40 Best Hotels in The Adirondacks and Thousand Islands, New York

The rustic-style, three-story lodge with modern amenities sits at the edge of a lake in the Fulton Chain. Rooms have balconies, some overlooking the lake, and attractive traditional furnishings. Common areas include a library with cushy chairs, a stone fireplace, and water views conducive to lingering.

Accommodations at this posh lakefront retreat, a member of the Relais & Châteaux group, have stone fireplaces, featherbeds, twig-and-bark furniture—including many one-of-a-kind pieces created by local artisans—and views of either the woods or Lake Placid. Some rooms have balconies. Lodge suites include a sitting room, often with a fireplace of its own; an extra-spacious bathroom with a large soaking tub; and either a private balcony or patio. A stay is pricey, but includes breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, turndown service, and all activities on the property. Most of the cabins are one-room units with sitting areas and huge windows. The restaurant, Artisans, is a draw on its own and prepares new American fare.

The complex is on the small, pristine lake that is its namesake, and many get a view of the lake either in their rooms or at the resort's afternoon tea. Most guest rooms here are elegant, with traditional furnishings and large doses of neutral colors. Four-poster beds, fireplaces, private balconies, and couches are available in some rooms. Fodorites say that sitting in the big, cozy chairs next to the fire is heaven, but the resort offers a slew of organized activities, too—sunset cruises, kayak and fishing trips, guided hikes, snowshoe outings, cross-country-skiing lessons, yoga classes—and there's a full-service spa on the property. The Averil Conwell Dining Room earns high marks for its food.

Occupying a 72-acre island on Lake George, the Sagamore is an escape to a bygone era. Accommodations in the 1883 colonial-revival main house have views of the lake or gardens. The decor, including marble bathrooms and handsome wood furniture, is elegant but not formal, while accommodations in the newer lodge buildings are country-chic. Lodge rooms have garden views; suites have gas fireplaces and a terrace with a lake view. The separate condo units (starting at about $600 a night in season) have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room, a dining area, and two lake-view terraces; leather couches, Adirondack-style furniture, and wood-burning fireplaces contribute to the lodge feel here. Notable facilities here include the spa and the sailing school.

The camp, built in 1907, has hosted many prominent guests. It was known as the "summer White House" after President Calvin Coolidge vacationed here in 1926. The location, amid majestic pines on 35 acres on Lake Osgood, is a big draw. The property encompasses several cabins, most of them 100 feet away from the water. All have kitchens or kitchenettes and fireplaces or woodstoves and are fully furnished. Only six cabins are open all year. From late June through Labor Day, the minimum stay is a week; a two-night minimum is usually required the rest of the year. Because the property is of historic and architectural interest, small tours sometimes come through the camp, including the guest cabins. The camp is 12 mi northwest of Saranac Lake.

Formerly the Best Western Sunset Inn, the property still has a heated indoor pool with an adjacent outdoor deck, but the building itself is under renovation. Still, rooms are spacious and furnished in the Adirondack style, with knotty-wood paneling and hunter-green and wine-red quilts.

The lodge, 5 mi south of Lake Placid, was built in 1927 on the shore of Heart Lake. It's run by the nonprofit Adirondack Mountain Club, which also runs the High Peaks Information Center here. The lodge has private rooms, family bunk rooms that sleep four to six, and a coed sleeping area with 18 beds. The main room has a stone fireplace, and the dining room serves homemade breads and soups. You may also order trail lunches here. There's a small beach on the property, and trailheads are steps away. The lodge has canoes and kayaks, and snowshoe and cross-country-ski rentals are available at the information center. Also on the grounds are two cabins, three canvas cabins, 36 campsites, and 36 lean-tos. A Modified American Plan for dining is available to lodge guests staying for three or five nights.

The family-owned hotel, named for the famous ski jumper, sits on 2 acres three blocks from the Olympic Center. Every year, the owners renovate a new bit of the property. All but two rooms have been renovated since 2000, and many are now larger, have bigger flat-screen televisions and refrigerators and feature granite countertops and wood ceilings.

You'll be right in the middle of the village at this 1930s budget motel close to the shore. Exterior corridors provide access to the rooms, which are simple and have wood-paneled walls.

