A Weekend in the Adirondacks

It can be difficult to find the time to get away from the stress of everyday living—getting away creates its own stress: Where to go? How much to spend? What we will do when we get there? It’s enough work just planning a relaxing weekend that one is tempted to simply stay home. But overcoming the inertia of staying put, we recently completed a wonderful escape for the weekend—and all kept within the confines of a New York State of Mind: a weekend in the Adirondacks.

The blooming spring foliage was the main attraction—getting far enough away to see the trees and flowers bloom, but not so far away that travel time in the car would gobble up precious hours. We settled on the Lake George region (www.visitlakegeorge.com)—approximately three hours distant, workable for a midday Friday departure, and back on Sunday before it would be too late to prepare for a working Monday. The physical beauty of Lake George was a real draw, but we didn’t want to stay at a basic motel on the main drag (Canada Street) in the village. The internet allowed us to search a wide variety of choices, and we chose an interesting alternative: accommodations at a ranch resort, 1000 Acres (www.1000Acres.com), located on the Hudson River a short drive away from the Lake.

Staying at “The Acres”, as 1000 Acres is known by the locals, gave us a few more options than we planned. We expected to use our accommodations as a base for launching off on Saturday and Sunday jaunts, but found a few terrific features right on site: horseback riding, which allowed us to discover trails in the very Adirondack hills we came to see; kayaking on the Hudson (a little cold for me, but great fun nonetheless), followed by a warm dip in the jacuzzi. The family-style dining provided a full breakfast, giving us a hearty start to the day, as well as lunch and dinner as part of the package. Later in the evening, we enjoyed a nightcap in the Red Dog Saloon, with a twirl on the dance floor to a country-western tune.

The pivotal enjoyments of the weekend also included a shopping detour to the outlet shops along Route 9 south of Lake George Village; stopping by a roadside farmer's market in search of fresh grown, local produce. And on that particular weekend, local residents were holding a town-wide garage sale, with various “treasures” available for the alert shopper. If I wanted to golf (a big IF, in my case) that was available at 1000 Acres, too; but that’s not my thing). Down in Lake George Village there’s plenty of MINIATURE golf…much more my style. Also available, for a longer stay, are museums and historic venues—and a renovated scenic railroad train ride on the Saratoga and North Creek Railway (www.sncrr.com), the nearby, impressive Fort Ticonderoga(www.fortticonderoga.org), and the Minne-Ha-Ha sternwheel steamboat boat ride out onto Lake George. Next time!

The worst part of getting away, ultimately, is having to come back home. The drive down the Northway (I-87) to the NYS Thruway wasn’t bad, but I kept developing a mental list of everything I had to do once I got back home. It made me realize…I could use another getaway soon. 

Robin Phelps Latimer

If you go:

1000 Acres Ranch Resort, Warrensburg Rd., Stony Creek, NY 12878 - (518) 696-2444 -  www.1000acres.com 

Saratoga and North Creek Railway - (877) 726-7245 - www.sncrr.com

Lake George/Warren County Tourism, 1340 State Route 9, Lake George, NY 12845 - (800) 95-VISIT - www.visitlakegeorge.com