Adirondacks travel guide
Geography of the Adirondacks
The Adirondack Mountains thrust up through the northeast corner of the state. Rugged and densely forested, the Adirondacks were the last part of the state to be explored and settled. Well into the 19th century, this was the domain of moose, bear, and wolves. The region, threaded with rivers and speckled with lakes, inspired several public figures in the late 1800s to campaign for its protection. In an early example of land conservation, approximately 6 million acres (2.4 million hectares) were preserved as the Adirondack Park. Today, it continues to provide splendid opportunities for fishing, hunting, wildlife-observation, hiking, and boating.
Where to go
To get a taste of Olympic glory, head to Lake Placid in the High Peaks area of the park. In the southern Adirondacks, Lake Champlain and Lake George trickle down New York State’s northeast border. Both are ideal for kayaking or sightseeing cruises. Meanwhile, history buffs gravitate to Lake Champlain’s Fort Ticonderoga and culture fans head to the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls.
Places to visit in the Adirondacks
Lake Placid
Lake Placid is in the High Peaks area of the park. This Alpine village was America’s first winter-sports playground; it went on to host two Winter Olympics, in 1932 and 1980. Much of the action happens at Whiteface Mountain, where you can ride the Cloudsplitter Gondola for soaring views or watch while ski-jumpers train their muscles and muster their courage.
tel: 518-585-2821
This is the site of the first colonial victory of the American Revolutionary War, in 1775. It is now a living-history museum, featuring interpretive exhibits, parades, and re-renacted military drills.
Hyde Collection
tel: 518-792-1761
A good place to start a tour of the area is in Glens Falls, where Charlotte Pruyn and her husband Louis Fiske Hyde built an Italian Renaissance villa in 1912 and filled it with a brilliant collection of American and European art spanning five centuries, including paintings, sculpture, tapestries and period furnishings. This is now the Hyde Collection.
Read more from the travel guide to United States
