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.

Here’s my list of top 10 best summer activities around Lake Placid. All these recommendations are within 30 miles or 45 minutes from the village, and most are in town.

We love hosting families at the cottage, and summer is a great time to plan a Lake Placid visit with the kiddos. I’ve put together this list of recommendations for a precious family we know with a 10 year old and an 8 year old. They all love outdoor activities, so family-friendly hikes, paddles and swimming top the list!

Adirondack Mud Season has gotten a bad name. Generally consisting of April and May, it’s the period when snow is melting in the High Peaks, there’s a fair amount of rain in the forecast, and plenty of mud on the trails. The visual image of getting covered in mud doesn’t sound appealing, but it’s really not that bad. People seem to want to avoid mud season in the Adirondacks, but it’s one of my favorite times.

I love fall! It’s my favorite season with cool temperatures and gorgeous fall colors. My previous autumn post in early September got me excited about the season, but with the start of October this weekend, leaf peeping is approaching it’s peak! Here are my top tips and must-do activities for enjoying the autumn leaves.

Whether you’re interested in trying a new activity or don’t want to haul all your sports equipment on vacay, there are plenty of great outfitters and rental shops to meet your needs. We recently did an overnight camping trip and rented gear, which worked out great. Here are our favorite outfitters and the sports gear they rent.

We get plenty of Airbnb guests up for a long weekend in Lake Placid. Sometimes two nights and often three nights. So here’s a suggested itinerary designed for first time visitors with 72 hours in town. This is good for May through October.

Like many, when we first started paddling we rented tandem 2-person canoes. My husband now jokingly refers to them as “divorce boats” because different paddling styles and techniques can sometimes (ahem) result in disputes. Once we tried paddling solo canoes, we never looked back. Here’s why you should try it and what you need to know.

The Idem sloop is a sailing boat designed in 1899 for the specific purpose of racing on the Upper St. Regis Lake. Many of these boats have been carefully maintained over the course of the last 100+ years and kept up for racing on the lake. In the summertime, they race roughly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It’s a sight! However, races depend on how many of the boat owners and their crew are in town on a given day, the weather conditions and if there’s enough wind to race. So there isn’t any guarantee you’ll get to watch a race.

This fall we’re excited to host two groups of friends coming to visit Lake Placid. One couple will be here for a week in early September and another couple comes in late September. None of them have ever been to upstate New York or the Adirondacks, so I’ve started a menu of activity options for visitors to consider.

We highly recommend everyone take a paddle day in the Adirondacks at least once. If you haven’t paddled much before, here’s what you need to know.