Lake George

Lake George is known as one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States. It is 32 miles long and a very popular summer destination among vacationers.

What to Do in Lake George

Take a scenic cruise on a steamboat. Whether you want a romantic dinner cruise, family firework cruise, or just a scenic day cruise, you will get spectacular views of Lake George. They also offer fall foliage cruises during the fall season.

Six Flags Great Escape & Hurricane Harbor is a theme park and a water park. This is often a great visit compared to the larger theme parks near NYC which often have long lines and huge crowds.

The Lake George area is a great place for whitewater rafting in the Adirondacks. Between Sacandaga River and Hudson River, you can find rapids for any challenge level. If you’re looking for real excitement, you should go in the early Spring when the snow is melting. This provides larger rapids and more excitement. Note that it is still very cold then and wetsuits are required.

For families with young children, both the Adirondack Adventure Center and the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course offer lazy river tubing on calm water. If you don’t feel like getting on the water, both companies also offer treetop courses and ziplining, certainly activities that kids will love.

If you need a break from activities, head to the outlets for some shopping.

What to See in Lake George

Go up to the 2,030-foot Prospect Mountain Summit for breathtaking views of the Southern Adirondack Mountains and Lake George. You can also drive up the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway or you can hike up, 3.2 miles round trip. You should be sure to bring food with you so that you can have a picnic while enjoying the view.

Visit the Natural Stone Bridge & Caves where you can truly enjoy the beauty of nature. After seeing the bridge and caves, stay for more fun activities. Kids will have fun with their bouldering walls, the dino dig, and gemstone mining, and everyone can try out disc golf. It is also open during the winter months so it’s great for a trip at any time of the year. You won’t run out of areas to explore, as they have over 14 miles of snowshoe trails.

When Is the Best Time to Go

Lake George is by far most popular during the summer months. However, fall foliage also makes the area exceptionally beautiful. During the winter, the area is much quieter and you can expect more places to be closed as it is not uncommon for places in the town to only be open during the summer season.

How to get there

By car it takes about 3.5 hours to get here from NYC. You can also get there by bus or train, with the railway station being about 20 minutes away.