Autumn on the Lake

Although Lake George, located in Warren County, New York, is typically known as a summer getaway town, it is also a lovely place to relax and enjoy fall foliage. Flaming reds, golden yellows and oranges pop in a dazzlingly array against the clear, cool, blue autumn sky. It’s a great time for drinking in the stunning foliage show put on by Mother Nature.

The southern end of Lake George, known as Lake George Village and located at the southern base of the Adirondack mountain range, where we stayed, is alive with things to do and see, including shops, museums, and what has got to be the most beautiful lake in America.
And, from kayaking to boat cruises to fishing charters to boat rentals, there are a lot of ways to discover and explore the islands and shorelines.
The mountains have inspired generations of artists, adventurers, and weekend warriors! From a scenic gondola ride and hiking, climbing and trail-riding to leisurely day-trips in your car or on your bike... there’s many ways to get up and down and all around.
Northern Lake George is a quiet reprieve for those of us coming from the rate race that is New York City. There are a wide range of accommodations for visitors whose only plan is to kick back and relieve themselves of the stresses of the world. From grand resorts to cozy B&Bs or family-friendly motels, from gracious elegance to rustic charm, you will find a comfortable place to lay your head at night. There are even RV parks and camp sites if you prefer to sleep under the stars.

Quick Tips:

If you’re headed to Lake George in the fall for leaf gazing, make sure to arrive during the first 3 weeks of October, as the Lake George/Adirondack area usually peaks during the third week of October. Peak time in New England generally occurs between the last weeks in September until the end of October.
Also, don’t be surprised if a few outdoor activities, or even some museums, aren’t available if you go during the fall season. You may get lucky if you arrive early in the season, but it’s getting cooler and lots of owners and businesses are readying to hunker down and hibernate for the winter. Your best bets for outdoor sports are hunting, skiing, ice skating, and ice fishing. Save the other stuff for summer in the sun and enjoy the vivid colors and breathtaking views.
Take some time to learn about the history of the area. There are numerous historic sites and monuments located throughout the area. The Lake George Area in the Adirondacks is brimming with history and culture. For instance, Cooper’s Cave in Glens Falls is a major site first made well known in James Fenimore Cooper’s novel, The Last of the Mohicans, which was also an award-winning film. The Hyde Collection, a world renowned museum in Glens Falls, has works from da Vinci, El Greco, Degas, Botticelli, Renoir, Cezanne, van Gogh, Picasso, and more. The Barton Garnet Mine in North Creek is home to the largest concentrations and formations of January’s birthstone and New York State’s gemstone. And then there’s the history of local folklore—the famed “Lake George Monster”—which was admittedly created as a practical joke in 1904. Nevertheless, the original monster, fittingly named “Georgie,” is on display at the Clifton F. West Historical Museum in Hague and a replica can be found at the Lake George Historical Museum. Most every town in the county has a museum dedicated to its local history, including The Fort William Henry Museum in Lake George.

Best Way To Get Around:

We stayed at one of Lake George’s newest hotels, the Wingate by Wyndham. Nestled in the woods at the southern end of breathtaking Lake George, the Wingate is only minutes from the village; far enough to enjoy the tranquility of this new, full-featured hotel, off the beaten path, but right in the heart of all Lake George has to offer.

The hotel has the amenities one comes to expect in 2007: a free expanded breakfast buffet, indoor heated pool and whirlpool, outdoor heated pool, gift shop, self laundry, fitness center, free 24-hour business center, and conference rooms.

We spent two nights here, over a weekend, and enjoyed our stay. Being recently opened, in May 2007, the hotel was in excellent condition. It was kept clean, almost spotless, from the outside grounds to the lounge areas to our own room and bathroom. Our room was larger than average, larger than we expected actually, with a comfortable, king-sized bed, a chair and couch, a microwave, fridge, and desk with free WiFi. The bathroom, like the room was a nice size, had a clean, roomy tub, fluffy towels, travel toiletries, and great water pressure with plenty of hot water. I was pleased to see a sign in the bathroom that encouraged customers to be environmentally friendly and reuse towels for as long as was comfortable.

The staff was friendly and helpful, especially the front desk and housekeeping.

