A Trip to Lake George is The Winter Getaway Your Family Needs

We love a weekend getaway any time of year but especially a cozy one in the winter. If you’re looking for a driveable mini break, Lake George in Upstate New York in the Adirondacks has lots of outdoor activities and some amazing new attractions for 2023.

If you’re thinking about getting away for Thanksgiving weekend, Winter Realms: The Entertainment Destination will give your kids plenty to do with ice skating, holiday lights, a sculpture park, igloos, Santa’s Village, a Polar Ice Bar, and other winter attractions. It opens on November 24, which is the same day as Lake George’s Lite Up the Village Holiday Kickoff. Tickets for Winter Realms go on sale on Wednesday, November 1.

Starting in December, Lake George Winter’s Dream, a new outdoor immersive multimedia experience, comes to Fort William Henry. The outdoor courtyard and four bastions of the historical fortress will be filled with light, sound, original music and video projection. It’s not too early to join the wait list for Winter’s Dream tickets.

Fort William Henry is a destination unto itself. Located on the southern end of Lake George, it was surrendered by the British to the French in 1757 during the French and Indian War, and is central to the plot of “The Last of the Mohicans.” There are guided tours, weapons demonstrations, boat cruises and battle re-enactments through the museum.

You can find more history at the Bolton Historical Museum, which is inside a repurposed 1890 church. The museum features regional artifacts and memorabilia as well as artwork from the area’s evolution and vistas.

Winter hiking, snowshoeing, ice fishing, snow tubing, and downhill or cross-country skiing are very popular. Check out the seven different hiking challenges that go throughout the mountains. You can also plan a day trip to Natural Stone Bridge and Caves Park, which is the largest cave entrance in the east. The Ausable Chasm is also a stunning place to spend the day. Hike your way through what is considered to be the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks.

The kids can spend the day at the Lake George Recreation Center. Open year-round, there are snow tubing hills and a trailhead for the cross-country ski trails. There’s also a dog park for your fur baby.

If you’re looking to book a weekend stay, The Sagamore Resort, which sits on its own private island, is a popular option. Take in the views of the lake, the gardens and the Adirondacks. You can go hiking, boating, golfing and skiing, or book a trip on The Morgan, a historic replica of a 19th-century touring vessel. You’ll learn some history, too, since The Sagamore Resort is a Top Historic Hotel and Top Historic Golf Course with a variety of restaurants.

The Winter Carnival doesn’t take place until February. Every weekend during the month different events are planned, like chowder, chili, BBQ and chicken wing cookoffs and tastings; outhouse races; ATV races; polar plunges; fireworks, kids’ pony rides and lots of hot chocolate.