Highlights
This family-friendly Lake George hotel has a free buffet breakfast and a heated indoor pool; it’s a 15-minute drive from downhill skiing
Hotel at a Glance: Wingate by Wyndham of Lake George
The southern tip of Lake George is just half a mile from this family-friendly hotel, making it a great headquarters for exploring the lakefront and all the southern Adirondacks has to offer. Recharge in the morning with the hotel’s complimentary hot breakfast buffet before a day of skiing or hiking.
- In-room amenities: refrigerators, microwaves, free WiFi, and flat-screen TVs with HBO
- Take a dip in the indoor heated pool and hot tub.
- Break a sweat in the hotel’s fitness center, where you can work out on an exercise bike, treadmill, and elliptical.
- Hit the slopes at West Mountain or Gore Mountain. They’re a 15-minute and 40-minute drive from the hotel, respectively.
Lake George, New York: Outdoor Adventure near the Adirondacks’ Mile-Long Lake
Lake George is not without its admirers—Frommer’s calls it “the beating heart of the southeastern Adirondacks,” while local lore has it that Thomas Jefferson proclaimed it “the most beautiful water I ever saw.” More than 200 years after Jefferson’s declaration, the 32-mile-long lake is still a popular spot for sailing, swimming, and hiking in upstate New York’s Adirondack Mountains. For hiking, consider following the trail that leads to Shelving Rock Falls, a 50-foot cascade rushing down a series of boulders.
There are two great ways to see the beauty that Jefferson raved about. The first is to take a shuttle or hike 2 miles to the top of Prospect Mountain, which towers over Lake George at 2,030 feet. On a clear day, you can see 100 miles in any direction. The second option is to buy a ticket aboard a Lake George steamship, which cruises past the islands of the Narrows as well as several historic mansions.