5 Must-Do’s in Lake George, New York
The southern end of Lake George, New York. Lake George Steamboat Co. boat visible in the background.
Lake George will always hold a special place in my heart. Every time I visit, it just feels like home. My grandparents had a house on the north end of the lake for my entire childhood. I have fond memories of days spent out on the boat, picnics on West Dollar Island, and day trips to Lake George Village to play in the arcade. I now visit with my children and make it a priority to “get up to the lake” at least once a year. We recently spent Memorial Day Weekend at Lake George Escape Campground in a cabin that is included with our Thousand Trails Cabin Pass. Even after four decades of visiting the region, 3 of the following 5 items were completely new to me. It is an ideal family destination where you could easily spend a week or more exploring.
The Minne-Ha-Ha is just one of the boats in the Lake George Steamboat Co. fleet. We chose the 1-hour cruise on the Mohican, which was more conducive to our kids short attention spans.
Our first must-do is the Lake George Steamboat Company. Their docks are located at the southern tip of the lake and there is parking available across the street in their lot. On the day we visited it was technically still pre-season so parking was free. We chose the 1-hour afternoon cruise on the Mohican and utilized their online special for Buy 1 Get 1 Free. It was just $33 plus tax for the four of us to sail. We found this to be a great value and it was a fun way to get out on the water since we did not have access to our own boat this trip. For little ones, I would stick with the 1-hour cruise. While the lake is beautiful and the houses along the shoreline alone are a sight to see, our 3 and 6-year-olds had their fill with the shorter cruise. With the 1-hour cruise, you get a bit of Lake George's history and enjoy some beautiful sights along the southern end of the lake.
Just across the street from the dock is our next stop, Around the World Miniature Golf. There are two courses here, Around the US and Around the World. If you are a diehard golfer, save that date-stamped scorecard and you can play the second course at a discount later in the day. We allowed our kids to pick, and they chose Around the US. It was a great course and very challenging. The 18th hole alone was worth it! For the spoiler, check out our Instagram or Tik Tok. It was amazing!
It’s not a vacation without ice cream and there is no better ice cream on the southern end of the lake than Martha’s Dandee Cream, located across Route 9 from Great Escape. They are known for their soft serve which comes in several flavors that rotate daily. Their portions are huge, so come hungry. Even the “kiddie” size was more typical of a small or medium size elsewhere.
Even on Memorial Day Weekend, when the water temperature was an icy 55 degrees, I could not resist a dip in the lake. Luckily air temperatures were nearing 90 degrees, so we spent the morning at Million Dollar Beach. My husband thought I was crazy to get in the water, but as the day grew warmer, even he was persuaded to take a dip. This is the perfect beach for small kids. It is not large and can get very busy, but they were able to play along the shoreline and we did not have to worry about them quite as much as we do when we are at an ocean beach. Even they braved the chilly water for a bit but preferred to busy themselves on the shoreline with sand toys and newfound friends. There is a $10 fee to park in the lot. There is a large bathhouse with changing rooms, showers, and toilets. We noticed some people enjoying the shoreline just west of Million Dollar Beach, but with small children, we prefer to pay the $10 for access to the facilities and the added comfort of having a lifeguard present.
Finally, the best view of Lake George can be found at the top of Prospect Mountain. For those who love to hike, there is a trailhead in the village and it is about 3 miles roundtrip. For those not nearly that ambitious, there is a road just south of Lake George Village that grants you access almost to the top of the mountain. From the parking lot, you can walk up a path to the summit. Since the pandemic, we have also had the option to walk up the remainder of the paved roadway with the stroller, since their shuttle has not been in service. There is a $10 fee per car and the road is open May 27th-November 11th, 2023. At the peak, there are picnic areas with tables and grills, a variety of lookout points, and some large boulders that my kids love to climb and explore.
Million Dollar Beach, Lake George, New York
While this is a great starting point for anyone visiting the area for the first time, those who have been there, know there is so much to do. Lake George is a nature lover’s paradise, located at the southern edge of the Adirondack region. Hiking, boating, fishing, and a variety of water sports can be found throughout the area. And for those who appreciate a more commercial vacation experience, restaurants, miniature golf, amusement parks, and arcades abound. Not to mention, you are within day-trip driving distance to many well-known destinations like Lake Placid, Burlington Vermont, and Ausable Chasm.
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