Welcome to the beginning of summer! My favorite season of the year, mostly because it is warm enough to always be outside and there are 15+ hours of sunlight everyday. Being a certified resident of Upstate New York, (trust, I am actually Upstate), I always try to spend as much of my summer in the Adirondacks as possible! I find I can finally breathe and actually chill the second I get past Queensbury. My go-to-spot is in Northern Lake George because it is so close to where I live (and still quiet) but I have camped and hiked around much of the Adirondacks, and am excited to continue my exploration this summer. The Adirondack Park stretches across over 6 million acres of land in Northern New York State. This might be biased, but it makes for some of the best camping and hiking in the state. It is far enough away to make it a getaway, but close enough to make it a little weekend adventure; no time off of work needed! Here is why I think you are sleeping on the Adirondacks if you have not been, plus some tips for your trip!
As students at a SUNY school, we need to remember that sometimes the best places to visit are in New York State. We do not have to plan an expensive trip for “Eurosummer”; we can enjoy the beauty of our home state instead. Although the closest part of the Adirondack Park to Buffalo is about 3 hours and 45 minutes away, (you are looking at Old Forge or Speculator Area) many of our students are from areas in NYS that are closer to the park than UB. For example, Syracuse is only a little under 2 hours away from the closest area of the park and Albany is only an hour from both Lake George and Great Sacandaga Lake. We even have students who live in the Adirondacks!
Two of the top places to visit for a vacation are Lake Placid and Lake George. Lake George, located in the southeast part of the park, is nicknamed “The Queen of American Lakes” because of its beauty and ease as a vacation spot. There is the southern part of the lake, Lake George Village, which is a large tourist destination with gift shops, arcades, a gorgeous beach, and lots of places to stay. The further north up the lake you get, the quieter and less touristy it gets. Then there is Lake Placid, located a little further north. The site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and lots of winter fun, it is also a place to enjoy in the summer. You can obviously still see the Olympic sites, probably more enjoyably because you will not be freezing and slipping on ice. Lake Placid also offers the lake where you can enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and more! Additionally, Lake Placid is close to many of the high peaks, notably Mount Marcy, Algonquin, and Whiteface.
Now part of what is likely special to me about the Adirondacks is the memories I associate with the place. I truly think there is something special about going somewhere that operates a little slower, so you can take a breath and just live in the moment.
Personally, I believe there are a few things to do to magnify the fun on your Adirondacks trip.
- Firstly: You should turn off your phone. You do not need to go totally off-grid, but put it down, leave it in the car, delete social media, etc, whatever your personal need is. (Obviously if you need it for safety you can bring it, but service is spotty so it is best not to rely on that.) My point is, disconnect with the outside world. This is an opportunity to just be one with the people you are with and with nature. Allow yourself to just feel the vibes of the summer, the vibes of the trees, and the water and nature.
- Second: Value the time you have. Do not worry about getting back, or what you look like, or what people think of you. Just throw on some functional clothes, a swimsuit and a baggy tee. Pack your sunscreen, your sunglasses, and your smile. (But seriously, pack your sunscreen and your bugspray because a burn and bites can ruin a trip.) Also, pack a hoodie! I have forgotten this and that can be miserable, at night particularly.
- Third: Carry it in, carry it out. Like please, please, please be conscientious that this is nature and too many people deteriorate the climate; many of the high peaks have tooooo much foot travel on them, so maybe find a less used trail to protect the woods. Just be aware that animals live here and they should get priority because it is their home, you are just a visitor. Moral of the story: be respectful, do not leave trash, you are a visitor.
- Fourth: Just get out there and do it!
Hope you enjoy your quick summer getaway to the Adirondacks as much as I know I will!