I've found one of the most pleasant road bike rides in the land right in the Schroon Lake Region.

Locals will know that the Ensign Pond Road (County Route 4) is a wonderful, 13 mile long route from North Hudson to Moriah Center. However you get there, whether you start in Schroon Lake, North Hudson or in Moriah, this is a great place to explore on two wheels.

The road is scarcely traveled by cars, with few residences, so it's a quiet country ramble. I recently rode the length of it from Moriah to North Hudson as part of a longer loop, but it would be a great out-and-back for a future ride, too.

There are several notable features on this one little road.

First, the road does travel from North Hudson to the town of Moriah, and there is a stone marking the boundary that has "North Hudson Port Henry N.Y." and an image of the two shaking hands etched in it. It is difficult to discern all of the letters and numbers, aside from "9 M." which I assume is the mileage left to the Moriah end of the road. (I haven't researched this marker, but would love any insight if anyone can provide information about it!)

The road also provides access to a trailhead to the Hammond Pond Wilderness, with trails to Trout Pond, Round Pond, and East Mill Flow. Another trailhead links to a loop to Moose Mountain Pond and Bass Lake.
 

 

Closer to the North Hudson end, there is protected wetland that is bisected by the road. A great stop to view wildlife, for sure.

And even closer to the western end is an historic landmark: the North Hudson Pine Ridge Cemetery. We stopped to view the old stones in this very neat and cared-for plot - an Eagle Scout restoration project, according to the sign. In this cemetery you'll find a number of War of 1812 soldiers buried - each currently marked with an 1812 star and flag.

In all one of the most lovely roads for cycling in the region - so agreeable that you'll feel like shaking hands when you ride it, too.

 

-Kim Rielly is the director of communications for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. 

 

Unless you’re going to lug a battery-operated space heater through the forest, a fire is your best bet for staying warm at night in the mountains. Campfires are allowed in most areas of the Adirondacks, but that doesn’t help if you can’t get one going.

First, let's take a look at the basics of fire starting, then we’ll bring it inside because nothing beats a wood stove or fireplace on a frigid winter night.

Assemble a kit

A fire starting kit is an essential item to have in your pack year-round. If you’re hiking here, you have to remember that temperatures can drop below freezing in the summer, and you should expect them to plunge below zero every night in the winter.

That means if you’re injured in the woods you’ll need to stay warm if you have to wait for help to arrive. Not to worry — it’s simple to put a kit together.

First, make sure you have something waterproof to keep your kit in. An old water bottle works well, as does a large vitamin or pill bottle. Just don’t use glass, as it can break.

The kit itself is pretty basic. Most importantly, you’ll need some tinder to light and a way to light it. The tinder can be made of many things. Peeled strips of white cedar bark work particularly well. Simply pull a few strands off the trunk of a tree, roll them up, and stick them into your bottle. Just rub the strands together to produce a fine duff that’s great for getting the rest of your fuel going.

Another option is to make fire starts. One way to do this is by packing dryer lint into a cardboard egg carton, pour wax over each compartment, and cut the whole thing into separate compartments for easy carrying.

These little beauties will burn for about 15 minutes, but they need a good flame to get them going. I’ll get more into fire starting in a bit, but the takeaway is to bring both. Use the fine dander and cedar bark to get the egg starters going.

To get a flame, you’ll need something that can start even when wet. A striking stick is a cheap and reliable source for a spark, but it takes a bit of practice to get good at using it. Waterproof matches produce a flame, but they're difficult to light and they don’t burn for very long.

I like to bring a striker and a lighter, which I keep in a plastic baggie. The striker will work no matter what, but a good old fashioned lighter is a lot easier.

Time to blaze

The teepee shape is the best technique for starting a fire. But before that, it’s important to understand what a fire needs. That's simple: oxygen and fuel.

Here’s how to make it all come together. Start with a pile of tinder, which is a fancy way of saying stuff that burns easily. That can be tiny sticks, dry leaves, newspaper, or that cedar dust from your kit.

Make a small mound of tinder, then arrange some small sticks — called kindling — over it in the shape of a teepee. You can place a few bigger sticks on that, just make sure there’s space between everything to provide good airflow.

Light the tinder, and if you’ve done it right the kindling should start to take. If you’re outdoors, this whole process will be more difficult if the wood is damp. The dryer lint and wax creation I described above comes in handy for this. They burn slowly enough to dry small sticks and ignite them, which in turn will begin to dry the kindling.

