Adirondack Family Time™

Paul Smith's College students will be giving away CFL light bulbs on March 3rd 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. so go check out The Community Store and see what else is being offered.

By Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Activities™   For a family mountain, Old Forge’s McCauley Mountain can’t be beat.  With an elevation of 2,330’ McCauley has something to offer everyone in our family.  The terrain park is the first thing we see as we pull into the parking area but we quickly pass it to the lifts and make the most of the day.  There is one double chairlift and one T-Bar that access all 20 trails and a Rope Tow for the Mighty Mite. The second T-Bar is at the terrain park area. My kids are well past the Mighty Mite but it is still sweet to see that special place right in the middle of the mountain for those beginner skiers.

Would your 11 to 17-year old like to go to Environmental Conservation Camp? Here is a chance to win a full scholarship to a week at either Camp Colby in Saranac Lake or Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg. Deadline to enter is March 7. 

Don't forget to help stop hunger at the 2nd annual North Country Food Pantry Benefit. Eleven musicians are donating their amazing talents for a free concert. Your cost is to bring a nonperishable food item or donation to the food pantry. Come and go! The concert (February 25) starts at noon and continues to 8:00 p.m. at the Saranac Lake Harrietown Town Hall. Help fight hunger! This year’s line-up is impressive. Drop by the Harrietstown Town Hall to see Cameron Anderson, Shamrock House Band, Theresa Hartford, Rustic Riders, Celia Evans, Eric and the Dutchman, Jamie Savage, Roy Hurd, Blind Owl Band and the Ruff, Good Daques Band. There will be refreshments available for purchase through Paul Smith’s College and SODEXO with all proceeds benefiting local food pantries. There will be another musical benefit in the spring to benefit the Tupper Lake Food Pantry. 

Annual Indian Lake Winterfest    Feburary 17-19, 2012 Friday: Mardi Gras Parade 4:30pm, Pasta Dinner at the Legion Hall 5:00pm, Movie at IL Theater 7:00pm. Saturday: Breakfast at the Firehall 7:00-10:00am, Snowarrior Poker Run starts at Byron Park 9:00am, Craft Fair at IL School Cafeteria 10:00-3:00pm, Book and Bake Sale at the Town Hall 10:00-2:00pm, Roast Beef Dinner at the Methodist Church 5:00pm, Gallery Reception and Dance Party at Adk. Lakes Center for the Arts (Blue Mountain Lake) 5:00pm, Tricky Tray at IL School Gym doors open at 6:30pm, Movie at Indian Lake Theater 7:00pm. Sunday: Breakfast at the Firehall 7:00-11:00am, Games and Fun for grade school age kids at the Ski Hut 1:00pm, Make Your Own Sled Races on the sliding slope at 3:00pm, Jalapeno Eating Contest at Marty's Chili Nights at 3:00pm, Bon Fire, Torch Run and Fireworks at the Ski Hut 6:30pm. FREE skating, skiing and sliding all weekend and during President's Week on Tower Hill, weather permitt

The Paul Smith's VIC has instituted a No-School Day Junior ADK Steward Program. On Tuesday, February 21, join Sarah Keyes, Paul Smith's VIC naturalist for a full day program (9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.)  of outdoor activities geared toward 6-10 year-olds. There will be arts and crafts, snowshoeing and other activities. Bring your own lunch though snacks will be provided.  The costs is $20/$25 for non-members. Call 518-327-5241 or email skeyes@paulsmiths.edu for more information! © Diane Chase, author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay, Wilmington, Keene/Keene Valley which is available online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the second guidebook in the four-book series of Adirondack Family Activities.

By Diane Chase We aren't actually going on the bobsled, this time. My partner in crime does not meet the 48" height requirement and if heredity stays true, she won't be that tall for quite some time. We drop her brother at Mt Van Hoevenberg for a skate ski lesson and figure out how to entertain ourselves. I have a bum knee from a skiing mishap and she is hungry.  A short distance away is the Lake Placid Bobsled Experience . We are fortunate because busloads of people are being dropped off. Though you do need a ticket to enter the building, we ask if we can just watch a few runs while enjoying some hot chocolate from the snack bar.

Join Old Forge in Celebrating Super Bowl XLVI at McCauley Mountain. Ski races, parade, music, fireworks and more! 

Lake George Winter Carnival Schedule of Events.   There is something to do every Weekend in February in Lake George! 8:00AM ::  Hot Air Balloon Tether Rides  (Fee) :: Million Dollar Beach -SunKiss Ballooning  (Weather Permitting) 11AM-2:00PM ::  Children’s Activities  & Face Paintings by Amanda ::King Neptune’s 2:30PM ::  Snowmobile Water Skip  :: Shepards Park Beach 12-2:00PM ::  Games  ($1) :: Prizes at Shepards Park Beach 3:00PM ::  Polar Plunge  :: Shepards Park Beach 12-2:00PM ::  Snowmobile Rides  ($2) :: On the ice 12-2:00PM ::  Wood Carving Demonstrations  :: Shepards Park Beach 12-2:30PM ::  Children’s Petting Zoo  :: Saturdays at Shepards Park All day ::  Dog Sled Rides  ($10) :: On the ice All day ::  Helicopter Rides  ($45) :: On the ice Below are some additional highlights from each weekend's events or click on the picture. 

Our car in the winter looks like a sporting goods store. Ice skates, sleds and snowshoes are the standard elements for winter fun for our family in the Adirondacks.  Sledding in Lake Placid can be tricky. Though most people will go sledding on local golf courses, do realize that it is private property and you are considered a trespasser.  One of the wonderful things about an old fashioned sledding hill is anyone can do it from the youngest to eldest in your group. 

The 115th annual Saranac Lake Winter Ice Carnival will take place from February 3- 12, 2012.  With a full 10-day schedule of activities and events, there is something for everyone in Saranac Lake. THURSDAY, February 2 5:30 p.m.  – 13th Annual Past Royalty Mixer and Dinner *Red Fox Restaurant, $, call 891-1286 for reservations FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3 7:30 p.m.  –  Coronation Of Carnival Royalty *At the Harrietstown Town Hall Sponsored By Women’s Civic Chamber Reception Following Ceremony; Downhill Grill SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 10 a.m.: Ice Palace Fun Run (4 miles) (Ice Palace) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: 19th Annual Business & Professional Women Chocolate Festival (Harrietstown Town Hall, $) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Lutheran Church Women’s Craft Sale (Harrietstown Town Hall, $) 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Petrova Winter Carnival (fun for kids) (Petrova Elementary School Cafeteria, $) 11 a.m.: The Curling Exhibition (Near the State Boat Launch site on Lake Flower) 11 a.m.: Paul Smith

Tuesday, January 31st  at 1:00 p.m. The Saranac Village at Will Rogers Senior Outing Club, in conjunction with Dewey Mountain Recreation Center, will host a Senior Snowshoe Outing at Dewey Mountain.  Join seniors (55+) for a free afternoon of snowshoeing.  Snowshoes will be provided at no extra cost.  Reservations must be made by calling  Jenn Grisi at  (518) 891-7117  or emailing her at retireatwillrogers@verizon.net .     The Saranac Village at Will Rogers Senior Outing Club is open to all seniors (55+) interested in venturing out for moderate activity at various locations around the area. Activities are held on the last Tuesday of every month. The club's mission is to "offer seniors the chance to enjoy outdoor adventures with companionship, safety and fun." © Diane Chase, author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes and High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities) for the towns of Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Jay/Upper Jay,