Family Vacations to the Adirondacks

Why Go on Vacation to the Adirondacks

Beauty abounds and there are plenty of attractions and activities for nature-loving families and kids including 2,000 miles of pristine hiking trails, 46 Adirondack high peaks (over 4,000 ft) and 3,000 glistening lakes and ponds.

Adirondack Park is a patchwork of public and private land with 103 towns and villages scattered amongst the wilderness, major towns include Lake Placid, Lake George and Plattsburgh, NY.

The Adirondacks lie just four hours north of New York City and stretch all the way to the Canadian border. From the north, Montreal is a one-hour drive south to the Adirondacks.

With everything from water adventures to mountain hikes to museums, there’s plenty of thrills to keep the entire family entertained.

Outdoor Adventures

The #1 attraction of the Adirondacks is, of course, the outdoors and the stunning scenery offered. There are numerous hiking trails from scaling the 46 Adirondack High Peaks to a leisurely walk around a picturesque lake or pond. The Adirondacks has thousands of waterways perfect for kayaking, canoeing and paddling, as well as great for enjoying motorboats and scenic cruises on the lakes. There are plenty of family-friendly places to camp including your own private island on Saranac Lake.

Lake Placid

Famous as the host site for two Olympic Winter Games (1932 & 1980), it’s easy to catch Olympic fever touring the venues of Lake Placid. If you’re not afraid of heights, breathtaking views of the Adirondack High Peaks await at the top of the 90- and 120-meter ski jump towers. Head to Mt. Van Hoevenberg for a thrilling high-speed bobsled run year-round at the Lake Placid Bobsled Experience. a Take a high-speed gondola ride and get whisked away to the top of Whiteface Mountain, site of the cross-country ski events during the 1932 Olympics and the downhill and slalom events for the 1980 Winter Games. Cap your day off with a scenic 8-mile drive up Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway to the summit of the fifth highest mountain in the Adirondacks.

Ausable Chasm

A two-mile long gorge carved into the sandstone by the Ausable River on its way to Lake Champlain. A natural wonder since the Ice Age, Ausable Chasm has “officially” welcomed guests as a tourist attraction since 1870. This Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks includes an adventure trail that will delight kids with cable bridges plus a ropes course, hiking trails, walking tours, horseback riding, rock climbing, rappelling and rafting opportunities.

Lake George

One of the quintessential Adirondack vacation lands, Lake George has invited families for generations to relax in the namesake chair by the water. The setting for James Fenimore Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans, Lake George is filled with history lessons for kids as it’s not far from Fort Ticonderoga (on Lake Champlain), an important spot in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. In addition to lake fun, this area is also home to a major amusement park – Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom.

Museums

There are a number of museums in the Adirondacks highlighting art, culture and the natural history of the region. One of the best is The Wild Center near Tupper Lake. For those new to the Adirondacks, this family-friendly museum gives an overview of what you can expect to find in the area including animals and ecosystems. The Wild Center recently added Wild Walk, an elevated trail through the Adirondack canopy. Other museums include The Adirondack Experience (formerly Adirondack Museum), Hyde Collection Art Museum, Frederic Remington Art Museum, 1932 & 1980 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Museum and Hall of Fame, and American Maple Museum.

Getting Around

A car is definitely required to get around the vast (and relatively remote) Adirondacks region. There are some small, regional airports in the area, but, even if you fly to the Adirondacks, you will definitely want a car to check out the many scenic byways. There is also train service via Amtrack’s Adirondack, voted one of the Top 10 scenic train rides in the world.