As far as upstate adventures go, upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountain region is special for its combination of rugged natural splendor and family-friendly attractions–and it’s only about four hours from the city. As the largest park in the lower 48 States, the Adirondacks are home to six million acres of stunning mountains, lakes, valleys, and rivers around which several attractions, from the historical to the adventurous to the relaxing, have found a home. To help you plan your trip, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite Adirondack attractions.
Wild Center
The city’s High Line doesn’t have enough nature for you? Stroll among the tree tops at the Wild Walk in Tupper Lake, NY. This quarter-mile walk, which opened in July, boasts a path that takes adventurers as high as 40 feet above the ground, and includes exciting features such as a human-sized spiderweb and a four-story twig tree house. After the walk, head to the Wild Center, where kids can check out hands-on exhibits that play music, blow snow and mimic nature, secret exhibits for kids’ eyes only, the Naturalist’s Cabinet (full of drawers and boxes for perusal so kids can “play naturalist”), and live animals brought in by naturalists. 45 Museum Drive, Tupper Lake, NY, wildcenter.org
Lake Placid
The family activities available at Lake Placid are endless. Take your budding athletes on a tour of several different Olympic venues from the 1980 Games, including the Olympic Center where the famous “Miracle on Ice” hockey game was played by the US and USSR. If you want to get out on the lake, you could try Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUP) or take a narrated, covered boat tour (and stay a little drier). Other attractions Lake Placid offers include an 18-hole golf course and scenic flights above the Adirondacks. Lake Placid Visitors Bureau at 2608 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY, lakeplacid.com
Fort Ticonderoga
Take your family back to 1755 at this historic spot which played a central role in the Seven Years’ War and the American Revolution. Fort Ticonderoga offers hands-on historical activities for your children to participate in, such as sawing boards with sawyers or helping the cook prepare a meal. They can also aid Horticulture Technicians as they tend to heritage plants, or garden with a soldier. The Fort also features several historical exhibits that help children conceptualize their interactive fun in the context of the actual time period in which it was performed. Exhibits span everything from military fashion to illnesses to weaponry. Aside from its museum-like attributes, Fort Ticonderoga also offers attractions like a corn maze, hiking trails, canoe rentals, and more, so you can make your fort experience into a whole fun-filled day. 100 Fort Ti Road, Fort Ticonderoga, NY, fortticonderoga.org
Enchanted Forest Water Safari
Sometimes, you just need to take a dip (especially in the summer). Enchanted Forest Water Safari has enough water rides to keep any kid or parent busy. Several rides (wet and dry) are set aside for the youngest kids, while bigger kids can go on classic amusement park rides like the Tilt-O-Whirl, or cool off on one of the thrill-inducing water slides. Rides aside, Enchanted Water Safari also offers several other forms of entertainment, including an arcade and even a circus. The Museum of Enchanted Memories and Storybook Lane (where storybook characters come to life) are two other notable spots to check out in the park, before or after you pass the giant Paul Bunyan or listen to a concert performed by Rocky & The Ramblin’ Rascals. 3183 State Route 28, Old Forge, NY, watersafari.com
Rail Explorers USA
Do your kids love trains? At Rail Explorers USA, you and your family can zoom from Saranac Lake to Lake Clear and back, taking in the beautiful sights of Adirondack nature on a railbike (tandem or quad). Saranac Lake highlights include the Adirondack Carousel and the Charles Dickert Memorial Wildlife Museum. At Lake Clear, families can eat at the historic Charlie’s Inn, relax at the Lake Clear Lodge & Retreat (book it ahead of time), or see a working model train diorama. Ride the rails to your heart’s content (about two hours each way) and experience a different view of the Adirondacks. Saranac Lake Station, 42 Depot Street, Saranac Lake, NY; Lake Clear Junction, 44 Junction Road, Lake Clear, NY, railexplorers.net
