6 Most Inviting Towns In The Adirondack Mountains

For generations, visitors from near and far have flocked to upstate New York to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Adirondack Mountains. The bountiful hiking trails, pristine lakes, and verdant scenery draw visitors to the region but so do the many inviting small towns scattered throughout the area. Check out our list of six of the region’s most welcoming towns to help get you started on your exploration of the Adirondacks.

Lake George

Lake George’s strategic location made it a contested site for colonial powers, most notably during the 1757 siege of Fort William Henry, which is fictionalized in the novel and film Last of the Mohicans. You can visit the reconstructed fort to explore this history of conflict, but the town itself is full of peaceful serenity and natural beauty. Lake George (the lake) is ideal for boating and swimming, and Lake George (the town) has two excellent public beaches: Shepard Park and Million Dollar Beach. Downtown Lake George hosts the Adirondack Wine and Food Festival each June, and the Chamber of Commerce office is the starting point for the Adirondack Craft Beer and Beverage Trail. Just outside of town, the factory outlets offer dozens of name brand retailers at discount prices.

Ticonderoga

Like nearby Fort William Henry, Fort Ticonderoga was a heavily contested site from the mid-1700s into the early 1800s. The remnants of the fort now serve as a popular historic site that offers regular tours, programs, and reenactments. Ticonderoga sits along the Lachute River, which spans the short distance between Lake George and Lake Champlain, and the town maintains a great public beach (Black Point) along Lake George and a public boat launch on Lake Champlain. Ticonderoga has a quaint but lively business district along Montcalm Street and several stately Victorian homes like the Burleigh House. Ticonderoga also has a quirky tourist draw: a shop that houses a near-perfect recreation of the set from the original Star Trek TV series.

Au Sable Forks

The Au Sable River flows swiftly into Lake Champlain, and this churning water once powered a huge paper mill that served as the lifeblood of the town of Au Sable Forks. Historic structures throughout town, most notably the ornate Graves Mansion, reflect the wealth produced by the paper mill, but Au Sable Forks now thrives on tourism. While sightseeing in town, try a pizza at Lance’s Place, support local artists at the Tahawus Cultural Center, and enjoy a drink and some live music at 20 Main. Just outside of town, nature’s star attraction is the stunning Au Sable Chasm, a sandstone gorge carved out by the river. Hiking trails along and through the chasm offer unexpected thrills like hidden waterfalls and unique rock formations.

Lake Placid

Lake Placid, which hosted both the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, is probably the best-known town in the Adirondacks. The latter Olympics witnessed the famous ice hockey “Miracle on Ice,” which is prominently celebrated at the excellent Lake Placid Olympic Center. Lake Placid is in fact a sports mecca all year long, hosting summer events like the Lake Placid Marathon and Ironman Triathlon to complement the world-class ski slopes and winter sports venues. Even if you are not that into sports, you can make a great afternoon out of a boat trip on Mirror Lake followed by antique shopping at Traditions or Twigs, then on to dinner at The Cottage or Generations.

Saranac Lake

If Lake Placid is the winter mecca of the Adirondacks, Saranac Lake, located only 10 miles away, is the region’s traditional summer destination. Luminaries such as Albert Einstein and Mark Twain, along with generations of travelers seeking out the clean air and cool lake breezes, have spent their summers seeking health and serenity in Saranac Lake. Classic Victorian-era vacation homes line the lakeshores, and much of the downtown area feels unchanged from the late 1800s. While in town, enjoy the view along the riverwalk, check out the names along the Walk of Fame, take in some live music at the Waterhole or Hotel Saranac, and dine at The Belvedere or Sunset Bistro. To get a commanding view of this lovely town and its equally beautiful surroundings, hike to the top of the 5-mile-long Ampersand Mountain Trail.

Queensbury

Queensbury is a true four-season destination in the Adirondacks. In summer, crowds flock to Six Flags Great Escape amusement park. Once autumn arrives, the Queensbury area earns its reputation as one of the premier fall foliage viewing locations in the entire Adirondacks. When the falling snow marks the arrival of winter, West Mountain, one of the most popular ski areas in the region, opens for the season. Then, as spring makes its appearance, visitors return to their boats on Lake George and the Hudson River and their bicycles on the Warren County Bike Path. And, all year long, Queensbury offers great dining options, shopping at local retailers as well as name-brand factory outlets, and even indoor axe-throwing!

At roughly the same size as the neighboring state of Vermont, New York’s Adirondack Mountains region is bigger than you might think. That size leaves plenty of room for an average of 12 million annual visitors to enjoy the natural wonders and quaint small towns of the Adirondacks. While the six communities we have listed are definitely inviting, be sure to do some exploring of the dozens of other small towns in the Adirondacks. You are sure to find some additions to your own personal must-visit list!