Top Seven Summer Places in the Six-Million Acre Adirondack Park
ADIRONDACK REGION, NY - Travel to the Adirondack Park this summer for a dose of the unexpected and discover the Top Seven Off-the-Beaten Path places to visit in Northern New York. Explore historic, scenic and quirky sites throughout the Adirondack Region and experience this six-million acre park from a new perspective.
Our Top Seven Off-the-Beaten-Path places to check out this summer in Northern New York are:
The Gilded Age Tour in Raquette Lake - Named after the French word for "snowshoes," this tiny hamlet in the central Adirondack Park offers a plethora of classic Adirondack outdoor recreation. Take the Gilded Age Tour, which combines history, boating and rustic architecture. The tour includes a dinner cruise on the W.W. Durant, a stop at Great Camp Sagamore - a former Vanderbilt Great Camp offering classes and retreats - and a pass to the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake. Travel through two centuries of Adirondack history with the Gilded Age Tour.
Farm Tours in Thurman - A true American small town, Thurman offers an incredible line up of summer events - from free concerts every Monday in July through August, to New York maple sugaring events and outdoor adventures like whitewater rafting, tubing and fishing on the Hudson River. For more Adirondack tours and events, check out Nettle Meadow Goat Farm and Martin's Tree Farm & Sawmill.
Blue Herons in Peru - Valcour Island, home to the Bluff Point Lighthouse, has the largest blue heron rookery in the northeast. Camp on the island for free, take advantage of hiking trails and tour the site of the first U.S. Revolutionary War naval battle. Peru is apple country - pick your own, tour orchards and taste locally made treats. End your visit with a stagecoach ride or watch field demonstrations at Babbie's Rural Learning Farm & Museum.
Heritage Crafts in Kirschnerville - Located near Croghan, home to the Adirondack Maple Museum, is the Adirondack Mennonite Heritage Farm. Recently added to the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places, the farm hosts the annual Z Fest, featuring blacksmithing demos, rock climbing, wagon rides, woodworking, crafts, an auction and more.
Adirondack Adventure in Cranberry Lake - The Tooley Pond Tract is located in the Northwestern Adirondack Park and offers a true Adirondack outdoors experience. Paddle the south branch of the Grasse River or take on the wild Oswegatchie River. Hike Tooley Pond Mountain, or to many of the waterfalls located nearby. Fish for perch, trout and golden shiners. A 17-mile bike loop winds through Tooley Pond Tract, offering incredible views of the Grasse River and St. Lawrence County waterfalls.
The Summer White House in Paul Smiths - From pond-hopping the St. Regis Canoe Area, to hiking to the fire tower on St. Regis Mountain, to exploring the Paul Smith's College Visitor Interpretive Center's nature trails and birding programs, this college town is a great stop for outdoor adventures. Check out White Pine Camp, Calvin Coolidge's summer White House, Donnelly's Ice Cream stand and the St. Regis Caf� at Paul Smith's College for tasty Adirondack treats.
Historic sites and bike paths in Crown Point - Home to the Penfield Museum and the village of Ironville - known as the "Birthplace of the Electric Age," Crown Point offers incredible biking opportunities and historic tours along Lake Champlain. Watch history come alive during the French & Indian War Encampment weekend in August or take the road less traveled and pedal the Champlain Bikeway.
Whether you're in town for the weekend or a week, stop along the way at any one of these hidden Adirondack treasures for a new experience. For more on our "Top Seven Places to See This Summer" in the Adirondacks, log onto VisitAdirondacks.com and search for events, attractions, Adirondack vacation packages and more.
The Adirondack Region is a six-million-acre park offering limitless recreation amid 2,000 miles of hiking trails and 3,000 lakes and ponds. Part of the largest temperate forest in the world, the Adirondack Region is also home to 100 towns and villages. The Adirondack Region is a unique park offering year-round recreation and events.
LINK: Adirondack Off-The-Beaten Path Places to Visit
Long-term New Yorkers, Mark and Robert have also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center, Mark is a PhD in American history and literature, as well as the author of the novels Wolfchild and My Hawaiian Penthouse. Robert is the producer of the documentary We Are All Children of God. Their work has appeared in numerous publications, as well as at : www.mrny.com.
