safe swimming.
For a taste of local history, visit Fort William Henry, a living history museum that recreates the British fort as it was in the 1750s. Tour guides will explain the fort's role in the French and Indian War, while living history reenactors act out eighteenth century military life. After a tour of the fort, check in for a night at the Fort William Henry Hotel, a modern resort and conference center with lake views, multiple onsite restaurants, a pool and fire pits.
Lake Placid
The word "placid" means "calm," so it's no surprise that Lake Placid is a great place to relax. The site of the Winter Olympics in both 1932 and 1980, this town is famous for its winter sport opportunities like skiing and snowboarding. Learn about the town's Olympic legacy at the Lake Placid Olympic Museum, which has separate exhibits highlighting the 1932 and 1980 Games.
Visitors to Lake Placid can try some Olympic-style fun for themselves at the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex. Ride on the skyride, and try some simulated ski jumping with the Sky Flyer Zipline. Be sure to check out some local history at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site, where guests can learn about the famous abolitionist leader and his life in New York State.
Long Lake
The lake that the town of Long Lake is named for is a natural lake that forms part of the 140-mile-long Raquette River system, long indeed! The town of Long Lake boasts a beach where visitors can swim in Long Lake itself, open seasonally with lifeguards on duty, rope swings and a slide, and views of the Seward Mountain Range to enjoy while swimming.
Head into town itself after a swim for food and drink at the Long Lake Diner and Owl's Head Pub. A town landmark for over twenty years, this local hotspot offers classic burgers and sandwiches, breakfast served until 1 pm, and live music every Friday. Check in after a long day in Long Lake at the Adirondack Hotel on Long Lake, which has been welcoming guests since the 1850s, and features a taxidermy moose head and stuffed bear in the hotel lobby.
North Creek
The hamlet of North Creek lies within the Adirondack Park itself. Visitors to this small town will find year-round fun at Gore Mountain, which is a popular ski resort during the winter, with hills for all ability levels. In the summer, guests can enjoy scenic skyrides, and, provided they meet the safety requirements, participate in a climbing challenge.
Closer to town, explore local history at the North Creek Depot Museum. This Adirondack history museum is housed inside an authentic nineteenth-century railroad depot, and includes exhibits on railroad history. Nearby, the Adirondack Glassblowing Studio offers an opportunity for visitors to try glassblowing for themselves. The studio will ship cooled pieces to those who will be traveling after their class.
Saranac Lake
Located inside the Adirondack Park itself, the village of Saranac Lake is a blend of outdoorsy meets artsy. Home to the famous Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, this annual festival has been running since 1897, and includes the construction of the dazzling Ice Palace. Year-round, visitors can enjoy the Adirondack Carousel, where every animal is native to the Adirondacks, and has its own unique name, like Oliver the otter and Wiggly the salamander.
After a whirl on the carousel, head into the historic downtown of Saranac Lake for shopping and dining opportunities. Downtown is also home to the Robert Louis Stevenson Cottage Museum, a historic home once inhabited by the author of "Treasure Island," which has been open to the public since 1915. Today, it's operated by the Stevenson Society of America, and tours are available.
Schroon Lake
It's no surprise that Schroon, the town is located on, well, Schroon Lake. Visitors in town can head to the Schroon Lake Marina, the local boat dealership which offers boats to buy or rent, perfect for exploring the lake on a sunny day.
Back in town, see what's on at the Schroon Theater. This original Art Deco Theater is a local gem on its own, and also serves as a venue for first-run and classic movies (try Classic Movie Mondays for retro favorites), as well as live performances. Or, pick up a treasure to take home at the Schroon Lake Department Store. This general store is over a century old, and today sells clothing, home goods, and locally-themed gifts.
St. Armand
A small town in Essex County, St. Armand has a history as both a lumbering and farming community. Today, St. Armand is in proximity to outdoor adventures at nearby McKenzie Mountain Wilderness, which offers hiking and boating, as well as birdwatching and opportunities for camping. For those interested in hunting, be sure to check when hunting season begins and ends at McKenzie Mountain Wilderness before heading out.
Within the boundaries of St. Armand is the hamlet of Bloomingdale. In Bloomingdale, visitors can view the Town Hall, built in 1903 and still in use. Pick up a sweet treat at T. Marie's Pies and Pastries, where everything is baked locally, and specialties include cowboy cookies and blackberry lemon crumble.
Ticonderoga
While "Ticonderoga" is famous as a brand of pencil, it's also the name of a town. The town doesn't get its name from pencils, though (they were never made there); it gets its name from Fort Ticonderoga, an 18th-century fort that played an important role in the American Revolution, and today houses a museum with living history exhibitions, including a special slate of interactive events for America's 250th.
After touring the fort, Ticonderoga's other most famous attraction will look like science fiction, because it is! Specifically, Ticonderoga is home to the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour. Lovingly recreated by a Star Trek superfan who gathered original set pieces for years, this tour allows guests to explore the famous starship, and the museum hosts events including the "Trekonderoga" convention, which draws special guests like actor George Takei. Once guests have "returned to Earth," they can grab a meal at Burleigh's Luncheonette, a town fixture dating to the 1920s which serves retro favorites like patty melts, fried clams, and deep-fried pickles.
Tupper Lake
A village in Franklin County, Tupper Lake is a great starting point for an Adirondack adventure. Take a walk on the wild side at The Wild Center, where visitors can walk bridge trails, view outdoor art exhibitions, and even come face-to-face with local fish, turtles, and otters in the Hall of the Adirondacks. Or, cast eyes upward at the Adirondack Sky Center and Observatory, where guests can try stargazing, or even attend space camp every summer.
In town, enjoy a good meal at The Woodshed on Park. This casually upscale restaurant serves New American fare, including house-made breads and biscuits, in a vintage-inspired space with exposed brick walls.
Wilmington
Not to be confused with the city in Delaware, Wilmington, New York is an Adirondack town, but surprisingly close to the North Pole. Wilmington's North Pole Park and Santa's Workshop, that is. This is a family-friendly seasonal attraction that welcomes children to a decorated Christmas village, complete with a stable of live reindeer, through its summer and fall operating season.
Whatever time of year guests arrive in Wilmington, they can head to Whiteface Mountain, which is a popular ski resort in the winter, and offers hiking and disc golf in the summer. After working up an appetite, grab a bite to eat at the Twisted Raven, a local tavern with craft beer, live cocktails, and smokehouse barbecue specials.
Take It Easy In The Adirondacks
While the physical beauty of the Adirondack Mountains is famous and undeniable, the towns and villages contained within them are worth celebrating in their own right. Whether it's for a relaxing weekend getaway, or even a long-term relocation, the Adirondack Mountain towns are ideal for anyone looking to take it easy and "get away from it all," while still having plenty of amenities and attractions to enjoy.
