The wife and I came here after hearing about it for a couple of years. She had found out about it…read moreonline, and I saw their scale model promotional displays in downtown Albany. So, we made a daytrip of coming up north. It was pretty cold and overcast in early October, but we still had a good time. When we arrived on a weekday there were only a dozen or so other people around. We practically had the place to ourselves. We first watched the four otters swim in the pools (brr) and play on the tubes. One really seemed to like me, and we both shared the name Louis, so we hit it off from the start. I liked him more than the otters (!), but I think he just came to the fence to see me because he thought I was going to feed him. Then, we saw the staff with their "mystery" public interaction animal... a porcupine. She seemed hungry and grumpy, and spent the time eating food. I guess if I was trotted outside in the 40-degree weather I would be upset too. We went for a walk in the woods and heard music piped on speakers in the trees. My wife made a comment about it feeling like an anime or RPG experience, and I think she was right. It was odd, though enjoyable. We then walked around on the elevated paths in the woods and looked out of the bird's nest towers and spider's nest (yuck). There were swinging bridges and other interactive things for kids of all ages. Again, it was cold or we might have spent more time looking at them. They had indoor exhibits which were closed due to the pandemic (boo), but on a day like this they are very much needed to help recharge and get warm. It was a good time, despite being chilly. The views were great, but my glasses kept fogging up from the masks so I couldn't see as much as I would have liked. It is a great park seemingly in the middle of nowhere, and very far from where we live. But, I would like to return in warmer weather to experience it again.

We had an incredible time here! The indoor area is not to be missed! So many unique hands-on…read moredisplays, sea otters, ugly fish, collections of fungi and interesting plants. The outdoor walk is a breathtaking walk through the treetops with unbeatable views. My 5 year old also loved the outdoor loose part natural play area. The whole adventure is a lot of fun for both kids and adult. Also very responsible with covid policies!

This was the first high peak we climbed and wow did it pay off! This is often considered the best…read morebeginner high peak but it was still very tough for us given that we were out of shape. Parts of ot are very steep and can be difficult in wet conditons. Cascade is great because if you can push yourself a little more, you can double back to see Porter mountain's peak as well! The view was absolutely breathtaking and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a challenging hike!

One of my favorite hikes in the high peak region -- it's a great starter one to those interested in…read moredoing a high peak. You combine it with Porter to get two mountains off your list, for the "physical price" of doing one! This is a gentle mountain, but still should not be taken lightly as it is a high peak and it will challenge you, no matter how fit you might be. I've climbed this in the summer 2-3 times and at least 2-3 times in the winter. I prefer doing it in the winter personally for less crowds and beautiful ice covered pine sights and an Arctic wonderland, but either one is gorgeous. Parking is free, but limited...come early to try to snag a spot. Doing both mountains will only add an hour or so to your total hike time, so don't be afraid to tackle both even if you might be tired after hitting Cascade. I think Cascade is good to hit first and then head over to Porter, but honestly either one will work well. Plan 3-8hours round trip, depending on your level of physical ability. Come prepared and know the conditions, talk to the rangers or other hikers so you know what to expect.

As a summer visitor to the Lake Placid area, this was a great hidden gem. The beach was in great…read moreshape, and it felt very safe for all ages. Plenty of shallow space for small non-swimmers, and plenty of deeper areas for skilled swimmers. Two jumping platforms, a dock, etc. The lifeguards were attentive. Not too overcrowded (once the summer camp left). Water seemed clean. We will definitely return whenever we come back to the area.

Going to offer a bit of a different review here…read more I've only ever been to Mirror Lake Public Beach in the winter. Covered in a thick blanket of snow, the surface of the frozen water indistinct from the shoreline itself. It acts as a wonderful launching point for all the things Mirror Lake has to offer in this season. Easily walkable from Main Street and nearby street parking, the beach area is nestled near to the toboggan shoot. Benches are a welcome convenience, especially when you have ice skates in tow. I brought a backpack to carry my boots in case I wanted to prematurely exit the ice before looping back to the beach itself but most folks left them near to this seating without issue. The frozen waters just off shore host a couple small areas for ice hockey and an entrance point to the lengthy pathway visitors may use to walk the perimeter of the icy surface. Beautiful views of the church as well as the expanse of the lake. A place you can sit, watch, and enjoy the scenery... or join in yourself!

