Adirondack Family Time™

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