Log cabin

A teepee structure is best for a bright, low maintenance fire, but if you’re looking to cook you’re better off going with a log cabin. I like to start with a small teepee, which I flank with two large, dry logs. I bridge the first two logs with two others, taking care not to topple the teepee. The idea here is simple: as the tepee burns the log cabin will catch, and the teepee will eventually collapse, creating a bed of coals.

As the bottom logs burn down they will add to the coals. Just keep placing more logs on the cabin and you’ll have a hot, slow burning structure with a level enough surface to place a cooking grate across for cooking.

Reel it in

Trial and error have taught me that the teepee-log cabin method works great in a wood stove. The only difference is I start with a three-log cabin so I can easily add fuel to the teepee to get some good coals going. Once that happens, I add the fourth log and sometimes even throw another pair on top so I don’t have to mess with it as much. Within a half an hour, our house is cozy.

The key to running a wood stove is controlling the damper. Ours has one on each door — they’re big and round and open and close by turning them clockwise or counter clockwise. I keep the dampers wide open for the first half hour or so of burning. That provides plenty of air to get the wood blazing away. I then add a couple of eco bricks and close the dampers about three-quarters of the way. The result is a slow burning pile of coals that puts off a lot of heat.

Eco bricks are a great alternative to firewood, and they can be purchased at most home improvement stores. They’re essentially just compressed sawdust, which happens to burn hot, clean, and slowly. That means they don’t put out much smoke, they don’t leave much ash behind, and you don’t have to add more as often. They’re also cheap — it’s usually less than $4 for a pack of six, which will easily get you through a cold winter night.

Schroon Lake is beautiful during the colder months. Spend some time outside, then cozy up in one of our warm lodging properties.

First it was private, then it was purchased by The Nature Conservancy, and now it’s owned by New York state. That’s the history, in a compressed fashion, of the Essex Chain Lakes.

About 8 years back, while the land was still in the hands of TNC, I was invited to take a tour of the lakes themselves. Of course I made every possible effort to go, but this time the destination was a bit different and that would bring me and a buddy, Brandon, back to Cedar Mountain. It's one of those peaks I've wanted to climb for quite some time, I think mainly due to its name and my curiosity as to whether or not it is in fact a mountain covered in cedars.

The access roads back in the Chain Lakes Region are closed for vehicles in the winter. That delayed my visit until just last week, when the “roads closed” sign was finally taken down. The dirt roads located south of Goodnow Flow are rough. If your car has any loose parts they would surely be rattled free along the way, especially if you think a higher rate of speed is a good idea. The roads back in there are also like a maze, and none of them have signs marking the way to a specific destination. We passed by two that were gated, and one that was blocked with boulders, and continued to drive up the ungated option. Something in my mind just didn’t feel right, and the rudimentary road map I was using was not much assistance.

We decided to use GPS to navigate the roads, but both of ours seemed to spin nearly out of control. It was odd. First it put Cedar in front of us, then it put it behind us, then it eventually showed us going in the wrong direction. We needed to walk along one of the gated roads, so we turned around. About 200 feet back down the road the GPS said it was behind us again, so we turned around. Then, as if in some sort of twisted, real life “Groundhog Day,” the GPS pointed us back once again.

Eventually we got a lock on the roads, turned around for a third time, and came to the conclusion that we needed to walk the last gated road we came to. Once we broke free of the road the GPS started to work like normal and we could understand where we were. Unfortunately, this road was not yet open to traffic, and rightly so — the sand was still a bit soft. That would be OK, as the hike would now be more than a 1-mile wander, but a 4-mile round-trip stroll.

Oh spring, where have you been? It felt so good to not hike in layers, but now with rolled up sleeves. But the black flies we could still do without. They were not too bad along the road, even as we passed by several obvious wet areas, but we knew the second band of reinforcements would be coming soon in the form of mosquitos, and then the heavy cavalry, the deer flies, but that would be later in June. Honestly, they're not too bad, as long as you're prepared. Plenty of local shops sell locally made bug repellants, so be sure to pick some up before venturing into the woods.

Many areas along the road were set up as camping locations, and even a couple of parking areas were marked, but they didn’t appear to be used yet. Perhaps the state was still doing up the finishing touches prior to a launch.

