Adirondack Region, New York
Perfect for a long weekend, the Adironack Mountains are only a 4.5-hour drive north from the Jersey Shore. The Adirondack Region is made up of millions of acres of protected land-giving you plenty of places to explore. The Adirondack range is made up of individual peaks instead of one continuous range including Mount Marcy, the highest peak in the region at 5,344 feet.
I stayed in the town of North Creek- where Revolution Rail is- which is what brought me to the Adirondacks in the first place! North Creek is a tiny town that is two minutes from Gore Mountain- there is a few lodges to pick from for accommodation- and Air BnB’s available if you have a bigger group. There is a grocery store on the main street, along with a few small delis/cafes and restaurants. The town definitely seems to be quieter in the summer months, along with the virus affecting openings/dining. The surrounding towns/lodges were about 20-30 minutes away, making it easy to stop into another town for restaurants, or easily accessible if you were to stay in a surrounding town and wanted to go to Gore Mountain or North Creek for the railroad biking.
We stopped in Lake George Village on the drive up to North Creek, just a half an hour south of North Creek. Lake George is a bigger town and has plenty of restaurants and eateries to pick from. The village being right on the lake gives plenty of options as well for renting boats/canoes/kayaks.
A different kind of adventure! Revolution Rail allows guests to pedal through the Adirondacks on old train tracks that used to be used for iron & titanium mining. The bikes are recumbent style and are comfortable and make the excursion accessible to any age group- there are options for tandem or quad bikes, depending on your group size. There are now two runs- North Bridge and South River. I went on the North Bridge route which is 7 miles roundtrip and takes you through the forest, along the Hudson River bank, and across the Hudson on a trestle bridge. There’s a short break halfway along where you can leave the bikes and take in the view along the river. The whole adventure is about 2/2.5 hours long- reservations are strongly suggested (especially during the pandemic), and masks are required while checking in & on the bus, but are not required while on the bikes. I’m looking forward to going back and checking out the South River run!
About half an hour from North Creek, Natural Stone Bridges & Caves is a beautiful spot to experience the natural geological wonders of the Adirondacks. Featuring the largest marble cave entrance in the eastern US, waterfalls, and surface caves- Natural Stone Bridges & Caves is a great family-fun activity. There are stone & gravel paths around the area that bring you past cave entrances and grottos with pools of water. There are self-guided and ‘adventure’ options you can pick from- reservations are required through their website, and masks are mandatory within the buildings and when social distancing isn’t possible.
A short trip from North Creek, Indian Lake is a beautifully tranquil lake to spend the day on- perfect for spending the day on the water, fishing or hiking. Inidan Lake Marina has everything you need for a day on the water, from canoe/boat rentals to fishing gear. Pack a picnic and paddle across the lake to hangout for the day (or camp!).
Located in North Creek, Gore Mountain has plenty of options for adventures no matter the season! Hiking and mountain biking in the warmer months, and of course skiing & snowboarding in the winter. There are options for all levels of hiking- different lengths and skills ability. There are also mountain biking paths. In the summer months, the chair lift runs on Thursdays & Saturdays, and the gondola runs on Fridays & Sundays. I took the gondola up and walked around to see different viewpoints & look out over surrounding mountains & lakes
