Trying to use up an unexpected vacation day in August for a long weekend upstate New York.
Saratoga Springs (which I've been to, and like) is crazy expensive of course due to racing season.
Cooperstown is someplace I'd like to visit, but I can't find vacancies at "nicer" places (not motels) or the prices are too high($300-$400.
Lake George is not the kind of place I'm looking for

Any suggestions for other areas upstate (4-5 hours from NYC)with combination of natural beauty, cultural, and fun things to do for adults? Or other places within striking distance of Cooperstown so I could visit the Fenimore museum, Baseball HOF etc, but stay elsewhere?

topping

I meant to say:
topping for ideas about Lake Placid & Saranac Lake areas too

I'm not a fan but Columbia County has its fans. The towns of Hudson and Adams both have hotels that have some charm to them.

Try looking at either Rome, Utica, or even Syracuse for a place to stay if you want to go to Cooperstown...

you may also want to look at Skaneateles, NY which according to mapquest is 4 1/2 hours from Manhattan. It's a pretty little town on Skaneateles Lake and not too far from wine country.

http://www.skaneateles.com/

I second the Skaneateles suggestion.

Any specific recommendations for places to stay in Skaneateles? Who knows what will be available on short notice, but if I can keep the costs down while still staying in a nice place, that would be great

I live close to Skaneateles so I never need to stay overnight but I always hear people here say they like the Sherwood.

How do you pronounce Skaneateles ?

skanney atle us

i mean... skanny atlas

lol..i'm brain dead.. it's skinnyatlas

Correct- it is pronounced like skinnyatlas.

Thanks, it's one of those words I've read a lot, but never heard pronounced.

You will not find culture in either Lake Placid or Saranac. You will find lovely scenery, great hiking and kayaking - outdoorsy stuff. (Oh and there is a little shopping to appease the city folks in Lake Placid.)