Went to check out the art and wasn't to into some of the stuff, one thing they had looked like it…read moretook maybe 10 minutes. It was a piece of wood with silver wrapped around it in a few spots. I have better stuff. Dont waste your time.

LARAC hosts an incredible arts festival every summer & this year was no exception. A lot of new…read morevendors were there which was great to see the new variety coming in. I bought three gorgeous paintings from Kila Art, a jar of tasty black bean and corn salsa from Crimson Lion, tried some samples of moonshine from Lake George Distilling Company, bought a beautifully potted bamboo from a vendor whose name I forgot unfortunately, enjoyed a heaping portion of Southern Charm (mac & cheese with pulled pork & BBQ sauce) from the Mac Factor, and then wandered across the street to the Zonta fair. The amount of support LARAC gives these artists is incredible & to see the community come out the way it does for this yearly festival is amazing. My only complaint is that it's only once a year; would love more of these to support more local vendors who I may not be so familiar with.

Lake George, NY - Lake George is firmly on the map as a popular summer destination, but its…read morebest-kept-secret might be the Winter Carnival, a beloved Adirondacks tradition since 1961. It takes place every weekend in February and into early March, and most events are free, low-cost, family friendly, and centered in the heart of Lake George Village around Canada Street, Shepard Park, and on the lake itself! We attended week 3 of this 5-week festival, and there was no shortage of things to do! The event lineup is delightfully eclectic. Highlights include decorated outhouse races (yes really lol), car/truck/motorcycle/ATV races on the frozen lake, cookoff competitions (different theme for each of the 5 weeks - we got chowder), polar plunges for the brave & hypothermic, dog talent contest, campfire s'mores, ice bars, keg & skillet tosses, daily live music at local bars & restaurants, art exhibition, horse & carriage rides, fireworks over the lake, and many kids activities and family fun like snow tie-dye shirts, hot chocolate bar, bouncy house, coloring & crafts, etc. The schedule is pretty packed, so best to go in with a plan: check the listings, pick what you like to do, and have an itinerary. Ticketed events such as the cookoff tastings, special tours, and souvenir mug hot chocolate bar tend to sell out in advance. Word to the wise: arrive early to the cookoff lines or you'll be doing the frozen shuffle for 45 minutes. (Ask me how I know.) If you have a ticket, you're guaranteed a tray, but warm food and warm body are two different things. In addition, I did an evening ghost tour at Fort William Henry (preceded by fireworks), which was atmospheric and fun. Our family also did a snowshoe hike at Up Yonda Farm (see my separate review for this) - one of my favorite activities all weekend and absolutely recommended! We missed the naturalist-led hike which was sold out, but were still able to rent snowshoes including a child-sized pair and had a great self-guided hike through the trails. Both of these are technically year-round activities folded into the carnival lineup, and I greatly enjoyed both experiences. Sadly, I missed the walk across a frozen lake to Dome Island!! Tix went fast and for good reason: the island is normally off-limits to the public except for occasional guided tours like this one, so it's a rare opportunity. (Not suitable for young kids unless they are capable of walking a mile each way across a frozen lake - or if you're up for carrying them.) We saw many snowmobiles and ATV/UTVs zipping around so you can probably rent those too, but mind the road rules and check the designated access map. The website is somewhat unwieldy to use so I recommend downloading the beautiful and comprehensive brochure (or grab one when you arrive town - they're everywhere) to see all the activities on offer as well as the events schedule for all five weekends (subject to change). Check the website for last-minute updates or location changes, since ice-dependent events are subject to the weather's cooperation. 2026 brochure: https://lakegeorgewintercarnival.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/lgwc-2026-sponsorship-booklet-compressed.pdf I'm rating this annual festival 5 stars for the variety, length, and the sheer organizational scale - especially considering it's 100% volunteer-run so really speaks to the heart and community spirit of this operation. If you're looking for an easy weekend getaway in the dead of winter for some charming cold air fun, LGWC's got you covered!

Bolton Landing, NY - my introduction to Up Yonda Farm came courtesy of the Lake George Winter…read moreCarnival, which included a naturalist-led snowshoe hike in its activity lineup. Although we didn't make the tour (sold out), we drove up anyway to see if we could rent snowshoes to hike the trails on our own. Fortunately, there were plenty of snowshoes to go around - including kids/toddler sizes! - despite the tour group before us which I was afraid would clear out the snowshoe racks. But that was not at all the case! Rick and Linda at the Center could not have been lovelier or more helpful. Rick walked us through the trail map, pointing out where the tour group had gone (who would've broken in the snow for us), and being mindful of the fact that we were hiking with a small child who may or may not have a meltdown somewhere along the way, and how far into the hike it is likely to happen, from experience. I pulled out AllTrails to help with navigation, and Rick told us he actually created the GPS tracks for the property in the app! There are 3 miles of hiking trails across the 73-acre property, well marked with blazes and easy to follow. The woods were so beautiful and serene in the fresh snow. My child enjoyed the StoryWalk on the Sugar Trail and had me read the story to him. In addition to the educational exhibits in the farmhouse welcome center & museum (including some cute turtles!), the Center offers a variety of environmental education programs throughout the year (birds, butterflies, wildlife, night sky, hikes, field guides, crafting, seasonal events, etc.). It is now maple sugaring season so you can learn about the process and visit the sugarhouse when it's open. In the summer, you can see the butterfly garden, picnic by the pond, and explore the grounds with vistas of Lake George. We loved our visit to Up Yonda Farm, and the snowshoe hike turned out to be the highlight of our weekend. What a magical experience for all seasons!