Eventually the road started to climb along the shoulder of Cedar Mountain. Soon it was just circumnavigating the peak, gaining us nothing, so we headed into the woods and started along the steep northwestern slopes. The forest was open for the majority of the trek but the ground, especially where it was rock, was slippery, slowing the pace just a bit.

As we neared the summit we started to encounter more red spruce scratching at our bare skin, but it didn’t last long as the trees thinned out near the summit ridge. The last push was very steep as we were delivered atop a wooded, defined summit. There were OK views through the trees but that wouldn’t get us down. We wandered around the summit ridge and found a few decent views through the trees of the High Peaks and even as far as Blue Mountain off of one side. The tower on Vanderwhacker and Goodnow mountains were rising high, giving us a trifecta of fire towers around us.

We now descended from the cedar fortress — oh, did I mention, there wasn’t one cedar tree on this mountain? Maybe Cedar is a surname, or maybe all of the cedars were harvested since the naming of the mountain. I guess a bit of research would be necessary to find the answer, research for I have yet to dive into, research that may not lead to any definitive answers.

The exit from our wanderlust got us back to the car in prime fashion, and we could now open the car windows to feel a cool breeze on this hot day and blow away the black flies coating what hair I have left.

If hiking Cedar Mountain doesn't quench your thirst for adventure, there are plenty of activities in the Schroon Lake Region that will! Go whitewater rafting, try rock climbing, explore the roads and woods by bike, or take to the waterways by canoe or kayak.

Once upon a time, the Adirondacks became the focus of something new to all kinds of people. The concept of vacation.

Once transportation was established, people began to "vacate" their cities, with its heat and crowds, to spend time in the cool of the forest, lakes, and mountains. At first it was only the rich who could build Great Camps and spend summers here. But then grand resort hotels sprang up, and little cabins, and summer camps, and soon many people could spend summers in the Adirondacks.

And create traditions.

Adirondack summer

Before air conditioning, the only way to escape summer heat was to go to a place where summers were not so hot. While cities had many civilization advantages, all that stone and brick and mortar and cement would concentrate the heat and make it even more oppressive.

The natural coolness of the lakes and mountains were a dramatic remedy.

As seen in this antique postcard from the turn of last century, the resort hotels of the time would show off their deep porches and stunning scenery. They wanted to contrast their restful tranquility with the man-made bustle of the cities their visitors came from.

Now, this same tradition of hospitality, relaxation, and nature enjoyment has not changed.

When it is time to unwrap the boats and take to the water, it is that special time known as Adirondack Summer. And while the tradition of "summer at the lake" is a long and honored one, the way you like to do it can form its own traditions.

Lake living

The first thing you notice is the slower pace. Nobody wants to hurry in summer. There's a whole day to accomplish a simple task called "fun."

Just sitting on a bench and looking at the lake does qualify. It's different when you are contemplating millions of acres of unspoiled forest and mountains. Our nature is like a widescreen look at something you've only gotten a glimpse of before. That's why the simple act of taking a walk can feel so different here. You might want to take one every day.

There's lots of ways of enjoying our delightful town beach. Whether you like to soak up the sun or soak up the lake.

Being up for more active tasks can range from a quiet morning of fishing to a lively afternoon of water skiing. There are many different waterbodies to explore, in various ways.

If you have not tried a day of paddling, you are in for a treat. This is my favorite way of enjoying lots of scenery for very little effort. Pack a lunch, pick a route, and spend a whole day finding out what is around that next bend in the shoreline.

There's something special about family or friend time out on the water. From pointing out a lovely angle for a photo to consulting about the best spot to stop for a picnic, the sun, wind, and water add intensity and specialness to this time together.

While others I know prefer the meditative travel of Stand Up Paddleboards. This is more of a Zen option, where the journey becomes the purpose.

All day special

Vacations are about breaking our usual pattern. Whether you choose a gracious old B&B and get breakfast every morning, or book a lakeside cottage and find a different place to have coffee during your morning walk, you will craft a new pattern.

Maybe it is walking the dogs through a mountain meadow.

You can get your treats from a truck and share this memento of childhood with your own children.

Maybe it is a fine meal to celebrate relationships.

Maybe it is all of these things, and more.

We keep people coming back, summer after summer, because they have created their own summer vacation traditions from our long and storied history. Once the great resort hotels created their own "village life" for their residents. While those grand hotels are gone now, we still have the village and lake very much like it was a century ago.

Families came to do their favorite things together. Friends came to share the hunt for the big fish or the camaraderie of the big hike. Couples came to truly have alone time.
Things have changed... but then again, in the most important ways, they have not.

