Local Adirondack Attractions
Adirondack Park was formed in 1885 and now consists of over 6-million acres of public and private lands. The park is larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky, and Everglades National Parks combined and covers over 1/5 of New York State. Long Lake is located in the center of Adirondack Park, which makes Journey’s End an excellent base for day-trips throughout the region.
Whether you’re interested in biking, canoeing, kayaking and fishing – or shopping, dining and theater – you’ll find local attractions and plentiful nearby day-trips. Historic Long Lake village offers dining, shopping, groceries and supplies, a public library, and custard stands.The Long Lake beach offers swimming and diving, with life guards during the summer. An open-air market showcases local farmers and artisans. 2 general stores sell fresh food and fishing supplies, along with maps and guidebooks. Also nearby are a nature interpretive center, the Adirondack Museum, The Wild Center, and historic estates or “great camps.” Boat and airplane rides provide in-depth tours of local lakes and historic lure. Guests have spotted both loons and eagles directly in front of their cottages.
Your adventure can begin by exploring Long Lake itself. In addition to the canoe on the premises, there is one marina on the lake that offers a variety of watercrafts for hire. Boating on Long Lake, which is the longest lake in the area, is the best way to view its unique geological features. The shoreline varies from natural sandy beaches, including Black Sand Beach, to sheer rocky cliffs towering several stories high. The northern end of the lake is the geographic center of the Adirondack Mountains. Here you’ll find several islands containing some of the older Great Camps (former summer homes of the rich and famous).
Long Lake is one of the famous stops for canoeists on the Fulton Chain of Lakes, which connects over 140-miles of waterways. You might enjoy seeing one of the many competitive boat races which take place throughout the season. If hiking interests you, we recommend visiting the Adirondack Mountain Club for information on dozens of trails in the area, the most famous being the Northville-Placid Trail. Trails range from nature walks for the novice, to those that can challenge even an expert hiker and climber. Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the wild and beautiful Adirondack Mountains.
At the headwaters of Long Lake you’ll discover Buttermilk Falls, a scenic place for enjoying a picnic and a favorite spot for fishing. It’s considered by many to be the most picturesque spot on the lake and will give photographers an opportunity to take great ‘postcard shots’. You might want to take a sightseeing trip on one of the seaplane tours offered on the lake. It’s a thrilling way to get breathtaking aerial photographs of the Adirondack Mountains.
The nearby town of Long Lake has good restaurants and unique shops, as well as grocery stores, a Laundromat, and mini-marts to fulfill any needs. You can visit the Mt. Sabattis Recreation area, which offers several lighted tennis courts, fitness trails, and basketball courts. The Pavilion there hosts various events, including Art and Antique shows, outdoor Band Concerts, and various craft shows throughout the season. Other major shopping is just twenty minutes away. You can visit the Long Lake Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department for more information.
Journey’s End is conveniently located between two of the area’s favorite attractions: the Adirondack Museum and the Visitor’s Interpretive Centers. Both establishments can be easily reached within a short 10-mile drive.
The Adirondack Museum is located on thirty-two acres overlooking Blue Mountain Lake and has been described by the New York Times as ‘the best museum of its kind in the world.’ You’ll discover an intriguing museum with exhibits on the Adirondack region’s history, geology, native inhabitants, wildlife and early explorers.
The Visitor’s Interpretive Centers are open FREE year-round, and serve the Adirondack Park as traveler-orientation and environmental-education centers. The facilities offer miles of scenic, surfaced trails that feature signs explaining the local ecology. Indoor exhibits on natural history are complemented by regular showings of multi-image presentations on the park.
Another nearby attraction is the Adirondack Lake Center for the Arts, which boasts not only great exhibits all year, but also live entertainment ranging from theater to vocal and instrumental performances throughout the season.
The Wild Center is a not-for-profit organization overseen by the Museum’s Board of Trustees with the assistance of its Advisory Board. The Museum is located on a 31-acre site in the Town of Tupper Lake, NY near the geographic center of the Adirondack Park. The Adirondacks are unique in the world. Surrounded by people, they house great expanses of nature interspersed with small towns and communities. They can be a model for a future where man and the rest of the natural world find better ways to coexist.
You will also have an opportunity to cruise on the W.W. Durant on nearby, scenic Raquette Lake. There are regularly scheduled 1 1/2 hour sightseeing excursions with narration, as well as special luncheon, dinner, and moonlight cruises. You can enjoy dining in an ambience of elegant turn-of-the-century opulence. Each day the chef prepares a balanced array of hot and cold dishes garnered from a collection of international and original recipes.
The Great Camp Sagamore was built in 1897, and served as the summer retreat for the Vanderbilt family for over 50 years. Adirondack Great Camps, dating from the Gilded Age at the turn of the century, are considered the “Jewels of the Adirondacks.” Sagamore’s 27 rustic buildings include the architectural prototype for many National Park Service designs. This National Historic Site is now open to the public and you can enjoy a 2-hour guided walking tour of the complex.
World famous Lake Placid, home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics is just an hour’s drive away. You’ll want to visit the Olympic Village and take a tour of the New Olympic Training Center. You can ride the chairlift and elevator to the SkyDeck at the top of the 26-story, 120-meter Olympic ski-jumping tower for a spectacular view. If you dare, you may try rocketing down a hill on the bobsled ride, called the “Summer Storm”. We also suggest boarding the tour boat on Lake Placid, which offers a narrated guide to the beautiful homes and famous residents on the lake. Later, you can browse the many boutiques in the downtown area, and enjoy fine dining at some of the best restaurants in the Adirondack Park.