Here’s Why You Should Make Lake George Your Next NYC Weekend Getaway with the Kids Kate Andriola June 28, 2016 Family Travel, New York Nestled in the heart of the Southern Adirondacks, Lake George is the perfect spot with something enjoyable for the whole family. Get out of NYC for the weekend to a fun (and wallet-friendly!) spot that’s filled with both land and lake activities! 1) Family friendly thrills at Six Flags: Great Escape With over 135 rides, games, shows and attractions, Six Flags really is a “great escape” from NYC for some outdoor fun. To continue the adventure across the street, you can stay at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge, a 200-room family suite lodge featuring a whopping 38,000 square foot indoor water park! Credit- Sébastien Champoux 2) Horse around at Saddle Up Stables Saddle Up Stables is one of the largest and oldest stables in the area and offers stunning lake-view scenic trail rides. With a large selection of horses and trips that leave throughout the day, bring the family (as long as everyone is over 6 years of age) for a memorable ride. Credit- Lisa Follette Armstrong/Saddle Up Stables 3) Fireworks over Million Dollar Beach Starting on July 4th and continuing every Thursday night through August, fireworks are launched at the southern end of Lake George. Although there are many deserving spots to watch the show, we suggest Million Dollar Beach, the largest and most well-known beach in the area. The beautiful stretch of sand is the perfect spot to lay down a blanket and watch the sky burst with color over the water. Credit- Louisa Lippard/Flickr Creative Commons RELATED ARTICLE: Check out five other great trips to take with your kids right here! 4) Embrace your inner tourist in Lake George Village Don’t let the touristy reputation of Lake George Village deter you. Instead, embrace it! Filled with pizza parlors, ice cream shops, arcades, mini-golf courses and souvenir shops galore, the town is basically any child’s dream. Buy a tacky t-shirt and enjoy a beautiful evening walking in and out of shops on Canada Street, the bustling main drag in the village. 5) Hike Prospect Mountain On a sunny summer’s day, the panoramic view of Lake George and the vast Adirondack region makes the climb up the 2030-foot summit of Prospect Mountain well worth it. For the less adventurous folks, not to worry. You can still enjoy the breathtaking views via shuttle car to the peak of the mountain. Credit- “A Keeper’s Jackpot”/Flickr Creative Commons 6) Cruise around Lake George (like a Pirate!) The Lake George Steamboat Company offers a variety of magnificent cruise options to tour the famously scenic Lake George. With kids on deck, however, we definitely recommend selecting a specialty tour. The “Minne Ha Ha Summer Pirate Cruise” is a favorite. After handing out a “treasure bag” with temporary tattoos and eye patches to the kids, the weekly one- hour trip journeys across the lake for a “treasure quest.” Credit- Flickr Creative Commons/gyanmusic Did we miss your kids favorite Lake George spot? Let us know in the comments below!
