Adirondack Family Time™

I can't be the only one who just doesn't feel like cooking. A quick stop to Villa Vespa in Lake Placid puts all my worries behind me. Fresh homemade pasta, garlic bread and an amazing Eggplant Parmagiano is all I need. Of course there are plenty of other options at this Italian specialty store.   from fresh soups

© 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.

Adirondack Family Activities™: By Diane Chase Mount Baker (Baker Mountain) Saranac Lake, New York Distance:  1.8 miles RT  Ascent:  884′  Elevation:  2452′  Mount Baker is a relatively short climb (1.8-miles round trip) and perfect for our first mother-daughter hike. She is constantly talking to herself as I sign the registry, a running commentary, gathering and lining up all her imaginary friends. We have quite a gang climbing with us, though only two of us are visible to any passersby.

By Diane Chase This WPTZ video  of the flooding shows just some of the damage around the Adirondack High Peaks area.  Here are more pictures as well as a video of the bridge around the Whiteface/Lake Placid Olympic Ski Jumps. So much flooding, so much to overcome. Phil Brown with Adirondack Explorer reports on the loss of the Marcy Dam Bridge and devastation to the Adirondack Loj road. Update:  The Cloudsplitter Gondola and Veteran's Memorial Highway are currently closed while damage from Irene is accessed. Please note Route 86 between Lake Placid and Whiteface is also closed at this time. photos are the © of WTPZ.com and only used to direct people to the WTPZ video and warn visitors of the damage of the Routes of 73 and 9 in the Adirondack Park.  Diane Chase is the 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

Azure Mountain is about 2518 feet in elevation,  with beautiful views of the High Peaks region to the south and east and the St. Lawrence River to the north. Located off the Blue Mountain Rd., take NYS Rte. 458 to the Blue Mountain Rd. and travel approximately 6 miles to the trailhead. The parking lot is to the west. Our friends are going to climb Azure Mountain so we invite ourselves along for the hike. I am told it is an easy mile up . Not to underestimate my abilities but upon hearing the magic words, “one-mile” I am all for it. I can conquer a mountain; rest on top and still return for naptime.

Santa summers in Wilmington Even Santa has a summer home and it’s in Wilmington, New York. Known as the forerunner of the present day theme park, Santa’s Workshop in North Pole NY (Wilmington) opened its doors in 1949. The fantasy village was designed in part by Arto Monaco (the Land of Make Believe fame). Complete with rides, farm animals, Christmas-themed shops, reindeer and an actual frozen North “pole” Santa’s Workshop has seen hundreds of thousands of people pass through its doors.

From the DEC  Hurricane Irene Safety and Cleanup Information  Hiking and Camping Advisory Due to anticipated hazardous weather from Hurricane Irene,   all New York State operated  campgrounds  in the Catskill and Adirondack Park will be closed effective Saturday, 8/27 at 12 noon. All current reservations through Sunday, 8/28 are cancelled.  Please check this website and call ahead for campground status for all reservations beginning Monday, 8/29. Please call 1-800-456-CAMP (1-800-456-2267) 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.