This is OP. Thanks for the responses. Sounds like it should be fun. We like hiking and boating, which sounds like there is plenty of st Lake George.

Lake George Village is definitely touristy like an East Coast beach town. But there are other parts of the lake that are protected parkland with absolutely no lake shore houses. Ticonderoga at the other end of the lake is far less (modern day) touristy even though it has the large Revolutionary War fort. Lake George Village also has a fort but Ticonderoga's is a much bigger museum.

So basically you need to understand what community you would be staying in and what the approach roads are like.

It's a long lake but not very wide. So lake "neighborhoods" can get busy with motorboat traffic in select areas.

My family had a cottage there until the early 2000s. I have traveled widely and I think Lake George compares quite favorably to other waterside vacation destinations. The water is near drinking water clarity unless you are near an immediately muddy shoreline. (It is mainly a rocky bottomed lake). It is a decent temperature in July-September. There are public campsites in the island chains throughout, if you like boating and camping. The air is very fresh, due to all the forests. There are a lot of mountain hikes in the area.

Having been there so many times, I would say it lacks a bit in the "events" and "fine dining" categories. But there are some things to do in almost all tourism categories.

If you can spell out the things you like to do on vacation, I can make some suggestions specific to your needs. Otherwise, there is plenty of tourism info to be Googled. Highlights for families with kids:

Lake George Steamboat Company Cruise
Fort Ticonderoga
Star Trek set museum in Ticonderoga
Up Yonda Farm (kids' nature center)
Lake George Association Floating Classroom cruise
Gore Mountain Garnet Mine
Lake George Village/Bolton Landing souvenir shops
Black Mountain hike

Depends when you go. Lake George village is a ghost town now, but is busy and touristy from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It peaks on the 4th of July and then starts to die down in August. Lake George village itself is very touristy, but there are many other places along the lake that aren’t. Your family will know where they are.

What is Lake George like? I’ve been to Lake Placid many times and loved it. Might join family in Lake George, but don’t know much about it. I was under the impression that it gets crowded and is touristy.