Micro-escape to the Adirondacks
A vacation doesn’t have to be long to be restorative. In fact, when you take away the hassle of sitting in a car for hours, a little time goes a very long way. Today, we travel to upstate New York, to the scenic village of Saranac Lake where fresh water activities reign supreme, along with great hiking, dining, biking and more. Pull up an Adirondack chair, and ponder the fun you’ll have during your Saranac Lake micro-escape.
Your Cape Air flight leaves Logan on Saturday at 9:10 AM and you arrive before 11, just in time for an early lunch. (For other flight options, visit capeair.com.) Grab a bite at Blue Moon Café, serving lake-goers since 1966, or stop by Bitters & Bones. Don’t let the name fool you, Chef Jones uses fresh local ingredients and offers a rotating list of quenching craft beers. If you’re antsy to hit the lakes, grab a sandwich-to-go from Lakeview Deli.
Are you the mellow canoeing type? Do you like to tear it up in a kayak? Or is stand-up paddling more your speed. Whatever floats your boat, you can find your rental at Adirondack Lakes or Trails Outfitters. If you’d rather stay high and dry, take an easy .9 mile hike to the summit of Mount Baker for sweeping views of the Adirondack High Peaks. Naturalist tours are a great way to understand your surroundings, and Paul Smith’s College VIC offers guided walks through its 25-mile trail system.
Now comes dinner. If you’re keeping it casual, belly up to the bar at Blue Line Brewery for great pizza and locally crafted brews. Downhill Grill in nearby Lake Placid offers comfort food classics with a Mexican twist. For the white tablecloth set, Red Fox Restaurant is a long-standing fan favorite, as is La Bella Ristorante, one of Saranac Lake’s most popular Italian eateries. Be sure to save room for ice cream at Donnelly’s.
Overnight options are as vast as the starry skies. From rustic camps to quaint B & B’s, luxury resorts and cozy motels (often operated by the same families for generations), you’ll find what you’re looking for at the Saranac Lake’s Chamber of Commerce website.
Sunday morning, you’re all about breakfast. Where better to begin than Origin Café, great for gourmet coffee and eclectic dishes sourced by local farms. Lake Placid’s Big Mountain Deli & Creperie offers crepes and a whole lot more, including mouthwatering mimosas.
You still have time for a bike ride or more depending on which Cape Air flight you choose for your return. Mount Pisgah provides bike rentals and a ski mountain bike trail that’s lots of fun.
If you have plans at home Sunday night, take Cape Air’s 1:05 PM flight and be back in Boston before 3 PM. Or soak in a little more Saranac and take the 5:41 PM fight that arrives in Boston at 7:20 PM. See all your options and other New England micro-escape destinations at capeair.com.
(Nantucket, anyone?)