The Adirondack Mountains lie within the boundary of Adirondack Park. It has a lovely protected wilderness area of over six million acres in Upstate New York. The region has more than 100 towns and villages scattered. Amidst a vast landscape of old-growth forests, picturesque valleys, flowing rivers, and pristine lakes. Long considered one of the most prestigious resort areas in the United States, the Adirondacks have twice hosted international Winter Olympics competitions. Popular summer activities include hiking, cycling, and whitewater rafting, while in the winter, visitors enjoy snowboarding and skiing. Here are some of the best places to look for an Adirondacks vacation rental.
1. Lake Placid
The site of the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, Lake Placid sits aside a pristine lake surrounded by breathtaking mountains. Enthusiasts of winter sports can take advantage of its world-class facilities for skiing, snowboarding, ice-climbing, and bobsledding. During the summer, you can go hiking and mountain biking along alpine trails and fly fishing in nearby rivers. Lake Placid has numerous golf courses set in the midst of rolling hills, and thrilling gondola rides give you a bird’s eye view of the surrounding countryside.
2. Saranac Lake
Numerous small lakes surround the lovely village of Saranac Lake. The area has been famous since the late 1800s for its crisp, clean alpine air, and celebrities such as author Robert Louis Stevenson and scientist Albert Einstein would visit the village due to the curative properties of its climate. Stevenson’s cottage is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. Summer activities at Saranac Lake include boating, hiking, mountain climbing and catching free concerts in the village parks. In the winter, you can enjoy snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice skating, inner tubing down the slopes and attending the annual Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.
3. Blue Mountain Lake
The village of Blue Mountain Lake lies beside its namesake body of water, which is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the Adirondacks. The pristine lake is perfect for exploring its shores on a contemplative canoe trip or dropping your line for some quiet fishing. For the adventurous, nearby Hudson River Gorge has world-class white water rapids. For spectacular vistas, you can hike to Castle Rock or the top of Blue Mountain. The famous Adirondack Experience museum is a vast complex of buildings that highlights the history of the area.
4. Inlet
The town of Inlet is on the eastern end of Fourth Lake and just west of Seventh Lake in the Fulton Chain of Lakes. It has a lovely Main Street leading to Arrowhead Park, a lakeside recreational area. During the summer, you can relax and enjoy swimming, boating and fishing. A ride in a seaplane offers you a breathtaking view of the Adirondack Mountains. Enthusiasts flock to Inlet in the winter for some of the finest snowmobiling opportunities in New York State.
5. Raquette Lake
The village of Raquette Lake lies on the shore of Raquette Lake, the largest natural lake in the Adirondack Mountains. Scattered along the lakeshore are historic sites known as Great Camps, which were summer homes of famous tycoons such as J.P. Morgan and Alfred Vanderbilt. You can tour these camps by boat and marvel at their unique architectural styles. With its almost 100 miles of shoreline, the lake is popular for summer activities such as hiking, boating, fishing and wildlife observation. Abundant winter snowfall makes it a great place for snowmobiling.
6. Indian Lake
Part of its beautiful namesake lake lies within the town of Indian Lake. It’s dubbed the Moose Capital of the Northeast, and, you might catch a glimpse of a large Adirondack moose while hiking along the lakeshore or on one of the many nearby trails. The area is also famous for its whitewater rafting in the summer and snowshoeing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter. Indian Lake Museum offers a look at local history with an emphasis on the Native Americans who first settled in the area.
7. Long Lake
The town of Long Lake sits on the shore of the beautiful 14-mile stretch of water from which it gets its name. This family-friendly community offers excellent swimming, hiking, cycling, boating and water sports. In the fall, a sea plane tour allows you to see the brilliantly colored foliage from the air. Winter brings its own thrills, with endless miles of trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
8. Speculator
The town of Speculator is on the shore of lovely Lake Pleasant. Once the hideaway of heavyweight boxers such as Max Baer, Gene Tunney, and Max Schmeling, who came to this isolated area to train for their championship bouts, the town now calls itself the All-Season Vacationland. The town offers quaint country shopping opportunities along its main street and a pleasant public beach on the lakeshore. In the winter, nearby Oak Mountain is popular with downhill skiers. During the summer, the ski lifts carry mountain bikers to the mountaintop so they can thrill to a swift ride down the biking trails.
9. Old Forge
The town of Old Forge is on the western side of Adirondack Park and serves as a gateway to the area. Its proximity to famous McCauley Mountain Ski Resort makes it a popular destination for downhill skiers. Old Forge is also a prime location for snowmobiling enthusiasts with over 500 miles of trails, including some that skim over frozen lakes. In summer, one of Old Forge’s main attractions is Enchanted Forest Water Safari, the largest water theme park in New York.