As my wife and I travel we like to find unique stores. Blue Mt Design has been around fir a long…read moretime. There have been multiple owners in-fact it's for sale now. They have expanded their offerings to include food and coffee on addition to the gifts. If you are looking for some clothing with Blue Mt lake on it they have it. New this year is a wine and liquor store. The selection is small but unique items. Well worth time to stop in.

I bought a wooden Adirondack chair from this shop and within three years of gent use and care, one…read moreday out of the blue one leg collapsed into soft powdery chips. After examining the chair I found out that the wood has a knot inside that was not properly treated and likely was rotting when the chair was made. That rot spread and over time destroyed two pieces of wood, including this leg, from the inside. I contacted Elizabeth at the shop, offered to drive the chair to her shop and pay for reasonable expenses - only asking her to coordinate a repair. Yet Elizabeth replied to say that the chairs were sourced from a non-professional artist; and that partly because this artist uses pine wood which is not best fit for outdoor furniture she is no longer buying from this artist. As to why she sourced the pine chair from the artist in the first place, Elizabeth said that she was still learning about wood back then - yet she still washes her hands clean of any responsibility to help me save the chair. Furthermore, she repeatedly suggested that I somehow did not care for the chair properly despite the fact that the rot was inside the wood, inside the paint - the layers of paint the store sold me on as weather proof. When I finally reached the maker of the chair, they replied that they were making the chairs as a hobby and believe that a knot rotting inside at the time of making is not detectable and thus selling a chair with a rotting knot covered up with paint is somehow acceptable. They did explain Elizabeth's sourcing process - the makers went into Elizabeth's store while vacationing and showed Elizabeth photos of the chairs they made as a hobby - and Elizabeth bought them for resale! No quality check, no standard. Even after the makers admitted the rot was likely already there when they made the chair, Elizabeth insisted that this chair, rotten and collapsing within three years, was at its "natural life span" - what a scam! I do NOT recommend this shop and I would urge all existing customers to reach out to Elizabeth to ask about her sourcing process and quality control approach. As for me - I am now determined to hold Elizabeth accountable through all avenues - regulatory and litigative. Seeing a chair my family adored collapsing is painful and Elizabeth so far only added to that pain, not what I would have expected.

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!

My wife Laurie and I visited Fort William Henry on August 7, 2026. CJ had just finished the musket…read moredemonstration. I asked him when the next demonstration was and he suggested that we go and watch the cannon demonstration and firing, which we did and then after that he would give us a private demonstration of the musket. The cannon firing was expertly explained by Ted O., who explained technically what a soldier did to fire a cannon, but also engaged members of audience and made it fun! Then we went back to see CJ and he gave us a great demonstration on how to fire a musket. He also explained the parts of the musket to us, including the novel way that it is cleaned. But CJ didn't stop there, he shared with us that he is a 6th and 8th grade history teacher and since I'm a teacher too, I found his explanation of how he engages his students to bring history alive fascinating! CJ said that the colonists might have not won the war against Britain, if it hadn't been for all the military experience they acquired by fighting alongside the British in the French and Indian War for seven years. Then we went onto the 12 noon talk by Ted O., who gave a very enthusiastic and informative talk about the Fort it's construction, the history leading up to the French and Indian War and the surrender of the fort to General Montcalm and as he did in the cannon demonstration engaged the audience in his talk! Then we went and talked to Bob the carpenter. He explained to us how he was in Lake George when the fort was reconstructed in 1954 - 1955. He told us how he acquired the wood he uses to make everything made of wood that the soldiers and their families use at the fort, like chairs, tables, wooden spoons, etc. Bob was very interesting to talk to! After interacting and talking to CJ, Ted O. and Bob, my wife and I felt we were back in the 1750's and truly enjoyed our visit, which was the highlight of our vacation! We're looking forward to returning for another visit in the future! Sincerely, Tom & Laurie DeVivo Berlin, CT

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.

A hundred years have passed since the founding of the Seagle Music Colony. That should be reason…read moreenough to seek out this wonder of the Adirondacks. But the level of performances is the true reason for discovering this venue if you have never attended a performance. We first learned about SMC from my sister a number of years ago, but never made the effort to attend one of the performances until this year. My wife was excited to attend a performance of Les Misérables and since it was the last evening performance of the season, my sister let us know that it would be followed by a gathering of the performers in the rehearsal hall to meet with the evening's guests for champagne cocktails, sweets, and other munchies, and to say "Thank you" for supporting this season's performances. One cannot say enough about the young, mostly college age, performers who audition from all over the country to come here to learn and practice their musical skills in what will be their future careers. Many will become serious Broadway musical or classical opera stars. But they don't just attend career development classes and practice performing here, they also have to build the sets, perfect their acting, learn choreography, hone their auditioning skills, and perform in most, if not all, of the different shows planned for the Summer season. This year's list of performances included: Verdi's "Falstaff"; Rossini's "The Barber of Seville"; Sondheim's Into "The Woods"; and Schönberg's & Boublil's "Les Misérables." In addition, a children's opera, "The Ugly Duckling" and Vespers concerts were also performed. Our program informed us that the SMC was founded in 1915 by world renowned baritone, Oscar Seagle. His son, John, taught at SMC from 1945 to 1985 and the old barn that was Oscar Seagle's studio in Schroon Lake was extended into a theatre in his memory. In the year 2000 "Classical Singer Magazine" declared SMC the "Best Summer Vocal Training Program in the United States." The performance of Les Misérables was wonderfully enjoyable. The theater is not large, it holds about 300 people. Every seat in the house has an excellent view, but the seats starting around row "i" are padded and more comfortable than the wooden ones in the rows with lower letters. The rehearsal building is relatively new with all necessary accommodations, compared to the old barn turned theater. But the folks behind SMC are already planning a new larger theater with air conditioning and indoor plumbing. The final bow of the cast for Les Mis indicated that there were approximately 35 members. Tickets sell out fast once a new season is announced, so be forewarned and plan accordingly for 2016.

When it was suggested that we find a vacation home in the Adirondacks, I thought, "what could there…read morebe culturally to do there that doesn't involve worrying about tick bites, skin cancer, or drowning?" Well, one of the best is Seagle Colony. Professionally trained singers performing different operas and musicals each week, in an unusual setting for a great price. Seagle's 100th season started with a Centennial Community Celebration Concert. Thank you, thank you, for this gift! Discover this gem yourself if you haven't already.

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!

this resort is great for our girls weekend getaway. So much to do, very well maintained and great…read moremeals are served. Staff is very friendly. If you have kids it very kid friendly. 100% will return again.

We just went again last weekend. The rest of the extended family went four years ago and I didn't…read moremake it, but I did go to the ranch eight years ago for the reunion. It was great. The new lodge that was built after the fire several years ago is gorgeous. I highly recommend this place for a nice experience in a beautiful setting in the Adirondacks.

The Hewitt Lake Club is marvelous in every way. Wonderful beyond description. Magic awaits around…read moreevery corner.

Build some restrooms FFS! It's unreasonable to expect paying customers to walk across the street in…read morethe rain to take a leak.

This place was reminiscent of the arcades I grew up in. It was spacious, clean, and had plenty to…read moreplay. It still has the feel of arcades from years past despite being new and current. It hit me with a great feeling of nostalgia walking into this place, and it brought me back to my childhood. Finding a Zoltar here was awesome! We also enjoyed the shooting gallery in the back. Fun place to visit while waiting for a dinner reservation, or after visiting house of Frankenstein. Also great on a rainy day. Recommended!