Lake George, nicknamed the “Queen of American Lakes,” is the largest lake in the Adirondacks in upstate New York.
With a length of over 30 miles and a width of only about 3 miles at its widest point, Lake George is a long, but narrow lake with a maximum depth of 200 feet. Its waters are exceptionally clean and of pristine clarity and it is a known tourist destination for locals, particularly in the summer and fall months.
I grew up in the area, so it was a place we went from time-to-time when I was a child, a hop, skip and a jump from where we had a camp on Caroga Lake. (see my write-up on the Adirondacks from this past summer).
Popular lake activities on Lake George and the surrounding area include fishing, boating, swimming, island camping and others. There are three Lake George beaches, including Million Dollar Beach, Shepard’s Park Beach and Usher’s Park Beach. In addition to the Town of Lake George, there are also many other Adirondack Towns that border the lake, including Diamond Point, Bolton Landing, Hague and Ticonderoga.
The thing I remembered the most from my childhood was the boat rides we took on the Minne-Ha-Ha, an authentic Paddlewheeler and so I had to do it again so many years later. What is uncanny is how little has changed! They still take old fashioned photos in front of the Minne-Ha-Ha sign which you can purchase on the way off the boat and sell popcorn and soda on board. It’s as if nothing has moved forward since the 1970’s in an old fashioned American small town kinda way.
It’s a great way to spend an afternoon, since you can stand in the back and watch the paddle spray out the water and well beyond are beautiful views of camps, year round homes, other boats whizzing by and the leaves changing on a late October day. There are other cruise ships you can take as well, including The Mohican, and the Lac du Saint Sacrament, to tour scenic Lake George.
Below are some shots I took from the boat.
During a stroll through the surrounding area outlying the town afterwards. We stopped and ordered some oysters, fish, margaritas and took in the stunning fall foliage of upstate New York.
Other Things To Note About The Area:
Nearby Queensbury is also home to Six Flags Great Escape, which is a popular destination, and there are other amusement parks in the area as well. Lake George Americade is one of the most popular motorcycle rallies in the nation, drawing thousands to Lake George each June for the event.
In the fall, there’s apple picking, pumpkin patches, spooky corn mazes, family fun farms, the Adirondack Balloon Festival and many other fall activities and events to enjoy.
In the winter, there are festive winter events, including the ever-popular Winter Carnival, which kicks off each year with hundreds of people taking the “Polar Plunge” into the icy winter waters of Lake George.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
