SPONSORED CONTENT | ROOST
Discover summer in the wide open spaces and legendary places of the Lake Champlain Region. This slice of northeastern New York state shines in the summer, with its rich history intertwined amongst outdoor recreation opportunities and authentically Adirondack cuisine. The winding lake links several communities together, creating itinerary options that satisfy every summer fun-seeker’s appetite for active relaxation.
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History & Heritage: Fort Ticonderoga, once a site that changed hands several times during the Revolutionary War, is now a popular destination for history lovers. Its scenic location at the southern tip of Lake Champlain is watched over by Mount Defiance, an important prominence that has become the perfect spot for lunch, with a stunning view of the star-shaped fort. Down below Defiance, a self-guided tour of the grand King’s Garden, and a guided boat tour aboard the Carillon, can be the highlights of a trip to Fort Ticonderoga. A visit to the fort only scratches the surface of the area’s storied history, and a stop Crown Point Historic Site can satisfy every history-nuts’ interest. The short walking trails around the ruins of the historic fort at this Historic Site bring you back in time, and adding a visit to the museum will really immerse you into the storyline behind this important location for American history. While you’re here, visit the Crown Point Lighthouse at the campground nearby. Built in the 1800’s, this sentinel of Lake Champlain overlooks the narrow passageway between New York and Vermont, spanned by the scenic Champlain Bridge, which also has a walking path across. - Attractions: The Lake Champlain Region has wide-ranging attractions that showcase everything from unexpected science fiction sets to our own version of the Grand Canyon. Believe it or not, a run-in with William Shatner and other well-known Star Trek actors isn’t out of the question with a visit to the Start Trek: Original Series Set Tour, located in Ticonderoga. You can tour the inside of the Enterprise, and even make a trip out of Trekonderoga, a yearly event filled with presentations, meet and greets with celebrities, and so much more.Further north, you’ll find one of the most awe-inspiring attractions in the region, Ausable Chasm. Affectionately known as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, this must-see sight has numerous options for exploration, including a self-guided tour on the canyon rim and opportunities for a guided tour of the Chasm’s other features. On Ausable Chasm property, the North Star Underground Railroad Museum hosts informative and moving displays of one of the most crucial stretches of the historical underground railroad in the country. Visiting here willmake you want to hop on one of the seasonal bus tours that takes you to other Path Through History sites, some of which are in the Lake Champlain Region.
- Farms & flavors: Farm-to-table is a way of life for the communities of the Lake Champlain Region. Farms and their stands, stores, and markets dot the rolling hills and lakeside fields, giving travelers the opportunity to sample the season’s harvest. The Hub on the Hill lives up to its name, being a gathering place for local farms from across the eastern Adirondacks, where you can experience, and indulge in, the food grown in the region. Dive deeper with a guided tour of Essex Farms and all of its fields, pastures, and livestock. A little farther north, on a lovely drive through rolling hills and picturesque ponds, is North Country Creamery. A stop here can mean trying authentic cow’s milk yogurt, to learning all about the science behind cheese making, and even visiting their on-site Clover Mead Cafe for a taste of the local food through delicious baked goods, sandwiches, and produce. Later in the season, the Adirondack Harvest Festival is a beloved showcase where you can meet the folks farming across the region, and enjoy a little live music along the way.
- On the water: No visit to the Lake Champlain Region would be complete without some time on New York’s side of one of the largest lakes in the United States. Experiencing the lake can mean lots of things, like lounging shoreside on one of the beaches in Westport or Port Henry, or even on a patio, enjoying dinner with a view. Many marinas offer dining experiences on the lake, like the Galley Restaurant at the Westport Marina, and the Indian Bay Marina and Restaurant in Willsboro. If you’re looking to actually get out on the water, the ferry at Essex can bring you to the Vermont side and back for a fantastic view of the Adirondack Mountains. Want to explore the waters yourself? Adirondack Boat Rental in Ticonderoga can get you on a pontoon boat and motoring around the stunning shores of the lake. Non-motorized leisure adventuring on the water is accessible here too, with canoe and kayak rental shops and guides ready for you to take advantage of, giving you access to the little coves, sandy beaches, and hidden spots of the lake.
- Hiking: Nestled between the high summits in the eastern Adirondacks, and Lake Champlain, hiking trails snake over foothills and along babbling streams in the region. Champlain Area Trails (CATS) is a wonderful local organization that preserves and creates hiking trails in the region, and most are short walks to unique viewpoints or historic locations. A newer trail, the paths looping Essex Quarry bring you back in time, in more than one way. Search for all of the fossils embedded in the limestone found along the trail, which was also the star of the show at the quarry decades ago, when it was used for everything from local buildings to the Brooklyn Bridge. If awe-inspiring views of the lake, or quant coves tucked between towering cliffs, are your cup of tea, then the Split Rock Wild Forest is a must. The trails aren’t too tough, and the entire Wild Forest has a map that lets you get creative with trail length, destination, and starting point.
