Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 11:18     Subject: adirondacks vs finger lakes for family trip
From a pure driving/distance perspective Lake George is a lot closer to the main highway. If it's not out of your budget range, stay at the Sagamore
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 07:39     Subject: adirondacks vs finger lakes for family trip
Anonymous wrote:Hi all - NP here just bumping this thread because spouse and I are thinking of going to either Lake Placid or Lake George in conjunction with a Hudson Valley trip in October.

Could one of you let me know if you think this is doable:
Fly to Burlington, VT - rent car
Drive to either Lake Placid or Lake George - spend two nights.
Drive south to HV, staying for 2-3 nights in Hyde Park, visiting historic homes, eating at CIA, day trips, etc.
Drive home (NoVA). Total of about 5-6 nights. Is that too much driving?

Also, looking at places to stay at both Lake George and Lake Placid - any recs welcome! TIA.


I don't think it's too much driving, but then again I like driving. I'm doing a trip hitting the Hudson Valley, Saratoga, Lake Placid, and a stop for the night coming home in Philly, all in a weeks time driving from VA. No lodging recs, I'm mostly camping.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 22:29     Subject: adirondacks vs finger lakes for family trip
Revision for above ^^ - fly to Albany instead of Burlington.
Anonymous
Post 07/18/2025 21:17     Subject: adirondacks vs finger lakes for family trip
Hi all - NP here just bumping this thread because spouse and I are thinking of going to either Lake Placid or Lake George in conjunction with a Hudson Valley trip in October.

Could one of you let me know if you think this is doable:
Fly to Burlington, VT - rent car
Drive to either Lake Placid or Lake George - spend two nights.
Drive south to HV, staying for 2-3 nights in Hyde Park, visiting historic homes, eating at CIA, day trips, etc.
Drive home (NoVA). Total of about 5-6 nights. Is that too much driving?

Also, looking at places to stay at both Lake George and Lake Placid - any recs welcome! TIA.
Anonymous
Post 09/21/2024 12:52     Subject: adirondacks vs finger lakes for family trip
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thanks all, from OP. What we’re mainly looking for is beautiful nature activities, and both areas clearly have them but I prefer the descriptions of Adirondacks so will start my sesrch there. To clarify my food comments, we mainly cook at our rental on these kinds of trips, but I would like a well stocked grocery store and ideally a nice wine/cheese shop (doesn’t need to be fancy) and/or a brewery. Many thanks again!


Grocery store options will be better in the Finger Lakes (there's a Wegmans in Ithaca, for example), and availability of fresh local produce in general, as there are just more farms in that area. Also lots of wineries to pick up wine. Ithaca Beer Co is good.

When we go to the Adirondacks we usually stop in the Albany area for a grocery run on the way up, but where we stay is pretty far from a decent grocery. More options in the Saranac/Lake Placid area. Raquette River brewery is great and worth a visit if you stay near there, they sometimes have food trucks too.

Both are great areas!


Ithaca Beer Company may have been good 10 or 15 years ago, but not any more.


My husband LOVES IPAs and says Tree House Brewing is "famous for beer snobs" . I was driving to Albany airport from the Adirondacks this summer and they are opening a location near Saratoga Springs. https://treehousebrew.com


Love Tree House! Can't wait for the Saratoga opening. I may have to drive up just for that. I grew up nearby. Tell him he need to get some Fidens if he's in Albany.
Anonymous
Post 09/20/2024 08:39     Subject: adirondacks vs finger lakes for family trip
Grew up in Syracuse. Went to school at Cornell. Vacationed in Lake George, The Finger Lakes and Lake Placid.

Lake Placid is my favorite of the three. Natural beauty, Olympic sites, decent restaurants, maple soft serve ice cream!

Kids went mountain biking on Whiteface and water skiing on LP. Hiked daily.

The crisp mornings are amazing.
Anonymous
Post 09/19/2024 20:54     Subject: adirondacks vs finger lakes for family trip
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thanks all, from OP. What we’re mainly looking for is beautiful nature activities, and both areas clearly have them but I prefer the descriptions of Adirondacks so will start my sesrch there. To clarify my food comments, we mainly cook at our rental on these kinds of trips, but I would like a well stocked grocery store and ideally a nice wine/cheese shop (doesn’t need to be fancy) and/or a brewery. Many thanks again!


Grocery store options will be better in the Finger Lakes (there's a Wegmans in Ithaca, for example), and availability of fresh local produce in general, as there are just more farms in that area. Also lots of wineries to pick up wine. Ithaca Beer Co is good.

When we go to the Adirondacks we usually stop in the Albany area for a grocery run on the way up, but where we stay is pretty far from a decent grocery. More options in the Saranac/Lake Placid area. Raquette River brewery is great and worth a visit if you stay near there, they sometimes have food trucks too.

Both are great areas!


Ithaca Beer Company may have been good 10 or 15 years ago, but not any more.


My husband LOVES IPAs and says Tree House Brewing is "famous for beer snobs" . I was driving to Albany airport from the Adirondacks this summer and they are opening a location near Saratoga Springs. https://treehousebrew.com