My wife and I rented this classic Adirondack home for a week during the height of the fall foliage season. The house was everything we could have hoped for – large, comfortable, well-stocked, and in close proximity to Tupper Lake. The interior is decorated in period furniture and accents from the early part of the last century. I would describe the décor as ‘Teddy Roosevelt’ chic complete with a bearskin rug and numerous other pieces of taxidermy. As a consequence, the inside is somewhat dark during the daytime, but not gloomy. Brian provided a canoe for our use which we hauled with some difficulty down to the boat launch that sits about 200 feet away from the house. There is a large wrap-around porch for enjoying a quiet rest as well as two Adirondack chairs in the front yard.
Brian was responsive to our requests for help during our stay. The hot water wasn’t working well and he arranged for a handyman to come out to adjust the temperature. He also provided a house key at our request since we didn’t feel comfortable leaving the house unlocked during our absences even though the house is in a private community.
The real attraction, of course, is the Adirondack park itself. We enjoyed visiting the Wild Center – great for kids – in the nearby town of Tupper Lake and also hiking a few of the trails at the Visitor Interpretive Center (VIC) at Paul Smith’s College which is well worth exploring. We also visited Lake Placid which, on a weekday, lived up to its name and was quiet and inviting. Returning on a weekend the town was mobbed with visitors. If you go, be sure to take a tour of the ski jump area on the edge of town and see for yourself just how brave those athletes really are and learn some of the local history of the Winter Olympics.
A trip to the town of Saranac Lake revealed a community in economic distress with many empty storefronts. Nevertheless, the best meal of our stay was at a small café there called the Left Bank where we enjoyed a delicious and reasonably priced three-course prix fixe menu.
Between the lake access and the spectacular foliage, it was a wonderful getaway with Brian’s lovely home as our base. Minor issues – only bath towels are provided (no hand towels or wash cloths), and window curtains would be a welcome addition in two of the bathrooms. Also, the week we stayed, there was home construction close by that was audible from the house.
The house is well suited for families or two couples.