Looking to go on a winter trip to upstate New York? Check out these 10 fun activities to do on a Lake George getaway!
When I moved to New England a few years ago, I knew I wanted to go on some road trips to experience states and regions that I haven’t spent time in yet. While the pandemic has put a damper on my area travel aspirations, I’ve still managed to visit many places – from rural states like Vermont and Maine, to cities like Boston and the Big Apple.
The latest getaway I went on with my family was to upstate New York’s Adirondack region, to Lake George and its surrounding towns. Hours from the hustle and bustle of New York City, Lake George is a popular getaway for residents of neighboring states. From my home in western Connecticut, it was a bit over a three hour road trip.
Since my husband and I wanted to stay socially distanced from people and we had our toddler with us, we elected to stay at a cabin on a farm called Tiny Farm Inn. It was a great little getaway spot that was in a small rural town, yet was still close to Lake George and another town in the area called Glens Falls. Each day my daughter loved exploring the property and checking out the animals at the farm.
If you’re anything like me, you don’t like being cooped up at home a lot. Winter can be a depressing time of year in the northeast, but getting outdoors to soak up some fresh air definitely helps!
The Lake George area is a fun destination for a long weekend getaway. From what I’ve heard, the lake is super popular in the warmer months, but don’t count it out for a winter vacation. Check out these 10 ideas for things to do during a Lake George getaway in the colder months.
Go Snowshoeing.
For people who enjoy hiking, snowshoeing is a great way to still get on the trails in the wintertime. There are lots of options to choose from in the area. During our stay, we went snowshoeing at the Garnet Hill Lodge in the town of North River.
Go Skiing or Snowboarding.
Another way to get active outdoors in the wintertime in the Lake George area is to go skiing or snowboarding. A few popular places are Gore Mountain and West Mountain.
Visit a local farm.
There are many family farms in the Lake George area to visit, and it’s such a family friendly activity. The farm we stayed at offers horseback riding, eggs, firewood, visits with the animals and more. There are maple syrup farms in the area, several winter farmers markets to check out, and even a llama farm called Peru Llama Farm.
Go Dog Sledding.
If you want to do something unique while visiting the Adirondacks, going on a dog sledding excursion may be your cup of tea. One popular option is Thunder Mountain Dog Sled Tours, which will take you a bit north to Mirror Lake.
Visit One of the Area’s Plant-based Restaurants.
Vegan BLT from Rock Hill Bake House & Cafe
Whenever I travel, I seek out healthy restaurants in the area. Oftentimes, the plant-based restaurants that I find are small operations deeply rooted in their communities. During my Lake George getaway, we got takeout from two great vegan restaurants in the area: Rock Hill Bake House & Cafe + Birch Bark Eatery.
Vegan sweets from Birch Bark Eatery
Walk around Lake George.
Lake George is beautiful to look at, and there are plenty of vantage points to check it out. We went strolling in town one evening and got our steps in.
Do Boutique Shopping.
Get some shopping in while enjoying Lake George views. There are plenty of boutiques around town to check out, although some were closed when I was visiting (not sure if they always are closed in the winter, or if it was mostly because of the pandemic).
Participate in Lake George Winterfest.
Lake George Winterfest is an area event that takes place every winter. In 2021, it was held every weekend in February. Winterfest activities include carriage rides with horses from local farms, hot chocolate stations around town, ice skating, fireworks, discounts on hotels and restaurants, and more.
A Winterfest Wristband (which costs $30 an adult) includes the option to take part in a winter activity, such as axe throwing or cross country skiing. We snowshoed through our Winterfest tickets. I like supporting local businesses, and it was a cute happening to participate in that enabled us to still be COVID safe during our Lake George getaway.
Visit Lake George Olive Oil Co.
Foodies, this one’s for you! Visit Lake George Olive Oil Co – a family-owned business that sells flavored olive oils and balsamics, soups, ice cream, sea salts, sauces and more. I left the store with Tuscan herb olive oil, toasted sesame oil and basil infused olive oil.
Go on a Snowmobiling Tour.
Adrenaline junkies, snowmobiling may be just the activity for you on a Lake George getaway. We did some people watching at Lake George, and the snowmobilers looked like they were having a blast. If my baby wasn’t with me, I would have jumped on a snowmobile in a heartbeat! If you’re interested, learn more about Lake George’s snowmobile trails.
Ah, I wish I had known you guys were coming over! You were only about 20-25 minutes from us – of course, with the pandemic and social hangouts being what they are, it wouldn’t have been the same. Either way, glad you guys discovered Lake George. It’s a fun place! And when you were at Rock Hill Bakehouse, I hope you tried their biscotti – they are known for that around here. Some of the local grocery stores sell their biscotti – it’s not cheap, but holy cow is it good! And if you didn’t try it? Well you’ll just have to come back! Put Saratoga Springs on the list for during the racing season (mid-late summer).
Oh wow, I knew you lived in upstate NY but had no idea you’re that close to Lake George! We could have at least met up outside with the kiddos at the park or something. I’d love to see Lake George in warmer weather, so perhaps we’ll be back later this year!
Aww man, I did NOT try Rock Hill’s biscotti!! We got a loaf of their sesame semolina, a sandwich and tempeh wings. You know what I loved about it there? They have loaves of bread outside for people to take free of charge who are struggling during the pandemic. I think that’s such a lovely thing for a bakery to do!
I have actually never been up there! Looks so peaceful and picturesque. I am scheduled to go to Corning in October
What beautiful photos and great things to enjoy during the winter! I would love to visit!