A Weekend in the Adirondacks: DAY ONE

Working or living in New York City over the Summer can feel like you're trapped in a hot stew of cars, bodies and noise. Thankfully, upstate New York is home to some of the coolest spots for a laid back, private and secluded weekend away from the city. New York's Adirondack Park, situated within the greater Adirondack Mountains, is home to 6.1 million acres of space as well as more than 10,000 lakes, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams and a wide variety of habitats, making it bigger than some of the largest national parks and the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

My next three posts on Road Trip NY will highlight the ideal long weekend road trip (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and getaway to the Adirondacks with a special emphasis on some of the must see hikes and activities. 

Day One:

1. After getting up bright an early for the five hour drive, use Waze to escape from New York City via I-87N, heading to The Wild Center and Wild Walk in Tupper Lake, NY as your first stop. Make sure you have plenty of snacks and tunes packed along for the ride. The 115-acre Wild Center is an all-day indoor and outdoor experience, from playing with live river otters to walking an elevated trail over the treetops, The Wild Center allows visitors of all ages to get closer to nature. There are trails, guided canoe trips on the river that runs by the Center and a staff ready to show you around and talk about the wild world of the Adirondacks, making it the ideal first stop to ask questions and familiarize yourself with the area. 
2. After exploring The Wild Center, continue on to Whiteface Mountain's Cloudsplitter Gondola for a more laid back adventure, as you ride the gondola fifteen minutes to the top of Whiteface Mountain, from Main Base Lodge to the top of Little Whiteface. During the ride, you’ll get an unparalleled bird’s eye view of the mountains, ski trails, streams, rock faces, and forests, that you will spend the weekend exploring. As well as a spectacular view of Lake Placid itself and your next stop: the village that bears its name. 

3. To finish up your first day, head into Lake Placid for food and somewhere to stay. If you're drinking age, I suggest the Great Adirondack Brewing Company to finish your day with a flight of craft beer and snacks. If alcohol isn't your preference or if you're looking for a larger meal, head over to Smoke Signals for live music and BBQ. As for places to stay, there are a wide variety of choices from hotels to bed and breakfasts to various types of AirBnb. As the next two days of the trip are focused around camping in the seclusion of the Adirondack wilderness, you may prefer a warm shower and bed for your first night, so check TripAdvisor or AirBnb for a place to spend the night that meets your budget and criteria. 

Check back tomorrow for the next day of our weekend getaway! Make sure to bring your sunscreen, bug spray and swim suit as we'll be venturing even further into the expansive outdoor offerings of the Adirondacks!