We see the Schroon Lake vacation tradition as not just launching a boat. It's a launching pad for all kinds of dreams.

Choose your kind of lodging. The drama camps that used to be a part of camp life for children are still here in spirit, with the summer performances of Seagle Music Colony. The gourmet meals of the giant kitchens are now the enjoyable dining of our cafes and bistros.

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This week in related ADK summer planning news:

Perfect summer events

Cool bites

Room for espresso

One for the road

Sagamore for Great Camp-ing

Run our trails

Beat the peak

 

Tough week at work? Stressed by something totally out of your control? Need a break from the everyday? Talk to Mother Nature she can help with all that. Taking that famous road less traveled can be a great start. Breathe in the cool air of a mountain peak or stroll through open forests to a peaceful back-country pond. Take a nap in the sun as a warm breeze washes over you from the south, or take a dip in the cool mountain waters to wash away the worries. Maybe even a bit of mountain yoga is in order, but no matter your stress relievers just get out and about. Here are a few locations you might want to consider that I have felt made a great impact on my escape from reality.

 

THE MOUNTAINS

Treadway Mountain

Treadway Mountain is by far the most popular destination on this short list of escapes, but even with plenty of visitors you can still find relaxation on the summit. This rocky summit is loaded with views and rock outcroppings all along it. Explore a bit and step off the trail to find “your peace” of earth to claim.

This hike is a bit on the longer side, but you can count that as an extension of your time in the out-of-doors. Find the trailhead at the Putnam Pond Campground located east of Schroon Lake off Route 74. The hike is a moderate trail that will bring you over rolling hills and babbling brooks all while breathing in the fresh air and the sweetness of the evergreens. Short side trails allow access to the shore of Putnam Pond where you can dip in the cool waters collected from the streams of the mountainous terrain around you.

Grizzle Ocean Mountain

Grizzle Ocean Mountain, interesting name wouldn’t you say? This mountain is Treadway’s neighbor to the south and will require a bit more effort to climb, but I can almost guarantee you will have the summit to yourself. This 1800-foot peak is a bit off the beaten path and requires a bit of navigation to reach the summit ridge.

 

Starting from the Putnam Pond State Campground you will follow the same trail as you would for Treadway, but rather than heading north to Treadway go south toward the shores of Grizzle Ocean. The mountain with the same name towers over the small pond and in no time you can climb the steeper slopes to a ridge packed with diverse views. You don’t need to summit to enjoy tranquility here, just find a nice spot to kick back and relax.

THE WATERS

Rock Pond

Possibly my favorite pond in the region! This trip has everything to do with the rocky peninsula you'll find yourself lounging on as you gaze at the beautiful mountains coming down all around you. Nap time is here, and the rock gives you the perfect setting.

 

You can find Rock Pond on the opposite side of the Putnam Pond State Campground. The trail that touches the shore is picturesque in its own right. The peninsula can be found on the north side of the pond — accessible from whichever direction you choose to venture. And, actually, both ways are a good choice. I highly recommend doing this trail as a loop.

Gull Pond

This is a short trail back to a small jewel in the Pharaoh Mountain Wilderness. Because of its length this trail gets a lot of attention but don’t let that worry you — I have a secret that I want to share. Once you trek the easy trail back to the pond you will see that it is well-matted and stomped out by the many visitors each summer. Stand here and look at the pond for a few moments, but if you are feeling adventurous, don't stop here. Look across the waters and gaze at the cliffs. The base of the cliffs is jumbled with boulders, you should go there.

There is a herd path leading around the pond to the south (or to your right); locate this and stay on it. The path actually goes to the top of the cliffs, which is also a wonderful place to visit, but the boulders give a great spot to relax, nap, and even go for a refreshing dip, and the chances of sharing this location are greatly reduced.

THE TRAILS

Short Swing Trail

This trail is located off Route 74 just east of Schroon Lake and is ideal if you just want a nice stroll in the wilderness. If you are looking for a bit more of a payoff try taking a detour onto one of the many short spur trails that area available. You may find yourself at Tubmill Marsh, Honey Pond, Lilypad Pond, or you could even eventually reach Rock Pond which is mentioned above. This trail sweeps through the forest over undulating hills and past streams so clear you can see yourself. It also hooks in to many other trails allowing you to create a lovely walk to the feed that craving for harmony.

