Lake Placid/Saranac Lake Staycation or Vacation

Though it may not feel like spring, things are starting to wake up around the Adirondacks. We’ve even been lucky enough to observe a few bald eagles! We are waiting for maple sap to run so we can begin producing. Our seedlings are starting to sprout. This is also a great time to explore the area’s museums and ski hills before the snow finally melts for good. 

Whether you are visiting or taking a staycation, here are a few ideas to keep yourself active during an Adirondack spring break. 

Snow Tubing (weather permitting)
Lake Placid Jumping Complex (weekends only) Call 523-8830
Titus Mountain Snow Tubing, Malone. Call 518-483-3740
Museums
*The Wild Center, 45 Museum Dr., Tupper Lake. Make sure to stop by the museum the last two weekends in March.  The Wild Center closes in April for exhibit installations. ($)
 LakePlacid Olympic Museum, 2634 Main St, Lake Placid. Open daily. Call 518-302-5326, ,

Children in grades 3 to 5 can spend the day (9:30 am – 4 pm) at The VIC going to the sugarhouse, hiking, finding tracks, arts and crafts all the while teaching kids to be eco-explorers.
Reserve by March 27 at 5 pm for March 31- April 2
$35/day ($25 for Friends of VIC members) Call 518-327-6241

Maple Weekends March 28-29, 10am – 4 pm 
Take the family on maple house tours, enjoy a pancake breakfasts, collect sap, taste samples. The second weekend is Adirondack Maple Weekend with additional restaurant specials, discounts, and activities. Here are some Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area maple sugar shacks tours. Check out NYSMaple.com for times and dates for these and other location.
Mark Twain Maple Works, 624 Lake St, Saranac Lake
Cornell Uihlein Field Station, 157 Bear Cub Ln, Lake Placid
Nik Santagate and Sons, Timberdown Maple, 9048 Rt 30, Paul Smiths
Paul Smith’s College VIC, 8023 Rt. 30, Paul Smiths
The Wild Center, 45 Museum Dr., Tupper Lake
Black Rooster Maple, Rt. 9N, Keene

Indoor Climbing Walls
Keep in mind that you do not need a lot of rock climbing experience to enjoy spending a few hours at a climbing gym. Perhaps after a few hours you’ll want to hire a guide to go out and do it for real.  
The Climbery at High Peaks Cyclery, 2733 Main St, Lake Placid, 523-3764, www.highpeakscyclery.com, is open 7 days a week, Sun 9 am – 5 pm, Monday and Wednesday-Saturday 9 am – 6 pm, Tuesday 9 am – 6 pm.  $10/climbing and shoe rental for 2 hours or get a 10-visit climbing pass/$40
The Crux, 56 Rogers Ln, Willsboro, 963-4646, www.climbthecrux.com, is open through May. Monday – Wednesday 6-10 pm, Friday 6-10 pm, Saturday noon – 6 pm. Children (12 and under) $8 kids, $10 for adults, rental: $7.50/helmet, harness, shoes, and chalk bag. Look for special Saturday Kids Club Day: free rentals for the families.

Bowling
Bowling is great exercise and also just plain fun. All the bowling lanes offer daily specials, food, beverages and other activities.
Bowlwinkles, 2750 Main St, Lake Placid, 518-523-7868, www.bowlwinkles.net. Call for daily bowling specials as well as times for the arcade and indoor bounce houses.
Lakeview Lanes Family Fun Center, 1939 Rt. 30, Tupper Lake. Call for bowling specials.  518-359-2234
Romano’s Saranac Lanes, 11 Bloomingdale Ave, Saranac Lake, 518-891-8301, www.saranaclanes.net. Ask about the many specials including School Closing Days for Youth ($5/2 games and $1/shoes). Karaoke, bowling, café.  

Swimming
Whether you need to pretend you are on an exotic sandy shore or need to get in shape to be on some exotic sandy shore, these places offer public swimming hours.
Champy’s Fun Zone, 411 Rt. 3, Plattsburgh, 518-562-2730:  Mini Water Park: $10/child for 3 hours and Family Fun Center: pay as you go downstairs at the arcade, mini-bowling and indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf.
North Country Community College Sparks Complex, 112 Dorchester Rd, Saranac Lake has open swim every day but the times vary so call 891-2915, X1236, $7/visit, $50/10-visit punch card.
Paul Smith’s College, 518- 327-6389, recreational swim: Monday – Friday 6:15-7:30 am, 12:30-1:30 pm, Monday and Thursday: 4-5:30 pm, Thursday – Tuesday: 7-9 pm, Saturdays and Sundays: 1- 3 pm. $7/adults, $5/children (14 and under) $18/family

Enjoy the change of seasons! 

 © Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities™ guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time™guidebooks have easy Adirondack family hikes, Adirondack swimming holes, Lake Placid Olympic activities, Adirondack trivia, Adirondack horseback rides, Adirondack snowshoe family trails and more. Look for the Adirondack family guidebook online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the next Adirondack Family Activities™ guide.

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