When we arrived we hadn’t planned on using the pool (we didn’t bring our suits), but it rained all day Saturday and we had nothing else to do. We were surprised and delighted to find the indoor pool and whirlpool open from 7am-11pm. The pool, though nice and heated, was small with little depth. I’m not a strong swimmer and usually shy away from the deep ends of pools, but there I was, “swimming” and floating around in their deep end. I’d say it was barely 5 feet. The whirlpool was nice, but foamy and a smidge too hot.

One of the best features was the Rite-Aid drugstore, just a quick minute’s walk next door for forgotten necessities.

On average, we stayed in a comfortable, clean, affordable, well-managed establishment and would definitely stay there again.

On our last day in Lake George, as we were driving back to the city, we were looking for a place to eat. Driving down Route 9, we passed several places that were too busy, too generic (i.e. McDonalds, Burger King, etc.), or otherwise unacceptable and ended up at the Montcalm - down by the 6-Flags area. The restaurant didn’t look like much from the outside- just a regular brick building with large windows and a small parking area out front. Stepping inside, we find that the décor looked like something out of a retirement community. Not ones to be deterred by the old-fashioned, hand-me-down look, however, we decided to try it out. And, well, we were hungry.

Perhaps our hunger clouded our good sense; we didn’t listen to the age-old advice, and judged the book by its cover- the Montcalm turned out to be one of the best restaurants we’ve eaten at - and that’s saying a lot. We’re from New York. It’s not particularly innovative or fancy and the menu was quite....wait for it....old-school, but they know how to do it and do it well.

We were served by a very experienced, friendly waiter. She came to us within minutes of our getting seated and was generally quick and attentive during the meal. We were seated close to the warming fireplace, but also near a window. Luckily, not a drafty window. The fireplace gave a cozy feel to the rustic comfort we felt. It was almost romantic, with dim lighting and flowers and candles on the tabletop.

Speaking of the fireplace, over it hung a gigantic picture of George Washington that seemed out of place for a restaurant close to Fort William Henry. Then again, it could have been Lieutenant-Colonel George Monro, the British Army Officer in command of the fort. What do I know?

The food was delicious, appetizing, heavenly, etc. My fillet of Atlantic salmon (broiled with lemon butter and topped with dill hollandaise) was moist, tender, and probably the best salmon dish I’ve had in quite awhile. It’s that good. My companion’s boneless Sirloin steak was also savory, according to him. Our meals came with a vegetable and potato du jour, garden salad, and fresh baked rolls.

The one bummer was the prices. They are slightly higher than normal for the area, but hey, this wasn’t a pub and brewery. My salmon cost about $20 and the steak about $25. Not terrible, but also not what were expected when we walked in.

So, the Montcalm is a must when you’re in Lake George. Enjoy the food, the service, and the relaxing atmosphere- just try not to balk at the décor. It grows on you.

The Lake George Steamboat Company offers a variety of cruises on their 3 large cruise ships, called the Minnie-Ha-Ha, the Mohican, and the lake’s largest ship, the Lac du Saint Sacrement. You can choose from 1-hour fall foliage cruises to 2-hour meal cruises to the only complete tour of historic and scenic Lake George.

At midday, we boarded the Saint Sacrement for the 2-hour champagne brunch cruise around the lake. We sailed around Lake George, enjoying a leisurely journey with full narration of the history of the lake (which was hard to hear over the roar of the engines), live entertainment, and great food. We were offered an array of foods, from regular breakfast fare like home fries and sausage to fish, roast beef, and assorted salads. The omelet bar was a big hit with the passengers on our cruise. The brunch was offered as a buffet and we were served drinks, including soft drinks, champagne and other wines and spirits by servers as we dined at tables elegantly decorated with fine linens and gleaming silverware.

The view of the lake and Adirondack mountain ranges were the best part, at least for us. The fall foliage was gorgeous; it was peak color season so the intensity was radiant and sharp. The mountains cast a grand outline behind the historic houses and cabins dotted around the lake. We didn’t hear much of the history of those houses and cabins, so we settled in, content to enjoy the view and snap pictures.

If the rest are like our cruise, I guarantee that you will enjoy any cruise you pick. Just don’t forget to bring a coat if you venture outside on the decks for pictures- the wind can bite!