Bass Lake’s West Trail

This seldom used trail from the west brings you back to Bass Lake, where seclusion and quiet is deafening. The trail itself is a relaxing walk in the woods and the stream it passes has a neat little dam that rarely gets visitors. This trail doesn’t get the use that the eastern trail gets, so expect to have it all to yourself as the sounds of the forest move in around you.

Visit the Schroon Lake Region and find your own peace trail - and then tell us what makes it so special! We'd love to know what your favorite piece of your adventure was!

A few inches of fresh snow and the potential of more in the forecast have snowmobile enthusiasts anxiously awaiting good ground cover.

I spoke with the Schroon Lake and North Hudson Snowmobile Club to learn about the trails they operate and maintain. Steve Krupski, the club’s former secretary, told me that the club maintains over 50 miles of trails in and around the village of Schroon Lake! He provided me with a good deal of information to share with you.

Lots of connections

Trails to the north connect to the town of North Hudson and its trail system, as well as the western legs of Ticonderoga’s trails. Trails going south enter into the Scaroon Manor campsite area with a connection to trails in northern Warren County. Connections are also available to the west for the trails to Minerva.

The Schroon Lake & North Hudson Club trails serve as a great hub no matter where you want to venture or what direction you may be headed. If you're planning on getting out on the frozen water for some ice fishing with your sled, there are several connections that let you get right out onto the lake.

Pit stops

The trails are centered around the town of Schroon Lake where gas, food, and lodging are readily available at a wide variety of establishments. Snowmobilers have numerous choices of where to grab a beverage or snack, or simply step inside for a chat and a chance to warm up. South of the hamlet of Schroon Lake, trails connect to two great restaurants for some fine dining — Sticks & Stones Wood Fired Bistro & Bar.

 

The map!

This club has produced a fantastic map loaded with pertinent snowmobiler information while providing an overview of all the trails and trail connections. It will guide you to the best parking areas, places to fuel up, and options for grabbing lunch, dinner, and refreshments.

A generous parking area is available at the Town of Schroon Lake Highway Department garage on Hoffman Road. From there, Steve said, “Trail intersections are marked throughout the system to help snowmobilers track where they are in the system."

Pick up a printed copy of the map at the Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce, located on Main Street, at various establishments in town, or contact the club.

The trails

A wide variety of trail types exist; some have incredible scenic lake and mountain views so be sure to bring your camera. Some trails travel over seasonal roads, while others are groomed banks of active roads. Some cross the Schroon Lake Golf Course, but most travel through the woods. The majority of trails are on private property, so using them is a privilege. The club asks that you respect the landowners and stay on the designated trails to ensure the future of snowmobiling in and around Schroon Lake. The club has three full-sized groomers and one snowmobile groomer to keep all trails in top condition whenever snow levels permit.

Steve provided me with more in depth trail descriptions:

“Along with 10-plus miles of club-maintained local trails, forty miles of the Schroon Lake North Hudson system are what New York state classifies as 'community connector trails.' These receive funding for maintenance and grooming from New York state, based on the money collected from snowmobile registrations. The Schroon portion of trail corridor C8 begins north of Paradox Lake near Flemings Pond. The trail follows the banks of Flemings Pond road to Lettsonville Road and then onto an unplowed section of Johnson Pond Road. A section on the road bank crosses NYS Route 9 in North Hudson and into the Jellystone Campground. The trail winds through the campground and onto the old Frontier Town property. Into a wooded area, the trail heads south, roughly paralleling and sometimes crossing Route 9. As it approaches the Schroon Lake area, the trail uses the seasonal River Road to bring you to the eastern end of Paradox Lake. River Road is an unplowed trail along the river and passes a sometimes frozen waterfall, then crosses NYS Route 74 and heads into the woods again.

"A combination of woods and field riding brings you to the north end of Schroon Lake village. A woods trail between Rt 9 and the Adirondack Northway takes you into the village where food, gas, and lodging are available. The trail comes out of the woods at the Schroon Lake highway garage where it intersects trail S84. S84 runs south to Scaroon Manor. C8 continues into the woods again, heading mostly west. Mostly a woods trail, C8 also uses the seasonal Horseshoe Pond Road. It crosses Hoffman Road twice, then heads back into the woods. A scenic ride through the woods ultimately comes out to Charley Hollow Road. There it rides the banks again for a bit, then back to the woods until you reach Trout Brook Road. This is where the Schroon portion of the trail transitions to the Minerva Snowmobile Club — they maintain trails into Minerva and possibly beyond.