At this two-story chain property, interior corridors connect the rooms, which are big and bright and include desks. The heated indoor pool is a plus, as is an outdoor deck overlooking a placid pond The on-site restaurant, McKenzie's Grille, is open almost every day.

The two-story, lodge-style chain motel offsets traditional furnishings with Adirondack flair. Some rooms have sloping wood ceilings, and some suites have fireplaces, but rooms here as a rule are not fancy. The true appeal is that Lake George beaches are 1 mi away and the property has an outdoor swimming pool with a view of the mountains.

The large 1903 Adirondack inn on Big Moose Lake has a central fireplace, a cozy lounge, a front porch with rockers, a floating gazebo with checkerboards, and canoes. Accommodations, located in the three-story lodge, are simple and have brass beds. Most rooms have a lake view, and one has a fireplace and a whirlpool tub, but some rooms and common areas feel a little like granny's parlor. A restaurant serves American fare in an attractive space with lake views; and a deck with umbrella-shaded tables offers lakeside dining.

This budget family motel is in a quiet area 5 mi from the Gore Mountain Ski Center. Its dark-wood exterior and the guest rooms' knotty-wood-paneled walls give it a rustic chalet look. Rooms are basic but spacious. There's a restaurant on-site that serves American-style fare like burgers and wraps, and an Adirondack-style pub.

The grand 1917 stone-and-wood boathouse is on Millionaires Row and directly on Lake George. Most of the individually appointed rooms have hardwood floors and a king-size bed. Some rooms have private porches or balconies. One suite is decked out in Adirondack style, with a stone fireplace and cedar-post furniture; the other is more refined, with a four-poster bed and boudoir-style upholstered chairs. The two carriage-house suites have gas fireplaces and two-person jet tubs. Breakfast is served in the great room, a lovely space with a timbered ceiling and several large windows.

Built in 1832, this Georgian redbrick home is next door to the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site and a three-minute walk from restaurants, shops, and the Seaway Trail. Rooms have period antiques, four-poster beds, and quilts; two have water views, the third looks out onto the village.

From its hilltop perch, the four-story hotel takes in the resort's 1,000-plus acres and lovely mountain and lake views. The property encompasses two highly regarded 18-hole golf courses and the well-known Veranda restaurant. It also has a private beach on Lake Placid. Guest-room furnishings are traditional and attractive, with two double beds. Some rooms have jetted tubs and fireplaces. Also on the grounds are chalets and lakeside condominiums.

The hotel property encompasses a conference center and 18 acres overlooking the southern end of Lake George. Rooms have been refurbished but retain a traditional look. Their configurations range from studios with sleeper sofas to huge suites with fireplaces; some have lake or mountain views. The large outdoor pool looks onto the lake.

Overlooking mountains and a pristine lake 5 mi from Gore Mountain Ski Center, this Adirondack inn was built in the tradition of the great camps. Accommodations are housed in four buildings, including the Log House, which has hewn beams and posts, a wide front porch, and mountain and lake views. Rooms combine paneled walls with contemporary, rustic-style furnishings; some rooms have balconies. The 600-acre complex includes a cross-country-skiing and mountain-biking center. The lodge also has canoes, rowboats, sailboats, and paddleboats and hosts ski programs for kids. The Saturday buffet dinner is a highlight at the restaurant.

The sprawling, family-owned resort has a private beach and a marina. Rooms have views of the lake, the pool, or the courtyard; some have private balconies or patios. Suites have sitting areas with sleeper sofas. Traditional dark-wood furniture is used throughout. The main dining room ($$–$$$) serves mostly Continental fare: steak au poivre, lobster ravioli, roast rack of lamb, scampi, and chateaubriand. From mid-May through October, the Terrace Room hosts dinner theater.

The former Best Western Golden Arrow is under new management, and sits right in the heart of Lake Placid, on Main Street. Beautiful views of Mirror Lake are available from the lobby and some rooms, which have balconies. But what really sets the property apart is the owners' decision to go as green as possible. Expect recycled and ecofriendly gifts to greet you on arrival (perhaps a pine-tree seed in a terra-cotta pot filled with earth, for example). Have a seat at Charlie's, the resort restaurant, for a view of the green roof. The roof, finished in summer 2008, is an insulating blanket of plants grown on a flat section of the property's roof. Some of the herbs grown there might go into dishes served at Charlie's. Kids' programs are available.

