Since the Adirondack Rail Trail opened in 2023, bike rental shops have popped up making it easy to enjoy this outdoor activity. Our first outing on the trail was riding from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake. It’s an awesome bike trail through woods and fields, and along ponds with mountains in the distance.

November and December are a wonderful time to visit Lake Placid. Festive and bright!

Stick season has arrived in Lake Placid. It’s the time between fall and winter … after the leaves have dropped and before the snow consistently covers everything. Basically, the hardwood trees look like sticks. Not everyone’s favorite season, but it’s great timing if you want to avoid the crowds and extend your hiking season. For those visiting Lake Placid in October and November, here are some pre-holiday activities to consider.

We spent about four months at our house in Lake Placid this year, with trips in January, April-May and August-October. As always, we visited some of our favorite restaurants and tried new ones. Here’s a run-down of memorable meals in and around Lake Placid, and a few that weren’t so great.

In late September I hiked the Cranberry Lake 50, a 50-mile loop around Cranberry Lake, about an hour west of Lake Placid. I knew there had been bear activity reported in the area, and prepared accordingly. Sure enough, I had my first bear encounter (outside of being in a car). Here’s what happened and my lessons learned.

I’m all about hiking and paddling with a qualified naturalist. Maybe it’s a sign of my age, but it adds so much to my outdoors experience when there’s someone to point out hidden gems and explain a little biology, geology or history along the way.

Usually when you think about a farm tour, you’re envisioning fruits, vegetables, cows, maybe sheep. But why not include a flower farm on your next Adirondack driving tour? Fields and fields of flowers. Here are a few options if you’re around the Lake Placid area or Lake Champlain Valley.

It’s July. Time to go jump in a lake! Don't forget your towel.

Signing up for a guided group hike/paddle or hiring a private guide can add serious value to your ADK experience. Whether you’re experienced and frequent the ADK or it’s your first visit to this area. A guided trip can uncover new, less crowded trails, bolster your existing skills, help you conquer next-level challenges, or teach you about native wildlife and plants. Whether you’re solo, with friends or traveling with kids and dogs, there are many economical options to fit your priorities and budget.

Lately I’ve been talking to a number of guests who are planning their very first visit to the Adirondacks. Since not everyone lives near mountains, a first-time ADK trip sometimes involves investing in some gear. But there’s really no reason to invest in expensive gear unless or until you’re going to be using it on a more regular basis. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of top budget gear recommendations for newbies.

The Adirondack region is home to a healthy population of nearly 4,000 black bears, The important thing we can all do when out in the wilderness is to make sure we store food properly. Recommendations from the NY DEC with respect to bear canisters in the Adirondacks.