“S84 provides the connection of the Schroon Lake system with the trails of northern Warren county. S84 starts at the Schroon Highway Department garage and crosses onto the Schroon Lake golf course. From there you head across the golf course then left into the woods for the trip south. The trail crosses the Northway using a Charlie Hill Road bridge then continues south between the Northway and Rt 9; a few miles of woods riding again then travels along South Schroon Road. From there it’s back into the woods to cross over Rt 9 for the last time. Wooded trails again take you into, and through, the NYS Schroon Manor Campground. When you reach the campground main gate, the Schroon Lake trail system ends and the trail transitions into northern Warren County — the trails of the North Warren Trailblazers. These trails connect to Brant Lake, Chestertown, and into Warrensburg.”

“There are several areas in the village of Schroon where trails lead onto Schroon Lake itself. However, no part of the trail system utilizes the lake, and lake riding is always dependent upon ice conditions which can be inconsistent.”

Membership

The club president informed me that the Schroon Lake & North Hudson Snowmobile Club now has over 170 members. New memberships are always welcome and an application can be found on their website. As Steve explained, a portion of the club member’s NYS snowmobile registration fee is returned to the club to help in the maintenance and development of their trail system. In fact, as I understand it, some form of “discount” is given to club members who register more than one sled, but you can check with the club for more information on that.

Start planning your sledding trip today! After a day of adventure you'll want to relax at one of our bars and cozy up in some warm lodging.

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This week in ADK news...

Skiing solo at Whiteface

Maple weekends in Malone

Spring events in Lake Placid

Saranac Lake ice fishing 101

Sweet traditions in Tupper

A conversation with an ice climber

Winter birds in Hamilton County

The sun is shining, the skies are blue, the lake is clear, and you just arrived in beautiful Schroon Lake for the perfect spring day on Main Street! Main Street communities have always flourished in small towns, bringing people together with their small-town shops and restaurants in one centralized location creating a sense of community and inclusivity. In the Adirondack Hub, Schroon Lake has one of the most popular Main Streets! And now two new businesses have opened up on Main Street that we're excited to share!

But first, no trip to Schroon Lake is complete without a stop at 9-Mile Coffee. They are that great. Between the atmosphere and delicious coffee, the coffee shop is a must-stop on your adventures down Main Street.

Schroon Sandwich Shop

Now, I am no food blogger, but I do like to think of myself as a food enthusiast and always seem eager to try somewhere or something new. The Pharaoh Philly sandwich is, in my opinion, the best sandwich the Schroon Sandwich Shop has to offer! Between the shaved seasoned steak, caramelized onions, peppers, and mushrooms on fresh bread with American cheese, the sandwich is just so yummy! Everything on the sandwich is cooked so perfectly that the flavors just melt in your mouth. You could easily finish the whole sub! Another favorite of mine is The Lake Monster, shaved pastrami with Swiss cheese and deli mustard on grilled rye. The ingredients are so simple and come together perfectly to create a delicious sandwich. The Shop doesn't stop there either, they serve breakfast and lunch 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., and locals and visitors alike can’t stop raving about their delicious meal! The sandwich shop was opened in the summer of 2022 and has already been making a huge splash in the community. They have a convenient order online system and an adorable seating area both inside and outside perfect for anyone! Make sure to stop by and grab your favorite sandwich from the Schroon Sandwich Shop the next time you're taking a trip down Main.

P.S. The subs travel very well and can easily be enjoyed from the park across the street or even from your boat on a warm summer day! 

Above and Beyond Seconds

Above and Beyond Seconds is perfect for all your second-hand treasures. Now, I am not talking about a traditional thrift store with second-hand clothes and shoes. I'm talking art, decor, and home items/essentials. The thrift shop opened earlier this year and has been a great place for patrons to find hidden treasures. Conveniently located in the heart of the main street right next door to the Schroon Lake Sandwich Shop, you can shop around while your sandwich is being prepared! With refurbished and repurposed items, stopping in and checking out this small business on Main Street is perfect to add to your list. 

Of course, everyone's favorite boutiques and restaurants still stand on Main St including Pitkin's Restaurant and Pinecone Mercantile. If you haven't already, you should stop in at Pinecone Mercantile, and head to the back of the shop where they have their bakery, North Woods Bread Co, and grab some delish fresh baked goods. You have to get there right in the morning though, they usually sell out pretty early!  

