Almost each and every summer my extended family makes the trek up to the Adirondack Mountains for a week of camping and general shenanigans. It’s a tradition that started many years before I was born and I hope it continues when I am long gone. For the most part, we fully engage with car camping at its finest complete with evening campfires and one too many s’mores. I know. You never thought such a things was possible. While most of our time is spent living it up at our campsites, when ventures are made to the outside world we tend to flock to Tupper Lake. There are many North Woods towns that get a greater influx of tourists than Tupper Lake and at first glance it may look like the kind of place to pass on by with Saranac Lake and Lake Placid nearby. But it’s these oft forgotten neck-of-the-woods that I find make for the best adventures.
Tupper Lake ends up being about a 6 hour drive from NYC so it takes a commitment to get up there but there’s nothing quite like the Adirondack Mountains. Also, just think of the epic road trip playlist you can groove to you with your buddies as you make your way up. Car dancing is where it’s at. So if I could be booty shaking in my orange lovebug up to the Adirondacks this weekend, here’s what I would be up to:
STAY
There are a number of motels to stay at if you wish to re-live the 1980s (the family favorite is Shaheen’s). However if you are making the trek to hangout in a woodland wonderland, I would recommend you either camp or cozy up in a cabin. The goal here is to embrace nature. For the more adventurous type, there are a number of NYS DEC campsites available by canoe/kayak at or near Tupper Lake.
EAT
Tupper Lake has a bunch of new eating establishments which is so very exciting, especially for us veggie minded folk. There are two microbreweries in town: Raquette River and Big Tupper. The former is for tastings only but they had shaded picnic tables and a food truck – Arthur’s BBQ – which meat-eaters and vegetarians alike enjoyed. (Get the beer pretzel. You won’t regret it.). The latter has a brewpub feel with a large, wrap-around bar and Mexican-inspired eats. They’re open 4pm-10pm meaning you can get a nice little pub-crawl going from lunch at Raquette River to dinner at Big Tupper. Around the corner from Big Tupper is Well Dressed Food and I could hardly contain myself when I saw this cute little shop open along the main street. I have yet to try it out but it’s well reviewed if that sort of thing matters to you and looks to have delicious eats. Also, as far as I know, it is the only place in town to score an espresso.
Big Tupper Brewing may not have cable but they do have WIFI... you do what you've got to do when it comes to watching the Olympics.
SEE
Big Tupper’s – the aforementioned brewery - namesake is an old ski mountain in town. You can wander around the grounds, which during the summer months tend to have a pretty array of wildflowers for your viewing pleasure. For more nature seeing, ignore the advertising geared towards the 10 and under crowd and head on over to the Wild Center. The elevated treetop trail is just as fun as much fun as it looks and who doesn’t want to challenge their cousins to a teepee-building contest? Due to its popularity, I would recommend visiting during the week rather than the weekend and the earlier in the day the better.
DO
Canoe!
Exploring the lake by paddle is one of my all-time favorite activities. It enables you to check out the local wildlife as well as ample opportunities to cool off in some fresh water. If you don’t have access to your own or a loved one’s kayak/canoe/paddle board, Raquette River Outfitters has quite the paddling operation going. They’ll even help you plan a route throughout the regions interconnected lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Hike!
There are oodles of hiking options throughout the Adirondacks, including many within Tupper Lake and the surrounding region. Ampersand is a bit of a legend with our family, mostly due to the underrepresentation of its difficulty by certain relatives. That being said, if you are an experienced hiker who likes mixing it up with some bouldering, it is definitely well worth the climb. For a less strenuous hike, Mount Arab, Goodman Mountain, and Coney Mountain all offer great views. If you’re up to the challenge, complete all three for the Tupper Lake Triad which earns you a spiffy patch to show off your endeavor.
Climb!
Baker Mountain offers some great options for rock climbing newbies. Both High Peaks Mountain Adventures and Eastern Mountain Sports in Lake Placid offer guided climbs, which is where you would find me, should I get the chance to hang off a cliff in the Adirondacks this summer (pro-climber I am not). I bet they would have some pretty sweet recommendations too for those of you looking for more challenging routes.
How to embrace the lake life when you are paddle-less - addition of root beer is key.
notes:
adirondack summers are a bit on the cooler side, especially for us cold-blooded folk who prefer temperatures in the 80s. listen to your inner mother and bring lots of layers. i’ve been known to wear the same cardigan over and over again but if i was in the need for something new these two look like the perfect combination of affordable and cozy while treating the people involved in the clothing manufacturing process well.
the olympic center at lake placid is especially fitting given this summer’s primetime activity but does require a bit of a drive on over from tupper to get there. the photo op alone may be enough to entice you but let me sweeten the deal and remind you that you can ride an inner tube down the ski jumps.
for more adirondack loving, check out last summer’s posts here and here.