Like many others in its chain, this Hampton Inn offers clean, modern and spacious rooms and breakfast until 10 am. You can enjoy it with a free newspaper.

Some rooms have views of the harbor at this hotel with a range of accommodations. In addition to standard rooms there are larger minisuites, with roll-away beds, that can sleep up to five people. Minisuites have refrigerators, microwaves, and in-room hot tubs.

This camp, dating from 1880, is where you check in if you want to check out for a while. Forget phones, computers, and TVs—the emphasis here is on the great outdoors, and the rustic accommodations reflect that. Early-morning views from this property are of mist-covered Blue Mountain Lake and surrounding Adirondack Mountains. You might take a kayak or canoe out on the lake, hit some balls on the tennis court, try to hook a fish, or snuggle up with a book in a cozy nook. Kids will love the Ping-Pong tables, pool table, and beach access.

The 7-acre waterfront property that once was the Hilton has now become the newly renovated High Peaks. The property has accommodations in two buildings, one on Main Street in the center of town and another on the water. The entire property has been redone, so everything is new, including the lobby, the rooms, and three new restaurants—the casual Dancing Bears; the fine-dining venue Reflections; and PRs, a warm, elegant bar with a double fireplace. The breakfast plan, which includes a morning nosh at the Dancing Bears, costs extra. Rooms throughout the updated property are attractive, with tasteful wooden furniture and furnishings. Rooms in waterfront buildings have either a balcony or a patio for views of the lake. Complimentary rowboats and paddleboats are offered to guests for use at the resort's access to Mirror Lake.

The two-story hotel is set back 200 feet from the road, on a hill. Rooms, graced with wood furniture and soft earth-tone colors, are attractive and spacious. High-speed Internet access is available. Kids will love the kiddie pool, game room with oversize chessboard, indoor pool, and miniature golf course. Adults might dig the shuffleboard setup and basketball courts.

A lovely Victorian houses this classy getaway with individually appointed rooms and an excellent restaurant. Some rooms look out onto the Adirondacks and some overlook the Interlaken's lush gardens. Interior schemes offset old-fashioned fabrics. Rooms are handsome, with four-poster and sleigh beds, down comforters, and Frette linens and towels. A few rooms have private balconies, and third-floor rooms have sloping ceilings. The smallest, least expensive rooms are simple but still attractive.

The upscale two-story motel is on a big piece of land across the road from Whiteface Mountain. Rooms are spacious, with seating areas or kitchenettes and either two double beds or one or two queen-size beds. The decor is cheery, with jolts of bright color here and there. Some rooms have mountain views. Common areas include a great room with a fireplace, a large-screen TV, a pool table, and assorted board games. In fall and winter, complimentary cookies and hot beverages are served here. During fishing season, guide services are offered.

The Queen Anne Victorian, built in 1890, is a block from the St. Lawrence River and has a turret and a curved porch. Guest rooms are tasteful, with four-poster or brass queen beds, hardwood floors, large windows, and sitting areas.

The 9-acre property encompasses 300 feet of frontage on Lake George, where there's a beach and a dock. Accommodations are in motel-style buildings. The corner rooms are extra spacious. Some rooms have lake views and balconies or patios. The on-site Villa Napoli restaurant is a local favorite.

Originally the home of William Avery Rockefeller, this ultra-exclusive retreat evokes the spirit of the great Adirondack camps. The secluded property occupies a forested peninsula on Upper Saranac Lake. Rooms, housed in four buildings, blend rustic furniture with handsome antiques and rich fabrics. Each guest room has a stone fireplace and lake views; some have pine-lined cathedral ceilings or private decks or patios. You may play billiards or darts at the intimate pub, which shares the Eagle's Nest building with three guest rooms. Overlooking the lake is the capacious Boathouse ($2,600 a night; offered from mid-April through October only), a favorite of honeymooners. Your day starts with Continental breakfast in your room or a hot meal in the dining room. Guests gather for lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner, and menus are set, but you may opt to have a lunch to go or eat in your room. Dinner is rather formal, with jacket and tie upgraded to black tie Wednesday and Saturday evenings. The deposit alone is $500, without which you don't get directions. But that's the point of exclusivity, isn't it?