New stores have been added to the fleet! While traffic is low and mud season is in full bloom, now is the perfect time to go out and enjoy Main Street in Schroon Lake before the hustle and bustle of summer! Plan your trip today! 

Schroon Lake is definitely a place for romance! Not one, but two, deeply romantic pictures have been shot in Schroon Lake. Schroon Lake is a cute little town that is just made for strolling around, hand in hand. Enjoy a day at the beach, a hike in our winter wilderness, or the gorgeous display of fall. In any season, there's a sunset over the mountains, and a night out with fine dining.

Long night at Schroon Lake

The Night We Met is an award-winning indie film. Two young people meet and explore their mutual attraction in the gorgeous setting of Schroon Lake. The idea for the film came to Tracy Cring from her own past. She was a teenager living in a small town when her little brother summoned her to the phone. The voice was a complete stranger.

"He introduced himself and said he was having a hard time and a mutual friend said I was nice and would listen and help," Tracy said in a newspaper interview via email. And indeed she must have been, because she invited the boy to her house, and they spent much of a night walking and talking.

They dated for a few months.

Even though this had happened 25 years before, the story lingered in Tracy's memories.

This real-life episode inspired the story of two teenagers who spend a night walking the streets of a small town while forming a strong connection. It was written and directed by Tracy and her husband Jon. During the writing process she realized the story development was also starting to remind her of how she and her husband's relationship developed. “Even though it was based on a night in my life, there is a lot of us in it,” she said.

“I love movies about being a teenager,” Jon said. “You are still unjaded by life but you have enough experience to know not everything is going to work out for you.” This time in a person’s life is a fascinating subject matter for both he and his wife. Or course, it is also a popular theme in filmmaking and storytelling.

The film stars Sarah Byington as Stacey and Lorenzo Rodriguez as her love-interest, Nick. Tracy Cring said that during filming Byington would pick up on her mannerisms and incorporate them into her performance as the female lead. Tracy said it was a surreal experience to see someone play a role she knew was based partly on herself.

While the movie was filmed entirely in Schroon Lake, that was not the original plan. They were going to film only a few scenes, but after acquiring some additional locations, Schroon Lake became the location for the entire film.

“Schroon Lake really became part of the story,” Jon said. "It's all about the kind of unforgettable night shared by two young lovers that we all had -- or wished we had -- at least once in our youth."

Tracy said she was inspired to write the first drafts of the story when she thought of how she could not remember anything exactly like it had ever been done before onscreen. “It was just one of those times where you are with a complete stranger but you get to know everything about them,” she said. Jon said the movie is really about that moment when you meet someone and the “sparks begin to fly.”

Jon said it's a coming of age tale that still tells a very real story. “There is a sweetness to it, there is a beauty to it, but it doesn’t whitewash relationships,” Jon said. “They deal with some real issues.”

He said he hopes the film is one that an audience will be able to connect with on that same level. And to stir some memories. “I think people are going to laugh, maybe cuddle up a little closer, and maybe reminisce about ‘a night we met’ in their own lives,” Jon said. Tracy added that in the film, "when morning comes, it's left to the audience to decide the fate of the two lovers."

See if the charm of Schroon Lake will add a bit of magic to our own romance.

Love at an Adirondack camp

In 1958, the romantic musical Marjorie Morningstar was shot in Schroon Lake. The novel was extremely popular when published in 1955, becoming a best-seller and putting the author, Herman Wouk, on the cover of "Time" magazine. So it was inevitable that there would be a big movie.

It was set at a classic Adirondack summer camp. Gene Kelly plays the social director who charms camp counselor Natalie Wood, in her first adult role after a successful career as a child actress.

While the book was set in the 1930s, the movie modernizes the setting to modern day; and made the conflicts those of modern life of the time.

She is in the throes of adolescent indecision; should she follow her dreams, which now include this dashing man? Or should she choose a "safe" man and a conventional life?

Scaroon Manor, a gem of its time, was chosen as the setting for the camp. Of course it had famous entertainers, delicious food, and plenty of activities. What set Scaroon Manor apart was its owner, Joseph Frieber. This Hungarian restaurant owner was a flamboyant personality who made Scaroon Manor a sought-after destination.

He loved to give tours of his all-stainless-steel kitchen. There was a two-orchestra open-air theater. Air conditioning was hardly needed, but he plugged it into every room. The lake had speedboats and water polo, a golf course, and on-site hairdressers so the ladies would always look their best. He distributed heart-shaped promotional brochures.

