For history lovers, the ‘forever wild’ Adirondacks preserve is a bastion of Gilded Age travel, best exemplified by the Great Camps. These grand log mansions, designed to blend in with their wild surroundings, embodied the American naturalism movement and were the brainchild of iconic magnates of the time. “The Great Camps were built when cities were expanding and notable families of the era (e.g. Vanderbilts, Astors, Guggenheims, and Rockefellers) were all seeking a rustic escape to get out of the city,” Joe Maiurano, general manager at The Point Resort says. “Using native timber and Adirondack granite hauled by horses from the fields, these estates were built and to this day embody the romantic, 19th-century notion of ‘roughing it’ as a true Adirondack staple.”
What’s more, there are no bad seasons in the Adirondacks. It is as pristine in the snow-blanketed winter as it is during the sunbaked days of summer—all that’s required is an affinity for the great outdoors. “The mountains are higher, the snowfall is greater, the lakes are clearer, the air is fresher—clearly I’m biased, but it feels much more like an escape into nature than the Catskills ever has,” Sense of Shelf founder Madeline Ritaccio says, an entrepreneur who is native to upstate New York and has had a family cabin in the Adirondacks for decades. “I still don’t even get reliable cell reception up there, and that’s part of the charm.”
If you’re arriving from New York City, the drive takes around five or six hours (admittedly more of an undertaking than the manageable three-hour journey to the Catskills and Hudson Valley). But even if you’re not up to the road trip, there are flights with Cape Air from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the Adirondack Regional Airport. Indeed, it’s often those taxing-to-reach destinations that turn out to be the most worthwhile—and such is the case here.
What to Do
The most important thing to understand about the Adirondacks is this: nature is the central character here. Consequently, the region is unparalleled when it comes to outdoor adventure, no matter the season. For avid hikers, you’ll have plenty to sink your teeth into. Roaring Brook Falls is a nice trail to warm up with; it’s a relatively brief one-and-a-half miles with around 500-feet elevation, and stunning waterfall and valley views that make it well worth the heart pound. Once you’re ready for something more strenuous, Mt. Van Hoevenberg is just under four-and-a-half miles and demands a 900-foot elevation gain (yes, the views at the top are nothing short of majestic). Or, challenge yourself to one of the 46 Adirondack High Peaks, each towering above 4,000 feet in elevation.
Sporting fans also take note: the Adirondacks (specifically, Lake Placid) have twice hosted the winter Olympics, in both 1932 and 1980. This privilege results in tourist destinations like the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex where guests can take a gondola ride up to the sky deck observation area. This proximity to seasonal exploration is part of the reason Eastwind chose Lake Placid as its sophomore location. “The Adirondacks are steeped in tradition and feel of a different era, from areas that feel very remote to charming towns like Lake Placid, which is ingrained in the history of winter sports,” Stoliarova says.
Lastly, while shopping is admittedly not the main draw here, Dartbrook Rustic Goods is precisely the kind of shop you hope to stumble upon in the middle of a wilderness region such as the Adirondacks. They have a lodge and two store locations (a mere one-minute walk from each other on the same side of the highway). Inside you’ll discover a well-curated and expertly-styled assortment of handcrafted wood furniture in the Great Camp tradition alongside taxidermy, textiles, antiques, lighting fixtures, vintage-inspired decor, and other keepsakes that capture the essence of this picturesque pocket of the United States.
Where to Eat and Drink
When you come to the mountains, most days involve an outdoor excursion, meaning that morning fuel is a prerequisite. Origin Coffee Co. has locations in both Lake Placid and Saranac Lake and is reliable for specialty coffee and elevated breakfast offerings. (Think: sliced avocado toast with sesame seed muhammara.) In nearby Keene, Cedar Run Bakery & Market is a small local specialty store that has been around for 20 years, offering toothsome confections like raspberry basil cinnamon rolls.
Before embarking on your hike, make a pit stop at Simply Gourmet for a deli sandwich of epic proportions, with over 46 combinations to choose from plus freshly-made bread options. Post-summit, savor the afternoon at one of the ADKs many breweries for a craft beer: Big Slide Brewery and Public House and Lake Placid Pub and Brewery are both award-winning spots.
