Vacationers can enjoy the spectacular scenery of Upstate New York at numerous resorts throughout the Adirondacks.
Upstate New York, home to the 6-million acre Adirondack Park, is a destination that has welcomed vacationers for generations.
Home to the pristine waters of Lake George and Lake Saranac, it is the place where you can rent a cozy cottage and enjoy the wilderness or book a suite at a luxury resort with spectacular waterfront views.
Either way, the region is home to numerous resorts ready to roll out the welcome mat for you.
Silver Bay
Silver Bay offers numerous activities including sailing, swimming and hiking.
An hour and a half from Albany, Silver Bay is a YMCA conference center on the banks of Lake George, a 32-mile body of water that empties into Lake Champlain.
Silver Bay's 700-acre campus is home to several quaint cottages named after trees including spruce, cherry and elm. Many of the cabins have screened-in porches and overlook a beach where children regularly gather for swim lessons and an older crowd swims laps.
Staying at Silver Bay means having access to a wide variety of activities.
During the day, families can play a few sets of tennis, take sailing lessons, create stained-glass at the campus craft shop or tour the lake in the Silver Spray wooden boat.
Outdoors enthusiats can canoe to a nearby island for a picnic or catch a boat ride over to Black Mountain for an early morning hike.
At night, guests can attend a performance by the Silver Bay String Quartet or see the musical that employees put on each summer. After the show, you can gather with friends and family at the Silver Bay ice cream store.
Silver Bay YMCA of the Adirondacks
Silver Bay Road
Silver Bay, NY 12874
(518) 543-8833 ext. 350
www.silverbay.org
The Sagamore
The Sagamore resort on Lake George features spectacular water views.
The palatial Sagamore resort on Lake George is a place where guests can enjoy modern amenities in a historic setting.
Opened in 1883 with the help of wealthy investors from Philadelphia and New York City, the Sagamore has long served as a social oasis for the upper echelons of society.
Featured on the "Today Show" in 2009, the resort on Green Island boasts luxurious accommodations and stellar views of the Adirondacks.
Guests can enjoy both by booking rooms in the Sagamore's "Historic Hotel" equipped with marble baths, high-speed Internet and views of the lake or the Sagamore gardens. For longer stays, they can rent a Sagamore condominium or reserve the resort's historic six-bedroom Wapanak Castle that features a deck leading to the lake.
Like Silver Bay, Sagamore offers guests access to numerous activities, including tennis, golf and fishing.
After working up a sweat, you can refuel with dinner at The Pavilion lakeside restaurant or relax at the Sagamore spa for a 75-minute organic aromatherapy massage.
The Sagamore
110 Sagamore Road
P.O. Box 450
Bolton Landing, NY 12814
(800) 358-3585
www.thesagamore.com
Ampersand Bay Resort and Boat Club
At Ampersand Bay Resort and Boat Club, guests can book a rustic log cabin.
Guests can enjoy the solitude of the region's natural surroundings by booking a room at the Ampersand Bay Resort and Boat Club on Lower Lake Saranac.
Family vacationers might choose to stay in a log cabin facing the lake or reserve a two-bedroom Sunset suite that features an open deck and fireplace.
Unlike the Sagamore, this resort does not offer a spa or restaurant. Instead, it places an emphasis on enjoying the great outdoors.
A year-round resort, Ampersand Bay provides unlimited access to canoes and kayaks in the summer and ice skates in the winter.
If you're not familiar with the area, Ampersand Bay staff members are quick to point out the best ski slopes, hiking trails and fishing spots.
Ampersand Bay Resort and Boat Club
31 Bayside Drive
Saranac Lake, NY 12983
(518) 891-3001
www.ampersandbay.com
