Top Reasons to Go to Lake George, New York

Lake George, New York: the Queen of American Lakes

Sweet Minne Ha Ha

Stop it! I can’t believe the summer is winding down so fast. It seems like it’s especially unfair this year because in many parts of the country–including the northeast where I’ve been based–the weather has been rather cool and rainy up until this week, which is simply gorgeous! Thankfully there are still even more glorious late summer days ahead–I just know it.

Shepard Beach

View from the South End of the Lake

What was your favorite moment of the summer? One of my best was a weekend spent with an old friend–and a new one–at Lake George, New York. It was a nostalgic trip on many levels because I was returning to a beloved place with Margie, a friend I’ve known since I was a kid. Even better, Margie was also a big part of my childhood/early adult life at this beautiful Adirondack lake.

New and Old Friends: Me, Helena and Margie

Our families both had camps on Cleverdale, on the east side of the lake, and our summers were punctuated with days consumed with bombing around in speed boats and evenings passed trying to get into the Sans Souci, the local bar (We both were way too young, especially me; although in later years, we could hang out there. Then on big nights, we’d drive into Lake George Village for some rip roaring times.) Many a memorable moonlit night was marked by a girl’s sleepover on my family’s boathouse deck and on real wild ones, we’d head out in the rowboat and make a visit to the boy’s sleepover–oh my!

Margie and Me: More than Forty Years Later

My First Visit to the Million Dollar Beach Where My Parents Met

With the Ranger

Indeed, my brother, Phil, was the first boy Margie kissed and her brother, Peter, was one of my first, too. (I think it was on the occasion of my thirteenth birthday that a group of us giddy girls rowed up to her family’s house, so that I could collect a nice big b-day smooch from Pete.) Those fun and daring times will forever remain etched in our minds. And the one constant of it all was the lake, her silky waters that enveloped us in sweetness, adventure and yes, even love, with every lap on her shores. If you have been to this penetrating thirty-two-mile long lake, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, please go there to experience her lush caress.

Courtyard by Marriott Lake George

Our Room

The Lobby

Returning this summer to Lake George with Margie and her friend, Helena, was extra special. Our family sold our house there just over a year ago, a bold move Margie and Peter’s parents did decades prior. So this time we came back as tourists and we had a blast. I don’t think either of us felt a tinge of sadness. Our beautiful lake was still there–it hadn’t gone anywhere!

This time we lived the lake more or less like tourists; our stay centered around Lake George Village and just north of there up toward Diamond Point. We had a room at the recently opened Courtyard by Marriott Lake George, a lovely property and enjoyed some nice meals out at The Boathouse Restaurant and Blue Water Manor. Lake views were de rigueur.

The Boathouse: A Great Place to Spend a Friday Night

The Boathouse Scene

I hope you enjoy these pictures from our stay. And even better, I hope you click through to my Discovery Map write ups: Instagram-able Moments and Shopping Around Lake George. They provide you with a mountain of reasons for going to this fun destination all year long.

Lakeside Lunch at Blue Water Manor

This Discovery Map post feels especially poignant to me for many reasons. In addition to the sentimentality around the Lake and the shared memories and this summer’s experience with Margie, I should add that Peter is actually the owner of Discovery Map. I’m sure he hired me on because he likes my writing–not because of those first kisses. But it’s funny to think of where us LG kids ended up and how we’ve reconnected on so many levels. Life often comes full circle, doesn’t it?

Fun Times with Margie

Oh, and Margie has a map, too. It’s of Carefree, Cave Creek and North Scottsdale, Arizona where she has been living for quite some time. You can check out my write ups on her destination at Embrace the Desert and Desert Dining and Shopping. I’ll be giving her more of a feature on my blog in the upcoming weeks.

Yes, we get around.

LG Sunset

Read Visiting My Beautiful Adirondack Lake with the Lake George Steamboat Company to give you an idea of how incredibly wonderful September can be on Lake George.

For insight on one of LG’s best watersports’ activities, read Summer Fun at Lake George, New York.