Our 5 Days Spent in the Adirondacks, NY.
Ah, to be a kid again. Lakes, campfires, ice cream, ropes courses, the Lake Placid Bobsled Experience, hours of backgammon... Oh wait this isn’t just an idyllic childhood summer, this was our 5 day trip to the Adirondacks. Lucky us!
While the house did its best to keep us from leaving, we managed to pry ourselves away from it and explore the surrounding towns and attractions. Here are the highlights:
There is no shortage of places to kayak in the Adirondacks. A family tradition for us is Rollins Pond. Lots of campsites around this pond if you’re into that kind of stuff! Rent a kayak, pack some snacks, and go enjoy a day out on the pond. If you’re wondering what the difference between a lake and a pond is, don’t ask us. We’re not sure.
It wouldn’t be a family vacation without an activity that makes your palms sweat and anxiety peak. That is what family bonding is, right? You really get to know someone when you're struggling through a floating ropes course. Go to Experience Outdoors for your next adrenaline fix.
at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid. You can watch true Olympians train, shop for gear, mountain bike, ski, or even get into a bobsled. We did the cliffside coaster, a bobsled themed roller coaster that gives you a history of the site and narrates your ride with the actual 1980 Winter Olympics bobsled race commentary. It's fun!
at the Wild Center. You will notice it's about 70% children, but there's a lot to appreciate as an adult as well. Beautiful scenery, an in-depth history of the region, and very cool architecture built into the surrounding forest make this place a pretty sweet visit.
All this activity requires fuel. We mostly ate at home using the grill or making hotdogs over the fire, but there were some notable pit stops for our taste buds:
Right off the bat you know a place is special when you find out they only serve one flavor a day and still get lines “down the block.” We don’t usually subject ourselves to waiting in lines but this is one instance where it is absolutely worth it. Sadly, we weren’t there long enough to try every flavor but my goodness, the ones we did try were incredible. Donnelly's is a place from a distant past, --authentic, simple, and delicious.
When you’re on a family vacation, a pizza night is an obvious YES. For our pizza night (or 3) Little Italy was our Saranac staple. Everything we ordered was delicious but what really stood out was their ziti all vodka. The best end to a day of kayaking, hiking, or however you spend your Adirondack day.
In the small town of Tupper Lake lies Well Dressed Food. A charming, artisanal deli in a cozy space that also sells specialty grocery items. The Classic Rueben and Well Dressed Turkey Club served us well..
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