Locals fondly remember the movie, where they worked for $125 a day, a sumptuous sum that included enjoying the amenities of the resort, if they weren't needed for filming.

The movie received an Academy Award nomination for Best Song (A Very Precious Love) sung by Gene Kelly. Gene Kelly and Natalie Wood were believeable despite their differences in age; a tribute to the skill of both performers.

Many believe it was Natalie Wood's singing and dancing in this film that opened the door for her to star in West Side Story.

Today, this resort is now the Scaroon Manor State Campground. It is a particularly well-equipped campground for those with mobility challenges, with all campsites, showers, and restrooms being accessible.

And the amphitheatre from the movie is still there. We can stage our own musical!

Craft your own romance

The Adirondack Hub has a long history of being a great place to get away to. Lovers of all kinds are welcome to stroll quaint communities, sun themselves on spectacular beaches, and maybe -- if the stars are right -- make a deep connection at the lovely little gazebo by the water in Schroon Lake. It is the site of many proposals and weddings.

Here in Schroon Lake, romance is always in the air. Find romantic lodging. Indulge in some cozy dining. And fall in love again and again.

A place like no other

The Adirondacks has been a muse to many over the years - inspiring art, music, health, exploration. Winslow Homer, one of the foremost painters in 19th-century America and a preeminent figure in American art, is one such visitor to the Adirondacks. His fascination spanned 40 years, and over twenty-one trips, resulting in over a hundred peices of art. It's been said that no other place held Homer’s attention as an artist for so long a period.

About the Artist

Born in 1836, Winslow Homer is regarded by many as one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century. He was born and raised in the Cambridge area of Boston, MA. The first work he did in the field of art was as a print maker, in Boston, as well as in New York, where he eventually made his home in 1859. (source: winslowhomer.org)

Largely self-taught, Homer began his career working as a commercial illustrator. He subsequently took up oil painting and produced major studio works characterized by the weight and density he exploited from the medium. He also worked extensively in watercolor, creating a fluid and prolific oeuvre, primarily chronicling his working vacations. (source: wikipedia.org)

Social and Scenery = Success

Research Winslow Homer and you will read much of his inspiration came during trips to the North Woods Club, where his fishing vacations and time in the great outdoors allowed him freedom to experiment with watercolor, oils, drawing and prints.

I read some of author David Tatham’s information stating that Winslow’s reasons for returning so often to the Adirondacks were as much social as they were professional. And that for Winslow the “warmly congenial social routing coupled with a visually stimulating environment brought forth sustained periods of high quality work.”

“From his Adirondack sojourns came a handful of finely designed magazine illustrations, at least fourteen oil paintings, and about a hundred watercolors, including many of great brilliance.” - David Tatham wrote in Adirondack Life Magazine. David Tatham has a book out “Winslow Homer: Masterworks from the Adirondacks,” which includes thirteen of the artist's greatest works in watercolor and oil, representing a broad chronological overview of Homer's interest in the New York wilderness, from the early 1870s to 1902.

Homer’s art can be found

• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Boston Museum of Fine Arts
• Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• The Brooklyn Museum
• Canajoharie Library

Among others, and locally in the Minerva Historical Society Museum.

Masterworks from the Adirondacks

Some of his works from these trips include:

• Adirondack Guide
• Campfire, Adirondacks
• Netting the Fish
• North Woods Club, Adirondacks
• The End of the Day, Adirondacks
• The Lone Boat, North Woods Club
• The Rapids, Hudson River, Adirondacks

Discover why the Adirondacks inspire you

Winslow Homer came for the fishing, scenery and social engagement - but what inspires you? The Schroon Lake Region, making up the southern tip of the Adirondack Park was where he spent most of his time. This area is easy to get to and close to everything the Adirondacks has to offer. Whether hiking, fishing, boating, skiing, sightseeing, R & R, attractions, art and theatre, and more, there is so much to explore. Start planning your vacation now and come see why Winslow Homer, Albert Einstein, US Presidents, socialites and celebrities, have been making this a vacation destination for decades.

The water bodies of the Schroon Lake Region in the Adirondacks are some of the cleanest, coldest, and most inviting in the state. Where do you prefer to take the plunge, dip your toes, or paddle the boat?

Keep voting for your ADK favorites:

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What’s your next bite?