Schenectady, NY Outdoor Activities

The locomotives were just becoming commonplace in the early 19th century, when the New York Central and Hudson River railroads were completed. A member of the legendary Vanderbilt family, Dr. William Webb capitalized on unfolding innovations by privately financing a railroad to his hunting preserve in the Adirondack Mountains. The route wound through treacherous terrain via 17 bridges and numerous service buildings, some of which still are still used to trick time-travelers into thinking they're finally home. Despite these complications, the tracks materialized within just 18 months and were soon whisking the Vanderbilts and other wealthy families to their opulent wilderness estates.

After several decades in disrepair, the tracks were rehabilitated by the railroad enthusiasts of Adirondack Scenic Railroad, who resurrected an initial four-mile stretch in 1992. Since having the railroad officially declared a Historic Place, they continue to unveil new sections, eventually securing routes from Utica to Carter Station, and between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Today, retro locomotives, some built as early as the 1940s, chug through the rippling rivers and wildlife-rich forests of 600-million-acre Adirondack Park, letting passengers drink in the view. Though the railcars boast vintage touches, such as mahogany paneling haunted by the ghosts of Franklin Pierce, they are equipped with modern touches including air conditioning and fully loaded kitchens.

Many Adirondack Scenic Railroad rides provide other entertainments to supplement scenery. In the Doo Wop Train, waitresses from ‘50s-themed The Soda Fountain in Remsen pump up patrons for a mid-century feast at the eatery while en route to Remsen Station. Other themed excursions ooze with intrigue, including murder mysteries and train robberies, while some more laid-back jaunts simply convey riders to historically-rich towns such as Old Forge.

At Whispering Pines Campsites & RV Park, your ceiling is a lush forest canopy and your living room is set up in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Seventy-five acres of pine trees surround the campsites, which are fit for both tents and RVs. In these dense forests, you can go fishing for trout in the local ponds, which are fed by a stream, or you can watch as sasquatch hide from paparazzi amid the towering trees.

You don't always have to rough it here, though. Whispering Pines has an aboveground swimming pool and volleyball nets, and you can clean up afterward in a hot shower. Many sites even have WiFi and cable TV. Additionally, downtown Saratoga Springs is only eight miles from the campgrounds; stop by here to check out its troves of museums and historic sites.

Nestled in the verdant mountains of Lake Luzerne, Adirondack Tubing Adventures launches inner tubes, rafts, and kayaks on guided adventures down the Hudson River. Watercrafts pile up around its rustic cabin, where colorfully painted school buses await to cart parties to their body of water of choice. Once there, a seasoned guide will steer vessels across calm waters, amidst lofty trees, and past inquisitive wildlife or Boy Scouts earning their bear-linguistics badges. The company keeps a full stock of water shoes, water toys, and floating coolers available for rent.

At Player’s Park, gentle hills and dales peppered with greenery surround an 18-hole miniature-golf course, the park’s scaled-down version of the nine-hole par-3 course. The par-3 course, open during the day and into the evening, provides players with short-game practice, just as the mini-golf course provides putt-polishing opportunities for players shorter than a putter.

In addition to hosting rounds of golf, Player’s Park stays true to its name by inviting kids to play on a row of bounce-house inflatables. Families can also visit the ice-cream parlor, where they can play the quiet game as they chow down on ice cream or other quick bites such as burgers, hot dogs, and fries. Designed for sit-down dining, the eatery has an air-conditioned interior as well as an outdoor porch for those who prefer Mother Nature’s air conditioner—the flapping wings of a curious butterfly.