Adirondack Family Time™

By Diane Chase Last year my family and I attended the first annual John Dillon Park progressive dinner and walk. We had been under the impression that John Dillon Park was only available to people with disabilities. We were incorrect. The fully accessible campground is available to everyone, but manageable for someone with a disability.  This year the event takes place Sunday, September 16 from 3:30-6:30 pm. A parking attendant gestures us to a field cleared for temporary parking. A Paul Smith’s College bus picks us up and transports us to the welcome center and 1 st  station. There were five different stations spread out through the various campground lean-tos. My family grabs a drink at the first station and hits the trail. The paths are wide and lined with pea gravel. Some guests are in wheelchairs and easily maneuver through any obstacles. Others push strollers or walk the easily accessible trails. Signs help the flow of traffic to the next station.

The Adirondack Canoe Classic - The 90-Miler, is a 90-mile  is a three-day, 90-mile flat water canoe race on rivers and lakes from Old Forge, Long Lake to Saranac Lake. The 90-Miler is limited to 250 boats.   It was first organized in 1983 as a means to celebrate the historic human-powered means of transportation that was once so critical to exploring the Adirondack Park. Paddlers will work their way through the Fulton Chain, Eckford Chain, Long Lake, Raquette River and all the Saranac Lakes.  There are plenty of places to be able to observe the races along the 90-mile canoe/kayak paddle route.  Spectators: Day One: Old Forge Waterfront, Inlet waterfront, Raquette Lake bridge, Blue Mountain Lake waterfront, Day Two: Bissell's Field in Long Lake Route 30 bridge in Long Lake, Tupper Lake's Crusher on Route 30, Day Three: Fish Creek Campground, Lake Flower Saranac Lake. 

By Diane Chase Now is your chance to put science to the test, make a catapult and see if your invention can out distance your neighbors.  Punkin' Chunkin ' will take place this Saturday as part of the Long Lake and Adirondack Center for the Arts' Oktober Pet Fest. Each participant will receive three pumpkins with a misfire being treated as a foul. Each pumpkin will weigh approximately 8-10 lbs. so plan accordingly. No cannons, ignitables or explosives, if that is where your mind is running. Eye protection and hard hat is provided. “We have been working with the   Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts   to make this an event for everyone,” says Long Lake Event Coordinator Denise Gagnier. “It is the third year for the Pet Fest and we wanted to work with our neighbors at The Center to provide an active event for the Columbus weekend.” According to Gagnier, the  Long Lake Oktober Pet Fest  will host a variety of unique activities geared toward pet owners. T...