d

Planning a day trip to Lake George and looking for some suggestions of things to do. Have never been and don't know where to begin. Is there a Main Street area where you can park and walk to shops & restaurants? What about the "100 mile view"--is that the best spot to view the fall foliage?

rb_travelerxATyahoo

Canada Street (Rt US9) is the "Main Street" of Lk George. The shops you find along there are the usual tourist-trap places: t-shirts, fudge, salt-water taffy (Lk Geo is fresh h2o) etc. Some restaurants, pizza places, etc.

The "shopping", if you mean outlets, are not in the village itself, but south of town on Rt 9 towards Queensbury/Glen Falls.

Have never been up Prospect Mountain but I'm sure it's beautifule; there are plenty of roads to view foliage, and even more choices by bicycle.

I would be inclined to take Rt 9 up to Warrensburg, then Rt 8 (or 28?) up towards Indian Lake/Blue Mt. Lake, maybe head south on Rt 30, circle part of Great Sacandaga Lake & return to Lk George via Hadley.

d

rb--thanks for your reply. You are always a great help when I go to the Albany area--this time it's for Family Weekend at RPI. We're looking for some new things to do and I'm thinking one day drive to Cooperstown and the other Saratoga & Lake George. Any other suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

radiofanatic

I would recommend either Bennington Vermont, which is about an hour from Troy on Route 7 towards vermont or go a little further (about a 1/2 hour) to Manchester, which not only will have great foliage and the Equinox hotel which is beautiful, but great outlet stores and restaurants as well.

J62

Another good place for fall foliage will actually be the drive E from Troy out Rt 7 to Bennington. Last weekend (10/1) there was very little color in the Troy area, but the sugar maples are starting to turn bright red/orange.

rb_travelerxATyahoo

"d" - I didn't realize that was you! I do like the suggestion to Bennington, Manchester, (+ Arlington). But if you are heading north, stop for a great lunch at a little country store & restaurant called "Lakeside Farms". If you get off I-87 at exit #11 (Round Lake) and head west, you'll find it a few miles on the right side of the road, right on a rather sharp left bend in the road. If there's no parking avail in front of it, go up the little side road just before the store (Outlet Rd) and they have another parking area behind thier "complex". GREAT sandwiches, pies, cider donuts. Go INSIDE the building (they often have a little "trailor" outside selling things too).

You could also drive west in the Mohawk Valley in either Rt 5 or Rt5S Drive in some of the backroads north of Rt 5 around Nelliston, Palantine Bridge, Ft Plain and you'll find quite a few Amish farms. Some shops along Rt5 sell Amish made goods. I like Rt 5S more as it has less traffic and is "hillier" and with the wide river valley you see spectacular foliage on the mountains both to the north and south.

J62

For a much shorter side trip (<2hr total) you could head no farther than Cohoes, Waterford or Niskayuna. Erie Canal lock 7 in Niskayuna is a 15min drive from Troy, and the hike/bike trail along the canal is very pleasant. There are original canal locks side by side with the newer 1920's canal in Waterford - no walking trails there but I never tire of watching boats pass through the locks. In Cohoes, I suspect the falls are dry now, but with the rains fcst for this weekend and next week there could be some good flow.

I wouldn't charactize any of these as go-out-of-your-way things to do, but if you're looking for a quick am or pm diversion w/o driving too far they are an option.

I guess RPI Fam Weekend is 10/14, so you'll be lucky to miss the rain coming this weekend!

suzanne

d,
Hi, I am an RPI alum!

The village of Lake George is kind of "eh"...the main street along its west shore is full of junky tourist shops. The street along its south shore (nr Ft. William Henry) has a bunch of yummy candy shops (mmm...caramel apples).

My favorite drive when I lived up there was to take Route 2 out to Massachusetts, passing by Williams College, then heading north to Bennington, VT, and back to Troy via Rt 7. It is a gorgeous drive through mountains, forests & villages. You'd see some great foliage.

d

J62--From Troy what would be the best way to get to lock 7?

Everybody--thanks for the help!!

If we do go to Lake George--what do you think of the Barnsider? I also saw that Saratoga has live harness racing that evening. I'm thinking we could stop there on the way back and have dinner at the Ripe Tomato. Thoughts?

J62

From Troy to Lock 7/Niskayuna

- Rt 7 West to I-87 South, 1 exit
Continue on Rt 7 West.
- Go about 3mi
- Turn R on Rosendale Rd, go 1/4mi to the end, Turn L on River Rd
Follow River Rd ~1mi, turn R on Lock Seven Rd.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ad...untry=us&new=1

rb_travelerxATyahoo

I LOVE the Ripe Tomato. I've never been to the "Racino", as they call it. Not just racing, but other gaming/gambling too.

If you folks bicycle and have access to bikes, riding along the Mohawk between Rt 146 (Rexford Bridge) and Rt US9 at Halfmoon is a great way to see things. On the south side is a dedicated bike bath, which goes past Lock 7, and on the north side there is no paths, but the roads for the most part are not so heavily traveled. Stop at Rexford Orchards. See if the local bicycle club is hosting any rides (www.mohawkhudsoncycling.org) you do not have to be a member and there is no charge. Helmets required.

radiofanatic

I also LOVE the Ripe Tomato - just had brunch there yesterday which is a great deal at $16.95, including either a mimosa or bloody mary for adults. YUM!