Here in the Adirondacks, we love winter. Really, really love winter: building snow forts, ice skating on frozen lakes, sledding down hills, and warming up with hot cocoa. As good as that sounds (and I know you're pondering your next winter vacation right now), we also love winter events and activities. During a variety of special events, winter is celebrated with skiing clinics, snowmobile rides, live music, great food, and more. Here are some of our favorite events that make the most of snow, ice, and the joy of living in a real life snow globe.
Camp Santanoni Winter Weekends
January 18 - 20, February 15 - 17, March 14 - 15
Ski or snowshoe your way into the past at historic Great Camp Santanoni, once a private summer home on Newcomb Lake. While Santanoni may be reached by ski or snowshoe all winter long, Winter Weekends are an extra special time to enjoy this historic property. Volunteers from Adirondack Architectural Heritage will be on hand to provide tours of the Great Camp's Gate Lodge and Main Lodge, while the Artist's Studio will be a cozy spot to warm up and enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. Don't have snowshoes? No problem! Staff from the nearby Adirondack Interpretive Center will be on hand to loan you a pair for the 9-mile round trip adventure.
Gore Mountain MLK Weekend Holiday Camp and Fireworks!
January 18 - 19
Make your children’s winter vacation extra special with this holiday camp at Gore Mountain. They’ll enjoy two full days of fun on the slopes and in the snow with coaches and new friends and a hearty lunch. This camp is great for kids of all skiing and riding levels. All you have to do is pick them up and drop them off! Stick around at dusk on the 19th for a gorgeous fireworks display, torchlight parade, and live music! There's a reason why so many skiers and riders visit Gore year after year, so come find out for yourself!
Vintage Snowmobile Races
January 25
Head to beautiful, frozen Lake Harris for this affordable, entertaining annual event hosted by the Newcomb Snowmobile Club. The event is totally free for spectators, while riders interested in racing pay only $10 to enter. Lunch is provided by the club and the racing is good fun for everyone. You just might get inspired to take up snowmobiling yourself. The Adirondack Hub has miles and miles of beautiful trails to explore!
President's Week Holiday Camp at Gore
February 18 - 20
Make your children’s winter vacation extra special with this action-packed holiday camp at Gore Mountain. They’ll enjoy three full days of fun on the slopes and in the snow with coaches and new friends and a hearty lunch. This camp is great for kids of all skiing and riding levels, helping them have fun and improve their skills. All you have to do is pick them up and drop them off!
Adirondack Interpretive Center
Ongoing
Visit the Adirondack Interpretive Center in Newcomb for outstanding exhibits about the natural history of the Adirondacks, as well as periodic special events, including guided snowshoe hikes, film screenings, painting workshops, and more. The AIC's beautiful trail system, which winds through cedar swamps and along two lakes, is well worth a visit. Trails vary in length, so visitors can choose a short walk or a longer adventure. The AIC is an exceptional location to learn more about the plants and animals of the Adirondacks, as well as the mountains themselves, and enjoy the beauty of nature first-hand.
Whether you ski and ride, snowshoe, or love the sound of a good old fashioned snowmobile engine, the Adirondack Hub and the towns of Newcomb, Schroon Lake, Minerva, and North Hudson have great wintertime adventures, activities, and events. Visit us at one of our cozy motels, lodges, or cabins, enjoy the great outdoors, and sample hearty Adirondack food and craft beer.
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