I recently visited Up Yonda Farm Environmental Education Center for their maple-making tour and…read moreabsolutely loved it! This was my first time visiting and it was such a fun experience. The snowy setting made it even more special. We walked along a path through the woods while learning about how maple syrup is made. It was really interesting to hear about the history of maple sugaring and see the progression of tools that have been used over time. One of my favorite parts was the tasting. At the very beginning we got to try raw maple sap, and later we tasted the syrup fresh after it had been made. It honestly changed my mind about maple syrup -- I used to not like it, but tasting it fresh made me appreciate it so much more. There is plenty of parking, and the bathrooms are right next to the parking lot. After parking, you walk up to the main house to check in. The tour starts off to the side of the house near a fire pit, which was a nice gathering spot. At the end of the tour they served French toast sticks with different maple syrups to try, which was delicious and a perfect way to finish the experience. Overall, this was such a fun family-friendly event. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique outdoor activity and a great way to learn about maple syrup!

The tour guide was absolutely amazing. He kept making jokes and was keeping us entertained almost…read morethe entire time. It was Sir James. He did a phenomenal job and he showed us around, telling us how to take the best photos. I got to be a demonstration. A truck show was making sound the entire time but that did not stop him. He did an excellent job and overall the tour was amazing and the history was interesting and a bit unnerving but it kept me hooked.

History comes alive at Fort William Henry. It is a restored Colonial fortress of 1755-1757 French…read moreand Indian War era located at the strategic south end of Lake George, an important part of the water transportation system used by both Native Americans and the Europeans Visitors to the Fort have an opportunity to experience plenty of history: the long boiling tensions between global superpowers, the early days of a new nation and its impact on indigenous peoples, and the backdrop for one of American literature's great novels. Visitors can experience this living museum with guided tours, historical interpreters, musket and cannon fire demonstrations, and self-guided tours. In the fall, the Fort hosts Haunted History Tours featuring guided tours of spooky spots at the Fort and some great ghost stories. If you are a history buff, this is a must-do for you.

Fun layout. The greens were small but rolled great. Fun layout. A little more TLC with the…read morefairways and tees and this would be a very enjoyable place to play. Very inexpensive.

Nice little course with pretty good pitch changes. They could definitely mark the holes better. It…read morewas a little confusing not where you are going as a first time visitor.

I took my 7 year old son here while it was raining out. We LOVED it!! Very friendly, knowledgeable…read morepeople greeted us. They gave us clip boards with scavenger hunts.. This was so much fun for both of us. We both learned so much with hundreds of visuals and write ups about all the history of Warrensburgh. The student who helped us said it was her first day at the museum. She was so knowledgeable and friendly you would never have guessed it was her first day. This museum is free. They sell great books and postcards but bring cash or check. No plastic.

Our family are huge fans of horse racing which goes back generations. We've always wanted to check…read moreout this museum and glad we finally got to. Though we know a lot about its history, it was still good to see all the memorabilia and displays. I am giving them 4 stars just because I felt like they could have done a better job with the displays. Something seems to be missing. Still cool to visit.

If you enjoy horse racing even a little bit or are interested in it, you should go here. Lots of…read morehistory and all the trophies are to be seen and read about here. This museum showcases horses, trainers, jockeys and events! Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and I believe there is a discount for military. It's a very open and airy museum that has a flow but you can wander in and out of the rooms at your own pace and direction. They have a couple rooms that are "feature" (temporary) exhibits so if you've been in the past... chances are those rooms are different now. There is a short (30 minutes I think) movie that they show throughout the day. They will make an announcement and gather folks up and take you to the "theater room". There are benches along the walls to sit so you don't have to stand the whole time. There are stairs up and down ... but if you have mobility issues, they have lifts that you can use.

You'd be forgiven for not knowing about the Skenesborough Museum or Whitehall, NY at all for that…read morematter. It's a sleepy little town in the Adirondacks right on the NY/VT border, with a population right around 4,000. The Champlain Canal runs right through town, with Lock C12 operating right next to the town's marina. Nothing much else of note here, except for the fact that it is the birthplace of the United States Navy. Uhm, excuse me? That's right, this tiny little village in the mountains of NY is the birthplace of the US Navy and played a pivotal role in 2 wars. In an understated review of it's history, the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce says: "In 1759, Whitehall was settled in a valley at the southern end of Lake Champlain. This colonial town was founded by British Army Captain Philip Skene, and was originally known as Skenesboro. Skenesboro became the first settlement on Lake Champlain and was a center of maritime trade. Captain Skene built saw mills, grist mills and an iron foundry, where trade can be documented from that time. The Revolutionary War caused the capture of Skene's trading schooner and the building of a fleet by Benedict Arnold at this place. Because of the Revolutionary War actions, the New York State Legislature, in 1960, declared the legacy that names Whitehall as the Birthplace of the United States Navy. The Whitehall harbor also produced ships used for service by the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812. Whitehall's themes of defense and transportation stress this communities part in history including the building of the first fleet for battle in 1776 and, since early historic times, the north-south transportation route from Canada to New York City. The canal has been in use since 1819 and it brought prosperity to shippers of produce, iron ore and special products like ice and eels. Steel-powered packet boats carried passengers from Lake Champlain to Troy, New York in 24 hours by fast relays." So, the small museum right on the canal along with the wreck of the USS Ticonderoga right outside are really worth a visit for those with an interest in the Navy's history. The museum is small and simple, but definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.