Adirondack Adventures

I’m not entirely sure how I ended up at Lake George on a day off one summer while working in the Berkshire Mountains. I think I just picked a scenic route and drove until I didn’t want to anymore. But I distinctly remember the moment I arrived. I turned onto a road that ended at the lake’s edge, and the view took my breath away—a vast lake, completely surrounded by mountains, like a place I had been searching for in my dreams.

I later learned that spot was Million Dollar Beach. I didn’t get to stay long that day—just enough time to grab a slice of pizza and some ice cream before heading back to camp before curfew—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to return and explore this place further.

The following year, I did exactly that.

I planned a packed day of adventure in the Adirondack Mountains, and this time, I wasn’t going alone. I put out an open call at camp for anyone who had the day off and was up for an epic road trip. I was lucky to have two incredibly cool people join me, and before the sun even rose, we were off—driving four hours north to Ausable Chasm.

We started the morning in harnesses and helmets, making our way across a high ropes course suspended over the raging river canyon below. That was followed by one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done—leading straight down to the river, where we finished with a leisurely raft ride through the last stretch of the chasm. And that was just the first half of the day.

Next, we made our way to Lake Placid to see the Olympic Ski Jumps. When we arrived to find closed gates, I realized I had made a mistake—I hadn’t checked the closing time. But as luck would have it, the security guard saw my Virginia license plate, heard my friends’ British accents, and decided to take us on a private tour.

That private tour ended with us doing something that should have been completely off-limits: jumping into the ski jump training pool. It’s strictly reserved for professional ski jumpers, but the incredibly kind security guard waved us through and made us promise we wouldn’t tell anyone. And I’ve kept that secret... until now, when I think we’re well past the statute of limitations. I’m sorry, Mr. Security Guard.

(For the record, I actually went back to the jumps that winter, ran into the same guard, and reminded him who I was. He was just as nice the second time, and it was fun knowing we had an Olympic pool-sized secret together. But that winter visit is a story for another day—because I once again fell in love with the Adirondacks, but this time, they were covered in snow.)

At some point in our adventure, we stopped at Whitebrook Dairy Bar and grabbed some poutine—because when you’re that close to the Canadian border, you really have to get some fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. I had never had it before, it was everything I had hoped for and more.

And we ended our perfect day exactly where my Adirondacks obsession had begun—getting ice cream at Martha’s Dandee. That same spot where I had stood a year before, knowing I had to come back.

I still love Lake George, and I hope one day I get to relive this adventure all over again. Until then, I hope you have your own Adirondack Adventure with these recommendations.