Adirondack Family Time™

By Diane Chase, Adirondack Family Activities Have fun this weekend with New York State's Maple Weekend. Producers across New York are hosting fun family events with wagon rides, tours, and sampling.  Below is a listing of Adirondack (and beyond) producers.  FRANKLIN COUNTY Friend's Maple Products,  402 Spencer Road,  Burke, NY,  (518) 483-5559 Activities:  Free horsedrawn wagon rides to the sugarbush to see the tapping. Syrup,maple lollipops, maple cotton, maple cream and homemade donuts for sale. Don't miss a taste of ice cream with fresh maple syrup! Enter our drawing for a free gift basket of maple products. Tour the entire production process from tapping, gathering, & evaporating the sap. Directions:  1 1/2 miles off State Route 11, Burke Open:  March 17, March 18, March 24, March 25 The Wild Center ,  Tupper Lake,  (518) 359-7800 (admission) Activities:  On March 17th it's All Maple Day sll day with maple stories, crafts, and tastings a

Don't miss the  2nd Annual Winter Raptor Fest  in Fort Edward March 10-11, 2012! It will be a  two-day celebration  of the birds of prey found throughout the Washington County Grasslands IBA! If you enjoy a rare glimpse of these creatures in their wild habitat, you will love this event! See these impressive creatures  swoop, soar, and show off their skills in live demonstrations  and learn more about how you can help protect the endangered and at risk birds in the area!  FEE: $5 – good for one Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) free-flight and one other Live Bird of Prey program (limited seating available); free sleigh ride included with purchase of 2 or more! FREE ADMISSION to EXHIBITOR BARN – meet the Live Birds of Prey and the educators/rehabilitators!  Dress warm – barn does not have heat. Program Tent will be heated.     Schedule of Events

SnoFest in Old Forge will take place this March 10-11, 2012 with demo rides, vendors and raffle prizes. Gates to the North Street Recreation Center will be open on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is free. There will be Freestyle Snocross Shows all three days, with a Back-Flip Fireworks Finale on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Special SNOFEST Trail Pass Purchase a Town of Webb & Inlet 2011-2012 snowmobile trail pass during SNOFEST weekend (March 10th-13th) for $65 per sled. Thats a $15 savings off the regular price trail pass plus ride the rest of 2011 for FREE! Only valid 3/10-3/13, must purchase in person at the Old Forge or Inlet Visitor Info Centers.

2nd Annual Footy Film Festival will take place at the Hollywood Theatre, Au Sable Forks March 24, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Here is a quick sample of what to expect! Come and check out the finalists in the  2nd annual wintersports film competition to benefit USASA Adirondack athletes headed to 2012 Nationals at Copper Mt, CO.

The 2012 Lake Placid Sunday Garden Series is FREE on Sundays from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Heaven Hill Farm, 302 Bear Cub Road, Lake Placid March 11 - KEEPING BEEZZZ Dick Crawford of the Champlain Valley Beekeepers  Association is a long-time beekeeper and honey producer who has mentored  countless novice North Country Beekeepers through the years. A general interest program for all kinds of bee aficionados.

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.