A great place to walk to with a dog. Lots of waste bins and a special station fir dogs including…read morebiodegradable bags,

Champlain Park is a little waterfront park, overlooking Plattsburgh Bay on Lake Champlain…read more Small park on a hill with steps down to the shoreline, yet no water access. Benches to sit on. Beautiful planting's. Small gazebo. Statue honoring Samuel de Champlain. Street parking (free) nearby. It seems to be in a local historic district. Historical houses nearby. A small pedestrian suspension bridge crossing the inlet nearby. While we were visiting, a ghost tour was going on. Overall a nice place to take a break, admire the view, watch some sailboats and some birds.

We wanted to take a morning stroll with our coffee and this was perfect! It's a short walk to the…read morebeach and it was nice and quiet. There was a decent amount of parking spots but can easily see them filling up during a busier time of the day.

Very nice easy hike! Beautiful views of Lake Champlain. Wide and easy to follow trails.read more

I was introduced to this beautiful nature center through a friend who summers in the Adirondacks…read more This center has so much to offer from weekly 5k trail runs to patio yoga weekly. Open year round. Several walking trails over 25 miles and 3k acres. There's walking and hiking in the summer and snowshoes abs cross country skiing in the winter. Beautiful and peaceful! I wouldn't pass it up!

I am proud to say I just completed my first trail ever! This one has lots of hills and lots of tree…read moreroots. Overall it was a nice hike. You have to walk over boards to get past some of the boggy areas, but those were pretty consistent in keeping you out of the water. Lots of deer flies this year, but also a lot of nature to see. Beautiful views from many places along the trail. Most of the hike was sun-dappled with some instances of bright sun, and once I got to the far side of the pond there was a nice breeze. Whoever put all the inclines at the end of the trail is a Sadist.

This lovely park is located just north of Plattsburgh along the shores of Lake Champlain. I was…read morehere to try to see the lighthouse, but it is not accessible during the greener months. It is on private property and could normally only be seen through the trees when they're bare. Not today in mid-July. So now that I'm enjoying the park, let's check out this. A very pretty sandy beach that has floats out to mark off the swimming area from boaters. Picnic tables and barbecue grills. Volleyball, softball and the like. And it's all free. [Review 1610 of 2024 - 523 in New York - 22633 overall]

My go too spot in Plattsburgh. A quiet walk. Wonderful adventure every time. Low key hike…read more Beautiful point / view of lake Champlain. And the pup loves it.

This was a great and challenging hike up Mt. Marcy, completed on a clear and warm October weekend…read moreday (low 40, high 76). We arrived at 6:00 AM, which was unfortunately just a few minutes too late to secure a spot at the trailhead parking lot. This meant adding an extra mile or so to our roundtrip due to having to park down the road. By the time we finished in the early afternoon, the line of parked cars seemed to stretch for a couple of miles. We began the hike in the dark with headlamps at 6:30 AM and kept a steady pace with minimal and very brief breaks. Our roundtrip hiking time was 6 hours, not including time spent enjoying the summit. Depending on fitness level and break frequency, hikers should generally plan for a total time of 7-9 hours. Conditions at the summit were perfect: clear with a light wind, and the views were absolutely amazing.

Van Hoevenberg Trail offers beautiful views and a rewarding hike to its 2,940-foot summit. The…read more4.4-mile round trip is moderately challenging. It's perfect for a solid workout without being too intense. Scenic, well-marked, and not overly crowded. Had an awesome time!

This is a great little hike from the Whiteface Mountain ski resort parking lot. Not overly stentors…read morebut lots of awesome falls, both big and small. Expect a couple hours if you have kids that like to play in the water like mine did.